Bushfire planning for pets

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With the fire season approaching, make sure you have a plan in place for your pets in case of emergency.

Consider:

• How will I transport my pets if I need to evacuate? (Do you have appropriate carriers, car harnesses, etc. and is your pet trained to use them?)
• Where will I take my pets? Plan ahead as to whether pets will stay with friends or family or go to a boarding facility in a safer area, remembering that in summer often many boarding facilities will be very busy. Find out from local council whether there will be pet friendly evacuation centres in your area. Consider whether to evacuate your pets in advance on high risk days
• Are my pet’s microchip details up to date? This is crucial in case your pet goes missing to allow you to be safely reunited.
• Are my pet’s vaccinations and preventative treatments up to date?

Pack an emergency bag for your pet containing:

• any special food and medication your pet needs
• food and water bowls and plenty of fresh water
• vaccination and registration certificates
• bedding and a favourite toy
• collars/harnesses and leads
• contact details for your local vet and emergency accommodation options

Don’t forget to consider what will happen if there is a bushfire while you are away – if your pet is in a boarding facility or being cared for by a pet-sitter, make sure there is a plan for what to do in case of an emergency.

The RSPCA has some very useful resources to help with planning for emergencies: https://rspcavic.org/services/emergency-assistance/emergency-planning/