Whatever you do – Please – DO Not turn your animals loose in an evacuation!!!!!

Any season of the year can be fire season.  Fires aren’t just wildfires, they can be barn fires, traffic accidents, arson fires, you name it and they can and do happen when we least expect it.

What happen when you have a mandatory evacuation in your area?

It kind of goes like this:

Police cars come screaming through your neighborhood with loudspeakers telling you that you “must” evacuate NOW!!!  They don’t give you a time limit, they just tell you to go.  When this happens what happens to you?  PANIC!!!!   How am I going to get everything out of my house, oh now what about my animals, pictures, books, photo albums etc. etc. etc……

Consider these things:

#1- Have all small animal carriers in ONE location.  Remove them to a waiting vehicle (but don’t load them in the car until it is running & AC is on)

If you don’t have small animal carriers, you can use pillowcases for Rabbits, squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, birds or other small animals.  Be careful though because small rodents might eat through the pillowcases.

#2 – If you have large animals (horses, goats, sheep, llamas, etc) make sure you have a trailer or trailers that can accommodate them.   Get them loaded and moving.

#3 – Have an evacuation plan

#3 – Know the location of your evacuation centers.

#4 – Make sure you have identification for your animals

 

Please – Do Not Turn Them Loose!!!!

If you turn your animals loose, who do you think is going to round them up?  What if they run in front of an emergency vehicle racing to save someone’s home? Block a driveway, run through a fence or even run toward the progression of the fire?

When all is said and done, (we all have seen animals that have unfortunately perished in fires) you want to have control of your animals.   If you are unable to get your own animals off your property these agencies and teams are here to help.  You do however need to contact your Local Animal control and/or Sheriff’s department to make them aware that you will need help with your large animals.  DO NOT assume they know about you and your animals.  Be pro-active!

Have written information available for each animal along with a picture, feeding instructions, medication (if necessary), veterinarian’s name and contact information as well as your own information with at least 2 separate phone numbers in case one phone number is down or unavailable.  If you have time, load feed for your animals from you own supply.  This will help the animals when they arrive at their temporary home and also allow you to monitor the feed that your animals are receiving.

Have your own identification for your animals also; something that is on the animal directly all the time.  That way the people or persons in charge can also verify ownership.

Make sure you take any and all medication that your animal(s) might be currently prescribed.

Try to stay as calm as you can, your animals do not know that this is an emergency, and they will feel your energy.  Just like if you run late and try to rush things and they don’t want to cooperate, well what do you think can happen in this type of situation?  If you must evacuation, do so with calm consistency.

Be Safe, prepared and aware.