By Payton Tholstrup

With September being National Preparedness Month, it is important to consider what you will do in an emergency if you have livestock or pets. Planning and being prepared is key.

“Pets that are evacuating with you must be leashed and have a portable kennel or crate,” Pam Kemp, Clay County Emergency Management Director, said. Covering their crate with a towel or blanket will help them stay calm.

You should also pack your pet’s food and water as well as an emergency kit for them. “Your emergency kit should include the pet’s immunization records and copies of any needed prescriptions the pets may need,” Kemp said. Placing a photo of your family and your pet in the kit can help verify ownership, as well as serve as a useful tool if your pet gets lost.

Your pet’s collar should have an ID tag with your updated contact information. Microchipping your pets is also recommended if possible; just make sure the contact information in that system stays up to date.

In case of wildfires, livestock should also be taken care of, even though they can’t evacuate with you. There are several ways you can prepare.

Kemp advises having an arrangement with owners of locations that have corral space or pasture space to receive your animals on short notice.

“Prearranged identification of who you know has the needed equipment and can help get animals loaded and moved can help save precious minutes in an emergency,” she said.

Animals, such as horses, goats, sheep, and donkeys that cannot be moved to safety quickly should never be penned or left in a closed corral or pasture, especially during a fire.

If you do have enough warning to move them to a safer location, do so, but pay attention to emergency updates from local officials. If you must leave them behind, write your name and contact information on their hoof with a Sharpie marker, remove all halters, blankets, and other items that can burn or snag on fencing or brush, and set them free.

Be sure all sheds, barns, and stables are firmly closed, and all doors are secure. If the animals are frightened, they will try to return to their safe place and may become trapped in the burning structure. Also, ensure corral and pasture gates are closed to prevent animals from becoming trapped.