How To Protect Your Pets During Fire Season
Fire season can be stressful for everyone, including the furry, feathered, and scaly members of the family. While you may be watching the news and checking the air quality, your pet is probably wondering why everyone suddenly seems to be acting weird and why their favorite human keeps opening the door to stare outside.
Unfortunately, wildfires and wildfire smoke can pose serious risks to pets. With a little preparation, though, you can make fire season safer and less stressful for your animals. Your pet may not understand your emergency plan, but they will absolutely appreciate the snacks involved.
1. Keep Pets Indoors When Smoke Is Heavy
Wildfire smoke can irritate a pet's eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Dogs and cats can be affected by poor air quality just like people can, and birds are especially sensitive to airborne pollutants.
When smoke levels are high, keep your pets indoors as much as possible. Close windows and doors, and consider using an air purifier if you have one. Avoid letting your dog spend long periods outside, even if they give you their most dramatic look through the window.
Bathroom breaks should be short and practical when the air quality is poor. This is not the time for your dog to conduct a 45-minute investigation of every blade of grass in the neighborhood.
2. Make an Emergency Pet Kit
You probably have an emergency kit for your family, so don't forget your pets. Put together a pet emergency bag that you can grab quickly if you need to leave.
Include things such as food, bottled water, medications, a leash, collar, harness, bowls, waste bags, a blanket, and basic first-aid supplies. It's also a good idea to include copies of vaccination records and important veterinary information.
For cats and small animals, keep a sturdy carrier somewhere easy to reach. If an evacuation becomes necessary, you don't want to discover that your cat has suddenly developed a PhD in hiding under furniture.
3. Keep Identification Up to Date
During an emergency, pets can become frightened and escape. A normally confident dog may suddenly decide that running down the street is an excellent adventure, while a cat who normally stays indoors may discover an unexpected interest in outdoor exploration.
Make sure your pet's identification tags have current contact information. Microchipping your pet can provide an additional way to help identify them if they become separated from you.
Before fire season gets serious, check that collars fit properly and that your contact information is still accurate. If your phone number changed three years ago, your pet's collar probably did not receive the memo.
4. Know Where You Can Go
Don't wait until an evacuation order is issued to figure out where your pets can stay. Some hotels, shelters, boarding facilities, and evacuation centers have restrictions on animals.
Make a list of pet-friendly places you could go in an emergency. Friends and family who are willing to temporarily house your pets can also be helpful.
It's smart to have more than one option. Fires can change quickly, roads can close, and your original destination may suddenly be unavailable. Having a backup plan can make an already stressful situation a little easier.
5. Never Leave Your Pet Behind
If you are told to evacuate, take your pets with you. Even if you think you will only be gone for a short time, wildfire conditions can change rapidly.
Never assume your pet will be safe alone in the house. Smoke, heat, power outages, changing winds, and advancing flames can create dangerous conditions very quickly.
If it isn't safe for you to stay, it isn't safe for your pet either. Remember: your pet may not be able to pack their own emergency bag, but they are counting on you to be the responsible roommate.
6. Pay Attention to Air Quality
Fire season isn't just about flames. Smoke can travel long distances and create unhealthy air even when a wildfire isn't particularly close to your home.
Check local air-quality information and watch for signs that your pet is struggling with the smoke. Coughing, difficulty breathing, unusual tiredness, excessive eye irritation, or other concerning changes should be taken seriously.
Pets with existing respiratory or heart conditions may be particularly vulnerable. If you notice concerning symptoms, contact your veterinarian for guidance.
7. Don't Forget the Little Guys
Dogs and cats aren't the only pets who need protection during fire season. Birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, and other small animals can also be affected by smoke, heat, and evacuation stress.
Make sure smaller pets have appropriate carriers or travel enclosures ready. Keep their food, water, medications, and supplies together so you aren't scrambling to find everything when you need to leave.
For reptiles and other animals with specific temperature or habitat requirements, talk with your veterinarian ahead of time about emergency transportation and temporary housing.
8. Practice Your Evacuation Plan
You don't want your first practice evacuation to happen when smoke is already filling the sky.
Practice getting your pets into their carriers, putting dogs on their leashes, gathering your emergency supplies, and getting everyone out of the house. Your dog may think this is a fantastic new game. Your cat may strongly disagree with the concept of teamwork.
The more familiar everyone is with the routine, the easier it can be to respond when a real emergency happens.
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
Fire season can be unpredictable, but preparing ahead of time can help protect your pets and give you peace of mind. Keep emergency supplies ready, know where you can evacuate, monitor air quality, and make sure your pets can be identified if they become separated from you.
Most importantly, remember that your pets are relying on you during an emergency. They may contribute absolutely nothing to the evacuation plan besides barking, hiding, shedding, or demanding snacks—but they're still part of the family.
So get the carriers ready, stock up on supplies, update those ID tags, and make a plan before you need it. Your future stressed-out self—and your four-legged emergency supervisor—will thank you.
