How to Keep Your Pets Safe in an Emergency
It's stressful having to suddenly evacuate your home, then there's your beloved pet to consider. Here's how to prepare
Mariella Attard
2 March 2022
Houzz Australia contributor. I'm a freelance writer, always looking for the next story. (And always picking cat hair off every item of clothing and furniture that I own.)
Houzz Australia contributor. I'm a freelance writer, always looking for the next... More
Whether it’s bushfire or flood, pets are a top priority when it comes to evacuating. But if you’re not prepared, it can make a difficult situation much harder. In an ideal world, our pets would be forever by our side. But for situations where this isn’t possible or safe, or when you and your pet need to leave home in a hurry, we spoke to two experts to discover what to do to be pet-ready in an emergency.
My cats don’t react well to any hint of stress. Accidentally smash a plate during the washing up and they dive for cover under the sofa. Move the furniture a bit or start packing something into a bag and they’re pacing the hall, whiskers twitching, on high alert. So you can imagine what their reaction might be to anything more stressful than, say, a frantic search for house keys.
When the smell of smoke woke me up in the middle of the night (sadly, a regular event during the devastating Australian bushfires of 2019 and 2020) I realised that I didn’t have a plan for how to get the cats out if we were in a hurry, in the dark.
When the smell of smoke woke me up in the middle of the night (sadly, a regular event during the devastating Australian bushfires of 2019 and 2020) I realised that I didn’t have a plan for how to get the cats out if we were in a hurry, in the dark.
Of course, the key to any emergency is to be prepared. We’ve all heard the message about the importance of having a plan for floods and bushfires. And those plans need to include pets. So, what can you do to be ready in case you need to get your pets out in a hurry?
Find a fencing specialist near you on Houzz to help secure your pets’ outdoor play areas
Find a fencing specialist near you on Houzz to help secure your pets’ outdoor play areas
Don’t panic, but you might need a plan sooner than you think
Bushfires and floods might not be front-of-mind right now, but there are other reasons you should have an emergency plan for your pet.
What if you’re taken away in an ambulance, or you have to travel suddenly for work or a family crisis?
And what will happen to little Alvin, Simon and Maggie if you’re delayed in getting home because your car broke down in the middle of nowhere and it’ll take days to get the parts and the pet-sitter?
Bushfires and floods might not be front-of-mind right now, but there are other reasons you should have an emergency plan for your pet.
What if you’re taken away in an ambulance, or you have to travel suddenly for work or a family crisis?
And what will happen to little Alvin, Simon and Maggie if you’re delayed in getting home because your car broke down in the middle of nowhere and it’ll take days to get the parts and the pet-sitter?
“More often than not, we get very short-notice calls from people in a panic,” says Sharon Savill, director and founder of Pet Friends, a Perth-based pet-sitting service in WA.
“Someone’s ended up in hospital and they’ve got a dog and a cat at home and a budgie and they think, ‘Oh my goodness, who’s going to feed my pets?’”
The good news is that there’s plenty you can do in advance to make sure your pet will be okay.
“Someone’s ended up in hospital and they’ve got a dog and a cat at home and a budgie and they think, ‘Oh my goodness, who’s going to feed my pets?’”
The good news is that there’s plenty you can do in advance to make sure your pet will be okay.
Savill says the number-one thing is to sort out a pet-friendly emergency contact – a neighbour, friend or family member or, failing that, a pet-sitting service. If your pet can’t stay home, it’s much easier to have an accommodation option worked out for them in advance.
The other important task that you can do right now is to jot down a packing list for your pet. In an emergency, you or someone else can pull it all together in flash. “So when you’re worried and trying to think of what to pack for yourself and your kids and whatever else, there’s just a basic list of necessities that your pet would need if it’s going with you or going somewhere else to stay,” says Savill.
The other important task that you can do right now is to jot down a packing list for your pet. In an emergency, you or someone else can pull it all together in flash. “So when you’re worried and trying to think of what to pack for yourself and your kids and whatever else, there’s just a basic list of necessities that your pet would need if it’s going with you or going somewhere else to stay,” says Savill.
What to put on your shopping list right now
If your pet hasn’t left your house before, you may not have a carrier in which to transport them safely and conveniently. If that’s the case, get one.
“For example, if you have birds in an aviary, you should have a smaller cage for them; keep it in the shed,” says Savill. “Or if you have free-roaming rabbits, they’ll need a carrier.”
If your pet hasn’t left your house before, you may not have a carrier in which to transport them safely and conveniently. If that’s the case, get one.
“For example, if you have birds in an aviary, you should have a smaller cage for them; keep it in the shed,” says Savill. “Or if you have free-roaming rabbits, they’ll need a carrier.”
And because you may be on the road for a while, or doing a lot of waiting, you’re going to need a large container to store enough water for an indeterminate length of time, as well as a smaller one that your pet can drink from.
