Our pets enrich our lives in more ways than we can count. In
turn, they depend on us for their safety and well-being. The
best way to protect your family from the effects of a disaster
is to have a disaster plan. If you are a pet owner, that plan
must include your pets. Being prepared can save their lives.
Different disasters require different responses. But whether the
disaster is a wildfire or a power outage, you may have to
evacuate your home. If the call to evacuate is made, the most
important thing to protect your pets is to evacuate them, too.
Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for
them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost or worse.
So prepare now. Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets
because of health and safety regulations, and other
considerations. Service animals who assist people with
disabilities are the only animals allowed in Red Cross shelters.
Even though we work with the local Humane Society to assist pet
owners during a disaster, it might be di