Pet Tips for Wildfire Season
Fall is upon us in Southern California, and while we may have a
reprieve from the hundred degree temperatures of summer, the season
also brings with it the threat of wildfire. When preparing for an
emergency evacuation, we must not forget our four legged friends. Read
on to make sure your pets are prepared!
IDENTIFICATION
The single most important step in preparing for an emergency is proper
identification of your pets. In emergency situations, pets are at
higher risk of being separated from their owners. Sometimes owners are
not home when disaster strikes, or your animals may be evacuated to a
county shelter or evacuation center. Proper identification is crucial,
and multiple types of identification are recommended. The easiest
identification for most pets is to keep their collars or halters
updated with the pet’s name and owner’s contact information. With
horses and other livestock, placing duct tape on their hooves or in
their mane with owner’s contact information written in sharpie works
well too. There are also many reflective emergency identification
collars and leg bands available online for all species including dogs,
horses, and small livestock. Check out the EquestriSafe Website for
ideas. Remember that if your animals are evacuated to a shelter or
evacuation center, you must prove ownership to retrieve them. The best
way to do this is with a microchip. A microchip can be read by a
scanner that all shelters or veterinarians have, and identifies the
animal and their owner. Ownership can also be proven by vet records or
photos, so keep a copy of these in your emergency kit just in case.
GO-BAG
Many of us have emergency kits prepared for ourselves and for our
human family members, but does yours contain important supplies for
your furry family members as well? As we saw after the Woolsey fire,
it is very possible to be evacuated from our homes, and have limited
access to necessities, for many days. It is important to have an
adequate supply of food and water for your animals for one to two
weeks. For dogs and cats, this means having extra canned or dry food
that they are used to eating. For horses and livestock, this means
having extra hay or pellets on hand. Water can become a big issue,
especially if utilities are cut off. Horses drink up to 10 gallons per
day, and dogs, depending on their size, can drink up to one to two
liters per day. If you have large animals, consider investing in water
barrels that store 50 gallons each. For small animals, having a few 3
or 5 gallon water jugs from the grocery store may be sufficient.
Having a “Go-Bag” that contains necessities packed and ready to go is
also a good idea. Consider making a “Pet Emergency Notification Card”
for each animal that has their info on it including pet’s name,
identifying markings, microchip, medical info, veterinarian info, and
emergency contacts. Keep a copy of these in your “Go-Bag” as well as
keeping copies in your home or barn.
“Go-Bag” Essentials:
Animal identification - metal tags, bands, collar, etc.
Collar/Leash, Halter/Lead Rope for each animal
Food and water bowls; Buckets
Important Medications - enough supply for at least 1-2 weeks
Pet First Aid Kit
Emergency Notification Card containing contact information, microchip
information, pertinent medical information at a glance
Photocopied veterinary records such as rabies certificate, proof of
vaccinations, prescriptions for medications, proof of ownership or
adoption, pet descriptions, microchip information
Recent photographs of each pet
Toys
Small litter box and bag of litter for cats
Water - enough for up to 1-2 weeks per pet
Food - enough for up to 1-2 weeks per pet, in waterproof containers
Manual can opener if needed
Crate/Kennel or Carrier with bedding
WHEN TO EVACUATE
The question on everyone’s mind is always when to evacuate. In
general, if you have animals, it is a good idea to start the
evacuation process once an evacuation warning is issued, or sooner if
you are aware of a nearby wildfire. Animals can be unpredictable, and
can take time to catch, contain, and evacuate safely. Remember that if
you choose to wait, consider that smoke inhalation can be just as
dangerous and deadly as the fire itself. Smoky air contains
particulates that can cause a number of health problems when inhaled,
ranging from mild irritation to severe illness. Small particulate
matter is able to reach the deep airways of the lungs causing reduced
lung function, persistent cough, wheezing, and increased risk for
pneumonia. Carbon monoxide, which is produced by fire, particularly
smoldering fire, can be fatal. Remember, that even after the fire
passes, it takes many days to weeks for the air quality to recover, so
limit exercise while there is still smoke lingering in the air. Lung
damage from smoke inhalation, even mild, can take 4-6 weeks to heal,
so make sure to give your pets, and yourself, plenty of time to
recover before attempting exercise again.