Our pets are truly a part of our lives. They are family members who rely on us to feed, care for, and keep them safe. What can truly happen to your pet during and after a disaster?
I wanted to share some lessons learned from my experiences helping the victims of the Campfire in Paradise, California, as well as my journey of travelling 2,000 miles to assist after Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas.
Hurricane Harvey, Houston, TX 2017:
Hurricane Harvey. This photo started the drive to Houston
After travelling 2,000 miles with a truck and trailer full of supplies to aid the rescue efforts in Houston, my first stop was at a small shelter nearby to deliver the requested dog food and supplies we had brought from Nevada. They had provided us with a list of essential items they needed.
I want to express my gratitude to all the volunteers and workers at the shelter. They were exhausted and overwhelmed, but so happy to receive the supplies they desperately needed. The two items that brought them the most joy were cleaning supplies and box cat carriers. They quickly removed the carriers from our truck and placed them in their vehicles. To return these cats to the shelter, these boxes were a lifesaver for them.
Heading Home:
I ended up bringing four dogs back with me to Nevada that were surrendered by their families. Here’s the real situation at that time: the shelters were overcrowded, and the law required them to hold found pets for 30 days to allow owners to reclaim them. However, if pets were surrendered by their owners, they were typically euthanised within 48 hours because the shelters knew the owners were unlikely to come back for them.
During this trip, I learned a couple of important things. First, many people were unprepared to evacuate with their pets. As a result, some chose to stay behind rather than leave their pets. This decision put both them and their pets at risk, as well as first responders who might have to perform rescues. The other option was for people to abandon their pets or release them to fend for themselves. Sadly, domesticated animals were left to try to survive on their own.
The heartbreaking truth is that while we often know how many people perish in a disaster, there is no tracking for the lost pets.
Campfire Paradise, CA 2018:
Preparing your pets for wildfires
This was another catastrophic disaster, and this time we were only a 2.5-hour drive away. Our first trip was to the old Oroville Hospital, where they were housing pets that had been found or rescued. The first thing we saw upon arrival was a line of people trying to find out if their pets had been saved. To be reunited with their pets, they needed some form of identification. The best way to do this is to have a photo of yourself with your pet that shows any identifying marks on your pet.
We made four more trips after that initial visit, and during the last three, we had full U-Hauls filled with donations from our community in Reno/Sparks. The local Angels Among Us Camp, which had set up in Magalia just outside of Paradise, would call me to say they needed more pet food. Whenever we arrived, there were always people waiting for us to unload the U-Haul. I remember a group that had set up cat food stations around town for the cats that had been left behind.
The Campfire spread so quickly, and many people were either at work or school. With only one road in and out, they were not allowed to return home.
The lesson we should take away from this experience is to always have a buddy system in place. Ensure that a close friend or neighbour can rescue your pets if you’re not home, and make sure they know where you keep their emergency kit.
Lessons learned:
- Be prepared to evacuate with your pets
- Make sure you have an emergency go-bag for your pets
- Have a buddy system
- Have a selfie with your pet for identification
Watch the documentary on the Campfire in Paradise. Click here to watch
When you have pets, it’s important to leave at the first sign of danger. Don’t wait for a manditory evacuation.
Stay safe and be prepared.
Great content alot of information on what happens to your pets in emergency. Everyone should be prepared for an emergency with a kit for there family and pets.