Well is releasing 1,200 tons of methane per day 100,000 pounds per hour containing benzene a cancer causing carcinogen

One Porter Ranch family had to put down their beloved Alaskan Eskimo dog after it became very ill in mid-November.

Another lost all 20 of their brightly colored Koi fish after they started dying or disappearing from a backyard pond.

Others in this affluent San Fernando Valley community have noticed fewer bird and wildlife sightings. While the causes are often difficult to pinpoint, some Porter Ranch residents fear such incidents could be related to the massive natural gas leak at Southern California Gas Co.'s nearby Aliso Canyon Storage Facility.

Regardless, at least some concern may be warranted.

Los Angeles County health officials are warning that certain animals may be more vulnerable to the leaking fumes.

"Birds and fish may be more sensitive to some chemicals and gases, so (pet) birds should be kept indoors and outdoor fish ponds closely monitored," a Los Angeles County Public Health Department official said in an email Thursday.

"Some gases can lead to changes in water pH which can be unhealthy for fish."

The ongoing leak, which was detected on Oct. 23 and has been declared an emergency by Gov. Jerry Brown, has sickened residents, forced thousands from their homes and prompted students at two schools to relocate.

The county health department's Veterinary Public Health program is working with residents, veterinarians and animal shelters to monitor the health of local pets.

Porter Ranch residents should notify the program if they believe their pets have become ill after exposure to the gas smell or if they see dead birds or wildlife in their neighborhood, officials said. Like humans, dogs and cats may experience discomfort or other symptoms due to odors from the gas and thus pet outdoor exposure should be minimized when odors are persistent, county health officials said.

Pets that appear seriously ill should be taken to a vet clinic.

Christine Katz, whose Porter Ranch home is about a mile from the Aliso Canyon facility, said she was "heartbroken" after her Koi fish started to die at her home's backyard pond in early November. She saw two dead fish in the pond filter, and then another two about a week and a half later.

The others stopped coming up to the surface.

She believes they died and decomposed toward the bottom.

"That was my enjoyment, my passion," said Katz, who has sued SoCalGas over family health concerns she believes are related to the leak, as a representative from the R. Rex Parris Law Firm listened in.

"I would go and pick out many colors, patterns when they were small. I raised them to be beautiful fish."

http://www.thebigwobble.org/2016/01/porter-ranch-methane-leak-update.html