Southland wildfires: When pets must be evacuated

In fire disasters, the issue of how to safeguard family pets, horses and other animals invariably arises. Below, Patrick Franks, 11, hugs his dog, Scamp, while taking a break from digging for salvageable items in the ruins of his family’s Yorba Linda home. “He’s the first thing I rescued,” said Patrick, recounting how his family evacuated as flames shot up the back side of their house.

Here are some tips from "When pets must evacuate" at latimes.com:

Disaster officials recommend that you put together an emergency preparedness plan specifically for your pets. Various organizations such as Homeland Security, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the American Red Cross recommend the following:

Prepare a pet emergency supply kit. In watertight containers, pack at least three days of food and water for each pet and include medicine and veterinary records, first aid kit, collars with ID tags, a harness or leash, a crate or a pet carrier, and sanitation supplies such as plastic bags, disinfectants and paper towels.

Preselect shelter sites and resources. Prepare a list of phone numbers of local animal shelters and hotels and motels that take pets. Include the names and numbers of friends or family who can temporarily care for the pets. Have a buddy system with a good neighbor who would be willing to check on your animals in case you’re not home.

At first warning of an evacuation, act quickly. Bring pets into the house so you don’t have to look for them if you must leave quickly. Try to call ahead to arrange emergency shelter for your pet. Make sure your dog or cat has current identification.

If pets must be left behind ... alert local animal control and, if necessary, give animal control officers permission -- and keys -- to enter your home to rescue the pets.

For a list of items to include in a horse evacuation kit, go to the Horse Review. More information on disaster preparedness for horses is available from the Humane Society.

-- Lauren Beale

Thoughts? Comments?

Credit: Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[sfvrealestate]

Thanks for this, Lauren.

[Ryan]

It's absolutely tragic when animals get left behind, and it's often an under-reported story, so thanks for posting this.

Good advice - follow it!

[leah]

I'd also like to thank the writer for writing this article. Animals are often overlooked in household emergency kits and that's tragic. At the first hint of fire or any other disaster pets should be kept indoors close by, perhaps already in carriers and crates so that any stress and panic won't prevent people from remembering them. I for one would keep all pets indoors anyway but it's especially important in these areas since fire (and wild animals) are always a hazard. It would be SO heartbreaking to have to leave an animal behind because they cannot be found because they are allowed to wander.

My heart goes out to everyone swept up in this horrible event.