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IN CASE OF FIRE
EVACUATION PLAN NEEDED FOR YOUR PETS
by Lisa Boyle
Well, the weather is warming up and the wind
has blown mercilessly with almost no rain. This means fire season is here.
We all hope to not be directly affected by a
fire. But, where we live, we need to be prepared just in case. Not only do we
need to have ourselves ready for an evacuation, we need to have our pets ready
also.
If you're at home when the evacuation is
called, you know everything your pet will need. But, as we learned from the
Rodeo-Chediski fire, if you're not home, someone else will be looking to see if
you have pets. This is especially true if you live somewhere out in the woods.
At the shelter, we have a sticker for your
front window that will notify emergency personnel that you have animals. You
will need to have an information package on hand for such an emergency. This
package should contain a list of each animal you have and a description or,
better yet, a photo of the animal.
Also included should be notification of any
medications or physical disabilities your pet may have. For instance, I have two
blind dogs and one ancient, somewhat senile dog. So, if someone else is
collecting these dogs during an evacuation, they need to know these pets can be
easily disoriented.
A proof of a rabies vaccination is also good
to have on hand, as well as information on how to contact you or an alternate
person to contact who may know where you are.
It's a good idea to have a pet taxi for each
of your animals that can be easily located by the emergency personnel. Remember,
these people will be racing time, and anything you can do to make this process
run smoothly will make it much easier to save your pet's life.
Even if you are home, you too will be in a
rush, so being prepared is a good idea. Let's all be ready and hope we never
have to use our evacuation plans.
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FROM THE ASPCA POISON CONTROL
CENTER
Did you know...
CLICK HERE
to view the Ten Most Common Poisons That
Dogs Ingest.
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EXTREME WEATHER & YOUR PET
Please
take special care to make sure your dog or cat has a warm, well-insulated
place to sleep and to live during the day. It's best if they can
sleep indoors with you and spend cold days mainly indoors as well.
Senior pets especially are vulnerable to arthritis and other joint
problems, just like we are, and they need a comfortable warm place
to live and to sleep.
They'll
also need plenty of fresh water (changed at least once a day) to
help keep them well hydrated, even in the wintertime.
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BUILDING A FENCE FOR YOUR DOG
So
your new dog jumps fences...or you don't have a fence. What do you
do? Ideally, your dog would be happiest and safest in the house
while you are gone, but if that isn't an option.... it's far kinder
to build a fence....or an enclosed run (with adequate shade) than
to put your dog on a chain, or to let them run in the neighborhood
and possibly get hurt by wild animals.
Dogs
can get tangled up or hang themselves on chains, and they feel defensive
and frightened when strangers approach and they cannot run away.
So your dog is more likely to bite someone when on a chain. In addition,
your dog on a chain is food for coyotes and other predators (including
other larger dogs), that might be wandering through the neighborhood.
A chained dog is constantly in a state of defensiveness--they just
can't relax.
A dog
run provides a safe haven where your dog can hang out without being
attached to anything. Dogs have a natural inclination to den...it's
a safe place for them, not a punishment. A dog run is also portable...you
can take it with you when you move! Make sure you build your fence
or run in your backyard (not in the front). A dog kept in the front
yard is tempting for someone to steal or hurt. Not everyone loves
your dog the way you do. So NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE FRONT YARD.
Be
sure the fence or run is tall enough (if your dog is an escape artist,
think at least 8' tall with a top that inclines inward, or with
a cover on it.) Size depends on the dog--but at least 6 to 8' wide
and 10 to 12" long for a run is a good place to start. Be sure
the dog can't open the gate...there are special latches you can
buy that are dog-proof!
Always
provide a bed to sleep on, some toys or chews to keep your dogs
busy during the day, AND cool shade from the hot sun. Test this
at different times of the day, since the sun moves in the sky--make
sure your dog always has a shady spot. And always make sure you
have a big bucket of fresh water throughout the day. Your dog drinks
a lot more than you might think.
When
you come home, your dogs want to spend time with you. Don't scold
them for getting excited when you come home. Going for walkies on
a leash, or doing some doggie training is great exercise for both
of you. Inside time, and sleeping in the house with you is heaven
for a dog...they see it as "quality time" even if you
are both asleep :) Plus it's a lot safer, especially in coyote country,
to have your dog in the house at night. Quieter for your neighbors,
too.
Dogs
are pack animals, and they need to spend time with their pack (that's
you).
First
choice if you can is always to have your dog inside with you, as
part of the pack. But if you're not able to do that all the time,
make sure you have a good fence or a dog run, to keep your dog as
safe as possible while you are gone.
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RABIES -- GET THE FACTS!
Rabies
is a viral infection of the central nervous system. Any mammal may
be infected, but it is much more common in wildlife, especially
here in the Rim Country. In 2006, in Arizona there were 127 reported
cases of animal rabies:
87 bats,
15 skunks, 19 foxes, 3 bobcats, 3 llamas,
1 coyote, 1
mountain lion, & 1
pet cat.
Rabies
can be transmitted in the saliva of infected animals, usually by
bite wounds. An animal can also get rabies by biting or eating an
infected animal. An infected animal can transmit rabies even before
symptoms are present. Symptoms may include difficulty in swallowing,
drooling, fever, unusual vocalization, staggering, restlessness,
aggression, convulsions, and paralysis. A normally shy animal may
become unafraid of humans; a nocturnal animal may be active during
the day; a docile animal may become aggressive.
To
prevent rabies infections to yourself and your pets:
-
Avoid
contact with wildlife-dead or alive.
-
When
camping, discourage visits from wild animals by making sure food
and trash is inaccessible to animals.
-
Don't
allow your pets to wander or to be placed where they are vulnerable
to attacks by other animals.
-
If
you encounter an animal acting suspiciously, back away and report
the animal to Animal Control (in Payson, the Police Department).
-
Keep
your pets current with their rabies vaccine. It is required that
dogs be vaccinated. They may be vaccinated between 3 to 4 months
of age. The first vaccine is good for one year, and additional
vaccines are good for 3 years. It is recommended that cats also
be vaccinated. A rabies vaccine costs approximately $10-20 and
can save your pet's life!
If
an animal bites you, wash the wound immediately with soap and
water to remove saliva. Immediately, call a doctor, who can notify
the local health department. If there is even a suspicion that the
animal is rabid, your doctor will probably have you undergo a series
of shots.
If a potentially rabid animal attacks your pet, handle your pet
with a towel or gloves to minimize your exposure to the saliva.
If the animal that attacked your pet tests positive for rabies or
is unavailable for testing, your vet will probably recommend a rabies
booster for your vaccinated pet. In the same situation, a non-vaccinated
pet would have to be quarantined for 180 days or euthanized. In
Gila County, the pet is quarantined in Globe at the cost of $7 a
day.
There
has not been a human death caused by rabies in Arizona since 1981.
Let's keep it that way-and protect your pets too! If you have any
question, please contact your local animal control officer or your
veterinarian.
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