With all the recent smoke in the Tahoe Basin from the surrounding wildfires, it is a good time to look into your Disaster Preparedness Plan for your pets and make sure you have everything in order for a hasty retreat to safety.

With the threat of fires, earthquakes, or other disasters, you will want to have your pets items ready to pack and go in a fast, easy manner. Here is what I have ready for my dogs:

Collapsing Kennels/Pen- We have collapsible kennels for both of our dogs. This makes them easy to move by myself if I am home alone, and allows me to easily fit both of them into my car or truck. We also have a small exercise pen for the dogs that folds flat and can be grabbed if needed.
Food container- I have a container for food, and typically keep two extra bowls next to it to grab, along with some Kongs. We also have collapsible water bowls kept in our vehicles.
Medical Box- I have a small container that has all of my dogs medications and peanut butter and pill pockets for administration.
Your pets microchip number and enrollment company, along with any important medical information- it sounds obvious, but we often register our dogs microchip and then forget the number and company. I suggest having this written in marker (or printed and laminated) on your kennels, medical box, and food storage.
Leashes! Keep leashes in the same place, so you do not find yourself running around searching for a leash. I also keep two slip leads with our leashes for extra security, and 2 more in the car in case we encounter a stray.
Water- It is a good idea to keep a gallon or two of water to snag in the event of an evacuation. We replace ours every few months.
Space For Pets- In both our vehicles, we can fit all of our pets and pet items, with room to spare for humans and human things. If you have multiple pets or a smaller vehicle, it is a good idea to do a “test run” and see how to pack efficiently in order to have everything you need.

There are also some key skills to work on with your dog to help prepare for an evacuation:

Crate Training: If your dog needs to go to an emergency shelter, odds are your dog may need to spend time confined to a kennel or small pen. If your dog is not crate trained, I suggest working on it little by little, so your dog becomes comfortable staying in a kennel. Sending your dog to a crate during an emergency also lets you know exactly where they are in the house.
Muzzle Training: Most people think only “bad dogs” wear muzzles, but this is not true! Dogs may need muzzles for many reasons. If your dog is wary of people or other dogs, muzzling the dog during evacuations can prevent fear/stress biting. If your dog is injured, a muzzle may be required in order to evacuate and treat your dog safley.
Getting in and out of the car. Not all dogs like the car. Training them to hop in could save you precious time during a hasty evacuation. (you do not want to waste 10 minutes trying to force your 100lb pooch into the car!)

Have you prepared for emergencies with your pets?