The evacuation of hundreds of residents from Churchill Falls has left the SPCA in Happy Valley-Goose Bay seeking solutions to host the many pets left homeless.

Residents started to leave Churchill Falls on Wednesday night under an evacuation order due to encroaching forest fires.

Bonnie Learning of the SPCA in Happy Valley-Goose Bay says they immediately put out an emergency call seeking foster homes to take in displaced pets.

She says the response was incredible.

Learning says 30 people immediately signed up, and they set up an in-take desk at the YMCA to match pets with families who could take them in for the time being.

She says they placed 12 cats and two dogs in foster homes Wednesday night, with many pet owners preferring to keep their animals with them in their cars to prevent them from suffering further stress in an unfamiliar environment.