Bordeaux sets up emergency veterinary unit to support evacuated pets amid Gironde fires

A temporary veterinary and animal care facility has been established at Bordeaux Exhibition Centre to assist pets displaced by the Gironde wildfires, reflecting a wider community effort across south-west France.

At Bordeaux Exhibition Centre, a temporary veterinary unit has been established for pets brought in by residents evacuated as fires swept through Gironde.

The makeshift clinic is supplying food, basic treatment and reassurance for animals ranging from dogs and cats to rabbits, while owners wait to learn when they can return home. For many evacuees, keeping their pets close has eased the strain of displacement.

Bordeaux Métropole said Hall 3 of the exhibition centre was opened to house those forced from their homes, with beds, refreshments and meals provided through the metropolitan citizen reserve, the Red Cross and local councils.

The animal response forms part of a wider network of solidarity across south-western France. Les Écuries du Cuhour have opened their doors to horses and dogs affected by the Gironde and Landes fires, while the Sud Gironde Animal Park in Landiras says its wildlife rescue brigade is designed to intervene during fires, floods and storms.

Fire crews in Lacanau also found neglected animals trapped inside a breeding facility during operations, prompting coordinated rescues by animal welfare groups, according to Défense de l’Animal.