Wildfires and other emergencies are a reminder that it’s important to have a go-bag ready and an evacuation plan in place. And that includes having a plan for your pets. photo credit: Creative Commons
Wildfires and other emergencies are a reminder that it’s important to have a go-bag ready and an evacuation plan in place. And that includes having a plan for your pets. KRCB’s Shandra Back talks with Sonoma County Animal Services Director Brian Whipple about how to prepare your animals for when an evacuation order comes.
KRCB: The love of an animal, that bond is really strong. In an emergency, sometimes things need to happen fast. Sometimes shelters don’t allow animals. How can that affect safety when you’re trying to balance protecting your pet and protecting yourself?
WHIPPLE: It’s a known fact people won’t evacuate if they can’t take their pets with them. One thing that’s unique for Sonoma County is that we will always set up, to start with, a pet-friendly shelter. People can come right away and have a place to bring their pet. Most of the ones we set up are cohabitated, where the person can be sitting on their cot, sleeping with their dog in their lap or have their cat in its crate next door…