Fire Season & Your Pets: What Every Family Should Know
As wildfires become more frequent and unpredictable across many regions, it’s important that families with pets take steps to be proactive—not panicked. Emergency planning can be lifesaving, and your animals depend on you to be ready when seconds matter.
Here’s how you can prepare to keep your pets safe during fire season:
Create a Pet Evacuation Kit
Prepare a go-bag for each pet in your household with enough supplies for at least 3–5 days. Include:
Food and water
Collars, leashes, harnesses
Medications and instructions
Pet first aid kit
Waste bags, litter, disposable trays
Favorite toy or comfort item
Copies of vet records, vaccination proof
A recent photo of your pet (in case you are separated)
Know Where to Go
In the event of evacuation, many emergency shelters do not accept pets. Research nearby:
Pet-friendly hotels
Boarding facilities outside evacuation zones
Friends or family who can temporarily house your pets
Save these numbers to your phone now—don't wait until you’re on the road.
Make a Written Plan (and Share It)
Leave a visible, written emergency plan in your home and share it with trusted neighbors or your DOTR pet care professional. Include:
Where pets are likely to hide
Feeding and medication instructions
Emergency contacts
Where your pet’s go-bag is stored
Secure Identification
Make sure your pet’s ID tags are current and attached to their collar. If your pet is microchipped, double-check that your contact info is up to date in the database.
Practice Evacuation
If your pet is crate-trained or nervous in the car, do a few short practice runs. The more familiar the process, the less stressful it will be when it really counts.
If You’re Away During an Emergency...
Let us help. If your pet care professional is providing service while you're out of town, make sure they know your emergency plan in advance. Our DOTR professionals are trained to act quickly—but we need the tools to support your pets safely.
Your pets are family. And in an emergency, they depend entirely on you. A little planning now can prevent heartbreaking decisions later.
If you'd like help creating a custom pet evacuation plan or storing your emergency contact information with DOTR, just reach out. We’re here to support your peace of mind.
Don't wait for smoke on the horizon to start planning. Prepare your pet evacuation kit today, review your emergency contacts, and let your DOTR professional know your plan. Need help? Reach out to the DOTR Concierge Team—we're here to support you in keeping your pets safe, no matter what the season brings.
Stay safe, stay prepared,
The Dogs On The Run Team
