Pet Fire Safety

Have an emergency plan and practice escape routes with your pet

Include your pet into your family emergency plan and practice taking them with you.  It is a good idea to determine who will be responsible for grabbing your pets during an emergency.  This will help to make your escape more efficient and reduce scrambling in an emergency.

Note where your pets like to nap or hide

It is important to know where your pets like to hide or nap in the event that you must evacuate your home quickly.  Pets can be more difficult to round up if they sense stress—especially cats!  Create ways for easy access to them in case of an emergency.  It’s nice that your pet can have a hideaway if he or she wants to relax in, but in an emergency, you need to be able to locate and extract your pet as quickly as possible.  Practice crating your pets in advance to make it a positive experience for them.  This way they don’t go running away from you when you pull it out to crate them during any type of emergency.

Invest in a Pet Rescue Alert sticker/decals

Pet Rescue stickers/decals will let people know that pets are inside your home.  Make sure it is visible to rescue workers (i.e., on/near a front window or on/near your front door).  The sticker should include the types and number of pets in your home, as well as an emergency contact name and number.  Providing this information can cut down on the time responders spend searching your home in the case of a fire.  You can purchase Pet Rescue stickers online or at your local pet store.  If you must evacuate with your pets, and if time allows, write “EVACUATED” across the stickers. 

Consider installing monitored smoke detectors

Monitored smoke detectors are connected to emergency responders.  If you live in a fire-prone area or are concerned about a fire potentially starting while you are away, monitored smoke detectors will notify firefighters immediately even if you are not at home.

Make an Emergency Supplies/Travel Kit

If you must evacuate your home in a crisis (i.e., forest fire, earthquake, tornado, etc.), plan for the worst-case scenario.  You will want to pack enough supplies to last your pet several weeks in case you may not be allowed to return home until then.  Be sure to have the following items/things completed as soon as possible:

• Make sure all of your pets wear a collar with their ID tags on them.  Ensure the ID tags are up to date with the most current information on them.  Your pet’s ID tag should contain their name, your telephone number and any urgent medical information. 
• Your pet’s carrier should either have a luggage tag or pet passport secured to it.  These items should have a photo of your pet, your pet’s name, your name and contact information, and any medical needs listed on it.
• You may also want to microchip your pets as a more permanent form of identification.  A microchip is implanted under the skin in the animal’s shoulder area.  This way if your pet loses or you forget to put their collar on with their identification, the shelter can use a scanner to find the microchip and use the information to get a hold of you.  Make sure you keep your pets microchip up to date as well with current information.
• So you are not having to carry/pack too many things for your pet, you might want to consider downloading a Vet Medical Record app.  These apps allow you to store your pets’ medical records electronically.  This way if you have an emergency and can’t get to your veterinarians’ facility, or need them in a hurry, you can easily access them on your mobile device.

Store your emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is, and that it is clearly labeled and easy to carry.
Make a contact list of local animal hospitals and boarding facilities If your pet is injured or needs to be sheltered, you’ll need to know where to take them. 

• Contact your veterinarian for a list of preferred boarding kennels and facilities.
• Ask your local animal shelter if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for your pets.
• Identify hotels or motels that accept pets.
• Ask friends and relatives in your area if they would be willing to take in your pet in the event of an emergency.

Note: Not all shelters accept pets.  Having a predetermined plan on where you will be taking your pet in the event of an emergency will save you a lot of time and help avoid any undue stress.