Have a fire emergency plan for every member of the family
- Natalie Perkins
- Jul 1
- 2 min read
In response to the devastating wildfires burning across Utah, national nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society urges residents to ensure their pets are included in their disaster preparedness plans.
“The first step to making sure pets are prepared for any emergency is to ensure dogs and cats are wearing up-to-date identification tags with current contact information,” said Tiffany Deaton, Director of National Operations, Best Friends Animal Society. “Having contact information updated and available on an ID tag or microchip is the quickest way for reunification should a pet become lost.”
Best Friends recommends putting together a go-bag of basic supplies for potential fi re evacuations, including:
A pet first aid kit, including an extra supply of any necessary medications, current vaccination records, a list of the pet’s medical needs and veterinarian’s number;
A three to five-day supply of wet and/or dry food (and water, if possible);
A crate labeled with the pet’s name and contact information (use masking tape and a permanent marker);
A cover for the crate, like a light sheet or towel, to block any smoke or debris and help pets remain calm;
Pet toys and/or treats;
Consider placing a well-worn sweater or sweatshirt inside the crate so the pet has a familiar scent around them;
Extra poop bags;
Blanket and towels;
Bowl, can opener and spoon;
For cats, a small bag of litter and litter pan;
A photo of the pet, as well as a photo of pet owners with their pet to keep stored on mobile devices in case people are separated from their pets.
“Should an emergency occur, it’s important to have a plan in place: identify where you’ll go, and what you’ll need to bring so that you can have peace-of-mind in case you and your pets need to evacuate for several days during a potentially chaotic time. Keeping pets out of shelters is critical in times of disaster and having a course of action is an essential step in keeping pets with their people,” said Deaton.
To learn more about how to prepare for an emergency with pets, visit bestfriends.org.
