The devastating fires burning in Southern California are a serious threat to life and property, and dogs are among those in danger. If you’re near this disaster, we hope you and your loved ones are safe. Here are some tips to help you protect your dogs from the smoke and fire—plus what to do if you find a lost pet.
Bring supplies
If you have to leave your home, take as many of these essentials as you can. And, even if it’s safe to remain in your home for now, prepare a kit with these supplies in case you need it.
• Water
• Food (more on that below)
• First-aid supplies, including any medicines
• A leash and collar, including a tag with your contact information
• If your dog might get cold, a jacket or sweater
• A carrier
• Poop bags
• Any ID, licenses, and proof of up-to-date vaccinations
• A photo of you and your dog together, in case you become separated. This can help others identify your dog, and prove that they belong to you.
Protect your dog from smoke
Smoke is dangerous to all living things, so it’s best to take measures to minimize the amount you and your dogs breathe.
You can check your local air quality through airnow.gov. The private website purpleair.com also has a network of air monitors. Individual sensitivity to air pollution varies, but general government guidelines state that Air Quality Index (AQI) values under 50 are good, from 50–100 are moderate, 100–150 are unsafe for sensitive groups, and above 150 are unhealthy. The numbers can climb still higher, to hazardous levels. If your dog is a puppy or a senior, or has any health issues that could interfere with their breathing, values over 100 could present a danger to them. Any dog may be in danger if the values are above 150. In these situations, keep your dog inside as much as possible, and bring them back inside after they go to the bathroom. Remember to feel the ground outside to make sure it’s not hot to the touch—if it is, don’t let your dog walk on it. You can also consider using pee pads when conditions outside are dangerous.
To keep your indoor air as safe as possible, run an air conditioner with a filter—MERV 13 or above is best. If you have an air purifier, this is also an ideal time to run it. You can give your dog mental and physical exercise in your safe, cleaner indoor air—play tug and fetch, give them a food puzzle, or teach them a new trick. If you make things fun for them and stay positive, they are likely to feel better themselves.
Feed your dog as well as you can
No matter what’s going on, your dog needs to eat. Depending on the specific circumstances at hand, your feeding schedule may be affected—but you can take measures so that your friend will have enough food.
If you’re feeding fresh, losing power to your refrigerator or freezer could disrupt your routine. The CDC has advice for how to keep your frozen and refrigerated food edible during a power outage. Generally, food can stay colder longer if it’s packed closely with other cold items in a freezer, refrigerator, or cooler. Placing food in a freezer bag can add insulation. If you feed The Farmer’s Dog, check to make sure that your food is still cold to the touch before feeding. And, if it smells bad or the pack has puffed up, toss it—better safe than sorry.
If you’re on the go and have the room, you can bring some food packed in a cooler with ice or cold packs. Remember to follow the same guidelines to judge its freshness.
If you have access to ingredients and a kitchen, but can’t get your delivery, you can home-cook temporarily for your dog. Here are some recipes. This isn’t a great long-term solution, as it’s very difficult to formulate a nutritionally complete diet for a dog in your own kitchen, but it’s okay in the short term.
Keep your dog with you
Especially in an unpredictable situation, keep your dog close to you—with their collar or harness, ID tags, and leash attached—whenever you’re outside of your home. A tracking collar can also be a good precaution. Don’t forget that your dog doesn’t have context for these events, and may become scared or confused if things change quickly.
If you can afford a hotel room, look for a pet-friendly option; many sites where you might book lodging will allow you to filter for spots that allow dogs.
What to do if your dog is lost
If your dog goes missing, don’t panic. Start looking as soon as it’s safe to do so, and go to any place they know or like. Bring treats they love in case you need to lure them. Tell everyone you know; it’s no time to be timid. Friends, neighbors, and anyone else in the area can be helpful, as you never know who might have spotted them.
Put up signs—old-fashioned paper fliers that are easy to read and contain all the pertinent information can be a good way to call attention to your search and reach people who might not otherwise know about it. Post on social media and/or neighborhood message boards, too, with a recognizable photo of your dog and advice about what to do if someone finds them.
Also check with local shelters and vet offices to see whether they’ve found your dog. Have the info from their tags or microchip ready so that you can confirm their and your identity.
What to do if you find a lost dog
The first thing to do if you find a lost dog is to check for contact info on their tags. If their person’s phone number is there, you might be able to reunite them right away.
If you find a lost dog near your home, and you’re able, it can help to keep them while you search for their owners. “The shelters are so inundated, even before all these fires,” explains Tee Sorge of Tobie’s Small Dog Rescue. So, if you can keep the dog safe, they may be better off with you until they’re back in their forever home.
Alexis Carvalho of Ho’ola Dog Rescue says that, if you don’t know who owns the dog, you can call the nearest vet or animal shelter, who should be able to scan their microchip. Also post on social media—including in groups specific to lost dogs—and reach out to shelters who can help spread the word that you’re looking for their owner. Take and share the best photos you can.
The post How to Protect Your Dog From Smoke and Fire appeared first on The Farmer’s Dog - Digest.
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