Fire season is upon us, which means we all need to plan ahead and prepare. When reviewing your family’s evacuation plans this year, make sure your pets are included. In an emergency, a little preparation can make all the difference for both people and animals.
Prepare a go-bag and evacuation plan now in case you need to evacuate quickly. Pet owners should have carriers, leashes, collars, food, medications and copies of vaccination records packed and ready to go. Pets should be current on vaccines, wear ID tags and have up to date microchip information whenever possible. These simple steps will make it easier to board your dog, or be reunited with your pet if you become separated. Pets who are accustomed to carriers are able to evacuate more quickly. Simply keeping a carrier out now and feeding your pet near it will help them get accustomed to it and make it less scary when the time comes to load up. A little forethought and a simple plan will result in a far less stressful evacuation than those who are trying to make decisions in the middle of a crisis.
Staying informed during fire season is just as important as having supplies ready. La Plata County residents should sign up for LPC Alerts, the county’s emergency notification system, to receive evacuation notices and fire updates by phone, text or email. Pet owners should also identify pet-friendly shelter options before an emergency occurs. Many of Durango’s hotels are pet friendly, including DoubleTree, Holiday Inn and Budget Inn. Perhaps friends or family outside potential evacuation zones can serve as your backup housing in the event of an emergency. Thinking through these details ahead of time helps families make quicker, safer decisions if an evacuation order is issued and reduces the chance that pets will be left behind or lost because owners are scrambling to find accommodations.
La Plata County Humane Society is prepared to support the community when wildfire emergencies occur. LPCHS is part of the county’s emergency response network and we are ready 365 days a year to respond and meet the needs of our beloved community. In the event of a local evacuation, LPCHS will accept pets from residents within evacuation zones until owners can safely return home or make other arrangements. During the 416 Fire in 2018, LPCHS took in 138 evacuated pets and transferred 48 shelter animals to partner organizations to free up space for evacuees. During the Missionary Ridge Fire, LPCHS sheltered approximately 480 evacuated pets and transferred more than 100 pets already in our care to make space. These numbers highlight both the scale of wildfire emergencies in Southwest Colorado and the importance of community preparedness before disaster strikes.
Wildfires are an unfortunate reality of living in Southwest Colorado, but preparation can save lives and reduce heartbreak during an emergency. Taking a few simple steps now can make evacuations safer and less stressful for both people and pets. At LPCHS, we encourage every family to make a plan, stay informed and be ready before the next fire starts.
Colleen Dunning is executive director of La Plata County Humane Society.