Finally, even if your pet doesn’t normally wear a collar, Savill says it’s very helpful if they have one with a tag and your phone number, in case they run away in fright. This, she says, increases the chances that you’ll be reunited sooner.
“It’s law that they have to be microchipped,” she says, “but the amount of times that we come across stray dogs – it’s really easy if you look at their collar and you can see the number and call it rather than having to take them to a vet.”
“It’s law that they have to be microchipped,” she says, “but the amount of times that we come across stray dogs – it’s really easy if you look at their collar and you can see the number and call it rather than having to take them to a vet.”
Whatever can be done in advance, do it
When it comes to floods and bushfires, there’s often a bit of time between the initial warning and the final order to evacuate. If you can, the veterinarians at Animal Emergency Service in Queensland suggest getting your pet out as early as possible.
“Ask a friend or family member if they are able to take care of your pet until the all-clear has been given. This means that you have nothing to worry about to start with,” says Dr Gerardo Poli.
When it comes to floods and bushfires, there’s often a bit of time between the initial warning and the final order to evacuate. If you can, the veterinarians at Animal Emergency Service in Queensland suggest getting your pet out as early as possible.
“Ask a friend or family member if they are able to take care of your pet until the all-clear has been given. This means that you have nothing to worry about to start with,” says Dr Gerardo Poli.
Dr Poli has put together a list of items to corral in a pet evacuation kit, ahead of time. “A pet evacuation kit has all the critical items and information that is required for you to take care of your pet if you are temporarily displaced,” says Dr Poli. “Place all the following items in a large tub and have it in or near the car.”
- Transportation equipment: leads and harnesses, car harness, cat or dog carriers.
- Food and water for at least one week: water bowl and a couple of litres of water, pet food that can be stored without refrigeration.
- Current medications and a pet first-aid kit: place these along with instructions in a small box.
- Miscellaneous items: toileting bags, blankets and toys.
Other items in the kit are not so obvious. Emergencies are stressful for pets, and when they’re afraid, they sometimes run away. Dr Poli suggests including various things in your evacuation kit that will make it easier to find them, like a recent photo, phone numbers for local shelters, the council’s phone number for lost pets, and contact details of after-hours vets.
And don’t forget to pack your pet’s medical records. If they can’t stay with you or a friend, they may have to board at a kennel and they’ll need proof of vaccination.
And don’t forget to pack your pet’s medical records. If they can’t stay with you or a friend, they may have to board at a kennel and they’ll need proof of vaccination.
Keep the stress to a minimum
That’s easier said than done, but anything you do to keep your pet as calm as possible in an emergency will go a long way to making the situation easier for everybody and reduce the chance of them fleeing in a panic.
Browse more beautiful living spaces
That’s easier said than done, but anything you do to keep your pet as calm as possible in an emergency will go a long way to making the situation easier for everybody and reduce the chance of them fleeing in a panic.
Browse more beautiful living spaces
Dr Poli has a few tips for keeping your animals as calm as possible:
- Don’t punish your pet for being afraid. It can lead to worse behaviour. Offer comfort and use distraction as a method to calm them down.
- While still at home, create a quiet space for them to go to. If they have a place they like to hide, let them go there. Follow their lead.
- You can use music to mitigate stressful new environments and unfamiliar noises.
- Distract your pet with their favourite toys and treats on the way.
Your turn
Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve had to evacuate a pet or other animals in a hurry? What helped you and your animals in a difficult situation, and what would you do differently next time?
More
Want more stories from fellow pet pals? Don’t miss At Home With… Animal Lover and TV Vet Dr Lisa Chimes
Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve had to evacuate a pet or other animals in a hurry? What helped you and your animals in a difficult situation, and what would you do differently next time?
More
Want more stories from fellow pet pals? Don’t miss At Home With… Animal Lover and TV Vet Dr Lisa Chimes
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Timely article. Spent 2 days this week in southern Colorado with a NRCS biologist, WAP County Coordinator and Deputy Fire Chief assessing a rural community and preparing a community assessment for fire prevention. Many discussions about Fuel Ladders, mitigation in advance, the correct address signs, road width & condition for emergency vehicles, north vs. south slopes and how fire travels, community exits, pipe stands for fire tank refueling, backup generators for water tanks, etc.
Fire in the SW is no longer an “IF” question, it is a “WHEN” question!!! The more proactive you are, the less risk you are putting yourself, property, pets and loved ones in.
Great article! I'd like to know the author's solution about finding her cats in the middle of the night if there's a fire. I worry abthat also.
Living on the Gulf Coast we have had lots of experience evacuating for hurricanes over the years. But we obviously have more time to prepare with a hurricane coming than a wildfire. Excellent list for supplies, would only add extra leashes and collars just in case. Where we live, there are two options for evacuation, either east or west depending on which way the storm is coming in. We have routes planned and have already researched hotels that take dogs. I also recommend making hotel reservations as early as possible, you can always cancel if the storms turns to another track, All pet records are kept in a separate container for easy transport.