Fire evacuees turn Carlsbad mall into menagerie

By: SHANNON WINGARD - For the North County Times
Company camps with 100 exotic animals at Plaza Camino Real parking lot | Saturday, October 27, 2007 1:12 PM PDT ∞

CARLSBAD ---- Although it was business as usual inside Plaza Camino Real on Thursday, the atmosphere outside was more menagerie than shopping mall.

Approximately 150 exotic animals and their handlers were camped in the mall's east loading dock, another group of evacuees forced from their home by San Diego County's wildfires.

The animals, part of the Fallbrook-based Pacific Animal Productions, included horses, Vietnamese pot-bellied, monkeys, a baby bison, a wallaby, an emu and a coatimundi, a South American version of a raccoon. Ý

Mike Majewski ---- whose wife, Karla, created the business in 1987 ---- said the company uses the animals in educational programs for schools, birthday parties and fairs, including the California State Fair and the San Diego County Fair. Majewski said some of the creatures have had cameos on TV shows and in movies, including "Dr. Doolittle" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Majewski and his wife spent several hours loading the animals into trailers Monday, evacuating them even before the mandatory notice was given in Fallbrook.

"It was still a beautiful, sunny day in Fallbrook," he said, but after closely watching the progress of the Rice fire, the couple decided that it was more important to be safe than sorry.

With the Fallbrook evacuation order still in effect Thursday night, the couple plan to remain in Carlsbad until they are allowed to take their animals home.

Among their extended family is Sergeant Snoopy, a miniature horse adopted from the Escondido Humane Society. Other than just adorable, Mike Majewski said, the horse is special since it survived the Cedar fire four years ago.

Tears filled Karla Majewski's eyes as she recalled evacuating the animals Monday from their 3.5-acre property in south-central Fallbrook. Since moving them, she said, the creatures have been doing well.

"They travel around with us, so they think this is pretty normal," she said, although initially she worried the animals would refuse to get in the trucks.

Cindi Cavallini, who manages the animals' care, said she believes the animals went easily, because "I think animals tend to know when it's a dangerous situation."Ý

At the mall, the crew has set up a mock petting zoo ---- a crowd pleaser for residents who came to check the animals out.

Indeed, people arrived throughout Thursday to see sights like the miniature Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, a duck and more than a handful of tortoises sharing a space, or a variety of hooved animals standing near the trailers.

The scene is so out of the ordinary that Mike Majewski joked, "the only thing missing are the clowns following behind the animals picking up the poop."

Since the animals and the entourage of 20 people caring for them arrived at the mall, Mike Majewski said the Carlsbad community has helped by donating numerous supplies, including piles of blankets and towels.

In addition, he said, people from restaurants, eateries and grocery stores in the area surrounding the mall have donated food to the group.

Although they no longer need donations, he said the family feels "prayerful and thankful" for the support they have received.

Carlsbad residents Robert and Diana Ferris are among the many who have donated supplies.

Diana Ferris said she and her husband, who is the senior facilities manager for Carlsbad, bought numerous bowls at Wal-Mart when the owners said they needed them.

Although the wildfires didn't enter Carlsbad, Ferris said, the community's support of the animals is just a small example of how residents are "prepared to take on the people who need support."

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