Following last year’s Eaton fire, we’ve spent a lot of time making sure our organization is ready for the next disaster.
Some of that work is very practical. It means equipping our staff with the training, tools, and relationships they need before an emergency happens.
A few weeks ago, a small group of Pasadena Humane staff traveled to Northern California for an intensive animal disaster response training led by Animal Search and Rescue (ASAR), an organization that supports animal control agencies and first responders during disasters across the country.
The first day focused on search and rescue basics and field safety. On the second day, participants put those lessons into practice during a mock drill that felt very familiar to anyone living in California: an earthquake.
Captain Jerry Mai, who leads our field services division, was among the Pasadena Humane staff members who attended. Since joining our organization late last year, Jerry has helped formalize our disaster readiness efforts, from coordinating regional trainings at our shelter to helping animal control officers practice safely loading horses and livestock into trailers.
“As a result of recent disasters, the culture within animal welfare agencies has changed,” Jerry notes. “We no longer think about what we will do IF a disaster happens, but rather WHEN.”
Disaster response is rarely the work of one organization alone. Through mutual aid agreements, partner shelters can step in when the need is greater than any one organization can meet on its own, like we saw during last year’s wildfires.
The same kind of planning matters at home, too.
June is Pet Preparedness Month, which makes this a good time to take a few simple steps before an emergency occurs. An evacuation order is not the time anyone wants to be searching for a carrier, medication or a pet-friendly place to stay.
Jerry has seen firsthand how difficult these moments can be. From his experience working on the front lines of disasters, including last year’s Palisades fire, he believes preparation can make a real difference.
“We often pack and plan for ourselves, but not our pets,” he shares. “We need to remember to pack their medication, food and water supply, too. Have access to an extra pet carrier, and if you have livestock, ensure your trailer is functioning before disaster strikes.”
If you need to evacuate, always take your pets with you. A good rule of thumb to follow is that if it’s not safe for you, it’s not safe for your pets.
It is also a good idea to think ahead about where you and your pets could go. Identify pet-friendly hotels outside your immediate area or talk with friends or family members who might be able to help. Pasadena Humane can provide emergency boarding to local residents, but whenever possible, it’s best for pets to stay with their families.
During the Eaton fire, many pets went missing in the confusion and chaos. Make sure your pet can be easily identified if you become separated. A current ID tag and a registered microchip can greatly improve the chances of a reunion.
Stop by our Shelter Shop to pick up an ID tag. Residents of our animal control service area can also have their pets microchipped at our weekly low-cost vaccine and microchip clinic.
We can’t control when the next emergency will happen. But we can do some simple things now that make it easier to protect the pets and animals we love.
For more pet disaster preparedness tips or to book a microchip appointment for your dog or cat, visit pasadenahumane.org
Chris Ramon is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
