As the weather warms up and the grass starts turning from green to brown, its time to think about fire season. Our region is at high risk, as recent history has proven. Being prepared for an evacuation with your pets can help to make a stressful situation easier, and hopefully allow you to keep your pet safe.
A Go Bag is a container of some sort that is already packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice. It should contain essentials to get you through at least the first few days of an evacuation. You should have a Go Bag for every member of your family, including your pets. In this article, we will go over evacuating with dogs and what should be in their Go Bags.
There are a few important issues to consider about evacuating with a dog.
• First, how to keep the dog contained. Things will be stressful and scary, and you cannot keep your dog safe if they run away. A collar (or harness) that fits properly and an appropriate leash are critical. If the dog is small enough, you can consider a kennel or travel crate. These provide additional protection, which can be beneficial, but can also be difficult to pick up and move.
• Second, where and how to house your dog. Many animal facilities (including almost all boarding facilities and vet clinics) will require an up to date rabies vaccine. That means not only do you need to keep your dog updated, but you need to carry proof of the vaccine. Other vaccines can be helpful as well, such as Distemper/parvo and kennel cough – but rabies is the big one. Hotels, rentals, and evacuation shelters may or may not be pet friendly.
• Third, if you and your dog are separated, how can you re-unite? Microchipping is the most reliable way to identify your dog – have them microchipped and carry the information with you. A photo can also be helpful to show people if you are trying to find your dog. Physical tags on their collar or harness with your contact info are wonderful, as long as the dog keeps the collar or harness on.
Finally, do an honest behavioral assessment of your dog. Some dogs handle stress well. Some love meeting new people. Some love going on car rides. And… some do not. It may be wise to have things on hand or established prior to an evacuation to make your dog more comfortable and handle-able during this very stressful situation. Mild oral sedatives can help to take the edge off. Good recall training (ie: they come when you call) is always useful. Leash behavior that is not aggressive or unruly will make your life easier. For large dogs, or dogs with known reactive/fear aggression, a basket muzzle can ensure that there are no unfortunate incidents. Even the nicest dog can bite under bad circumstances. A basket muzzle allows the dog to pant and take treats, while still wearing the muzzle. Visit The Muzzle Up Project for training and fitting tips, as well as more information about basket muzzles.
Go Bag contents:
• Collar/harness and leash
• Medications
• Food
• Water
• Bowls for food and water
• Vaccination and microchip documents
• Picture of the dog (in your phone and/or your go bag)
• Poop bags
• Pee pads
• Towel
Optional items to consider
• Crate or kennel
• Basket muzzle
• Booties
Things to arrange beforehand:
• Microchip placed and registered, information up to date
◦ Your name and contact information should be registered with the microchip company
◦ Keep documents that list your pet’s microchip number, such as the paperwork from initial placement, or other documents such as a rabies certificate
• Up to date vaccines (especially rabies)
◦ Keep a document that lists the due dates of the vaccines.
◦ Every animal who receives a rabies vaccine can get an official rabies certificate with a veterinarian’s signature. This is a vital document for travel and registration. If you have lost your copy, feel free to ask for another – we are happy to provide one.
• Crate training
• Recall training
• Basket muzzle training
• Extra supply of medications (maybe)
◦ Some medications have legal restrictions on how much can be prescribed
◦ Feel free to discuss with your vet if you have questions about your pet’s specific medication.
• Plan/supplies for medications that need to be refrigerated (such as insulin)
◦ Consider finding a travel cooler, many are available for human diabetics.
AUTHOR: Dr Ema Thigpin