Don’t forget pets when fire threatens

Aspecial message from Ice-T, Eames, General Sterling Price (a.k.a. Lurlene) and Sir Linus (Waylon) “Boy Boy” of Advent:

Don’t forget your furry friends when making plans to bug out ahead of a wildfire.

My wife and I have been dogless now for six years, since the passing of Bailey the Wonderdog, which transitioned us into fulltime cat people.

Lord, have mercy, it is a challenge sometimes, despite all the furry, purry love, for one whose chief aim with wiry farm cats growing up was to maintain the balance of power with equal-size rats in our big hay barn.

Ice-T, Eames, Sterling and Linus, of course, are the feline denizens of our home. Four cats. Indoors. Full time. It’s a veritable cat farm, a tiny CAFO — concentrated animal feeding operation.

With the wildfires out west raging, it occurred to me that we should have a fire evacuation plan, even smack in the middle of Edmond, for our critters. And one of those stickers for the front door, for firefighters and first responders, that says: “Rescue Our Pets,” with a place to list kinds.

We do think of them and get their carriers positioned and ready for flinging into the smallest room in the center of the house with us during severe weather. I’d never thought of a fire evac plan, let alone one for the kitties, until this week.

The huge fire in Dewey County — about 300,000 acres burned and 60-plus families homeless at this writing — hit me in the 1980s. I dated a cattleman’s daughter from Vici back in the day, and she and I ran around Vici, Sharon, Mutual, Leedey, and that whole territory south of Woodward, enough for me to get familiar with it.

In the course of worrying on behalf of people and their livestock, I saw our own domestic livestock, so utterly dependent on us, in a different, horrific, flickering light.

And then came this, from Ag Communications at Oklahoma State University, by Trisha Gedon. I happen to know she grew up at Laverne, which means she knows a thing or two about the natural dangers of life on the Plains.

She wrote at midweek:

Oklahoma once again is in the midst of major wildfires in the western part of the state. Fire has consumed more than 366,000 acres with no end in sight.

While some Oklahomans already have suffered losses of homes, equipment and livestock, many more are still in the line of the fires. If you do not already have an escape plan in mind, it is time to develop one now.

And that plan should include your pets, said Dr. Elisabeth Giedt, director of Continuing Education, Extension and Community Engagement at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University.

“When an emergency or natural disaster occurs, your survival, as well as that of your pets, depends on the plan you have in place. Your pets most likely can’t survive on their own,” Giedt said. “It’s imperative to be ready to evacuate with your pets should the need arise.”

The first thing to consider is finding a safe place to go. Because of the health regulations in some states, disaster shelters set up by the American Red Cross cannot accept pets, except for service animals that assist individuals with handicaps.

When developing your plan, put together an emergency preparedness kit. It should be something easy to carry, water repellent and sturdy.

“The things you’ll need to include in the emergency kit may vary from person to person. Medicines and other medical equipment is a must,” she said. “When it comes to your pets, be sure to include veterinary records and a recent photo of your pet, preferably with you. Also, food, a can opener, food dishes and bottles of water should be included in your pet’s emergency kit.”

Because your escape may be hectic or rushed, your pet may be agitated. Include a strong leash and muzzle in case your dog becomes frightened. For small pets, keep a pet carrier stored with the emergency kit so it is ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Giedt said pet owners should consider the possibility they will not be at home at the time of an emergency.

“It’s a good idea for a trusted friend or neighbor to have access to your pets so they can transport them to a prearranged safe meeting place,” she said. “Be sure this person knows where your pets may like to hide to make locating the pet easier.”

It is important for your pet’s identification tags to be up to date and include important information such as the owner’s name and phone number. If your pet should escape during an emergency, the identification tag is his ticket home. Consider microchipping your pet as a permanent means of identification.

“While we certainly hope the fires are under control very soon, take these steps now to help ensure your pets are safe,” Giedt said. “This same information is vital during storm season and other emergencies, as well.”

Pet owner, your heart tells you to do something. There are you some things to do.