This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

The volunteer at the front desk will tell you that technically, the Canyon fire evacuation center at Corona High School doesn’t allow pets. But if you really listen, the emphasis is on the word technically.

Shuichi Shimokawa, Cocoa and Ruby at the Corona High School evacuation center on Tuesday, where residents fleeing the Canyon Fire stayed overnight. (Credit: Anh Do / Los Angeles Times)
Shuichi Shimokawa, Cocoa and Ruby at the Corona High School evacuation center on Tuesday, where residents fleeing the Canyon Fire stayed overnight. (Credit: Anh Do / Los Angeles Times)

“Technically, we only allow service dogs, but I don’t have the heart to say no,” confessed Janet Upchurch, a volunteer supervisor from the Red Cross who just returned from Texas, where she helped Hurricane Harvey evacuees.

Upchurch said Tuesday that pets were being housed in an anteroom at the side of the gym.

“Our dogs are our babies, especially when we’re older,” said Upchurch, 83. “Wherever we go, we always remember our animals.”

Read the full story on LATimes.com.