Watching Canada’s boreal forest burn, this year, along with the displacement of thousands of residents of First Nations, and other communities, made for a sad, and stressful, summer. Many evacuees had pets who traveled with them to temporary lodgings. Events like forest fires, along with other unexpected disasters, like the recent flooding in Steinbach, reminds us that we are not immune to situations where we may need to leave our homes with little notice. If you had to move quickly, could you? Do you have a plan for where you would go? Where your pets would stay?

We have all seen footage of earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, fires, and other scenarios where you might need to move at a moment’s notice. While most businesses, schools and government agencies require written, and practiced plans, many families don’t have anything in place in case the worst scenario comes knocking.

At work, a safety officer shows you how to leave a building safely, and where to wait with your co-workers (a muster point). You may have training in how to use a fire extinguisher, an AED or other valuable tools. There are diagrams on walls to show you were to exit the building, instructions on avoiding elevators and escalators and to close doors behind you. You practice fire drills yearly, or more frequently.

Your family should have the same level of knowledge, and comfort, that comes with a defined, and practiced plan. If there’s a fire, or flood, how do you get out? Who calls for help? Where is the safest place to wait for other family members? Who informs other family members if some aren’t home?

By researching different scenarios and how best to stay safe, you can develop your own plan and discuss it with your whole family. Once everyone knows what to do, practice it. Time it. And always have a plan B in case your original plan won’t work.

Even though you might not be able to get your pets out in an emergency like a house fire, you should plan to evacuate with them in scenarios where you can. If a situation isn’t safe for you, it’s not safe for your pets. If you have to be away for a long time, your pets may not get the care they need in uncertain, and evolving, situations. It’s best to take them with you and arrange for care elsewhere.

Many people, and pets, stayed in emergency shelters, this year, due to wildfires. The Winnipeg Humane Society set up an emergency pet shelter where staff and volunteers cared for pets until they could return home. In order to make it as easy as possible for everyone, having a well-defined plan, in advance, goes a long way.

Use one of the checklists at the end of this article to make your own and check out the disaster preparedness links, too!

Does your cat have permanent ID that leads them to you? Cats should either have a tattoo or microchip, or both. Do you know your cat’s hiding spots and how to get them out? Are they current on their vaccinations? Do you have enough medication to last a couple of weeks? Are you aware of boarding facilities, and pet-friendly hotels, within a reasonable distance from your area?

Most people have a cat carrier for their cat. What will you do if you have more than one cat and you only have one carrier? Ideally, you should have one carrier per cat. Leave the cat carriers around the house with treats in them so your cats see them as a nice place to hang out. You should also have a backpack, or bag (disaster kit) with items they will need. Print an info page, and photos, for each cat. Place your disaster kit, in a waterproof bag, in an easily accessible place. Also consider purchasing a soft, enclosed, folding pen in case your cats will need to stay in a makeshift shelter. It will keep them contained and provide a way for them to stand up and walk around, give them a chance to use the litterbox, eat and drink and be together.

Sound-training your cats is an excellent way to ensure they come when you need them to. Use a sound they don’t hear around the house. Give them a treat they ONLY get when they hear that sound (make it a really good treat). Practice, and time, rounding them up, getting them in their carriers and grabbing the backpack a few times a year.

If anyone tells you to leave your pets behind when you evacuate, ask officials tasked with helping the community evacuate if that is, in fact, the case and ask them why. Sometimes there are misunderstandings or incomplete information because of a situation that is rapidly changing.

If official order you to leave without your pets, ask who will be checking in, feeding/providing water/medicating them while the community is away. Plan for this scenario as well, but do your best to avoid it. Do you have enough food to leave them for up to a month? Are there large enough containers to leave water for them? Do you have written instructions in case a community official is staying behind and will look after them? Is there enough medication at home for those who need it?

Animal rescue organizations have volunteered to check in on pets in the past, so long as community officials allow access. It is always best to provide these people with as much written information as possible in order to keep your pets healthy while you are away. Make sure you highlight critical info so those helping can do their best for your pets. Leave an info sheet where emergency workers can see it, along with your supplies.

Emergency Preparedness information:

Winnipeg Humane Society
American Veterinary Medical Association
American Red Cross

Pet Evacuation Kit Checklists

American Veterinary Medical Association
American Red Cross

Pet Emergency Information Sheet

Humane Rescue Alliance (fillable PDF)