Many B.C. residents prepare an emergency plan for their family in case they have to leave their home immediately, but how many remember to include their pets in their planning?
That’s the message that the BC SPCA sent out during emergency preparedness week earlier in May, which coincided with National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day on May 11. The organization urged British Columbians to remember that when they make an emergency plan, they need to remember their pets as well.
“Making a plan for your pet not only ensures their safety, it also plays a role in the safety of emergency responders and families,” says Bill Penhallurick, the BC SPCA’s manager of emergency response. “Studies have shown that having pets was the most significant reason households failed to evacuate during major events, and the risk of not evacuating nearly doubled with each additional animal in the home.”
Penhallurick adds that during a wildfire evacuation there often isn’t much time to get out of your home and on the road. There can often be a lot of open doors, confusion, and noises that can scare your pet and cause them to run away or hide.
“Something as simple as making sure you have sturdy carriers for your pets to safely contain them while you get ready to leave can make a huge difference,” says Penhallurick. “Often, with only minutes to evacuate, there is no time to look for a dog or cat, and having to leave your beloved pet behind only adds to the trauma of an evacuation.”
That is why Penhallurick reminds pet guardians to ensure their pets have a registered microchip with current contact information so that if they do go missing, they can be more easily reunited with their family. He also recommends having a grab and go container with a two-to-four-week supply of food, water, and treats, plus bowls, as well as your pet’s medications and medical records.
“People forget that during an emergency, accessing a pet store for food and supplies may be impossible,” he says. The BC SPCA has a number of resources on their website to help pet guardians prepare for an evacuation, including an emergency checklist.
In past emergency response efforts, the BC SPCA has helped find, feed, and reunite hundreds of farm and companion animals, and have provided pet food and supplies to pet guardians forced out of their homes.
It’s also worth remembering that even if you have prepared for evacuating your pets, situations can change rapidly. If you are away from your home and your community is placed under evacuation order while you are absent, you will not be allowed back in to retrieve your pets.
If there is a possibility that an evacuation order might occur, but you need to leave town for some reason, take your pet(s) with you if you can. If that isn’t possible, leave a house key with a neighbour and ask them to get your pets if the need arises (don’t forget to tell them where the animal carrier and grab-and-go bag are).
Penhallurick also wants to remind people of the other ways the BC SPCA can help during an emergency.
“During an evacuation our animal centres are always prepared to provide free emergency pet boarding,” he says. “Finding accommodation during a mass evacuation can be really challenging, and adding a pet, or multiple, to the mix can make it almost impossible.
“Emergency boarding through the BC SPCA means we take these pets into our care temporarily while evacuees find a place to stay. We welcome visits from the guardians and even provide updates on how their pets are doing while in our care. There is no limit to the pet’s length of stay.”
For more information, visit www.spca.bc.ca.
