Are you prepared to rescue your pets if a fire alarm or carbon monoxide detector goes off? What if you need to evacuate due to a wildfire? Having an emergency plan in place can give you peace of mind and help you protect your pets as well. Here are some common sense ways you can prepare now, so you can move quickly if there’s ever an emergency.
How to Rescue Your Pet If a Fire Alarm Goes Off
It’s one of those experiences you hope to never have. Housefires and wild fires can escalate quickly, so your escape window may be short. But practicing fire drills with your pet can get you both comfortable with simple evacuations.
Keep a leash or cat carrier near the door. Practice exiting your home with your pet quickly and calmly so that this experience becomes routine for them.
As startled as you might feel when the fire alarm starts blaring, your cat or dog will feel even more frightened. If your pet panics and hides, the most important thing is to stay calm. Remember, you know where their typical hiding spots are. Locate them as quickly as possible and exit the building.
Once you’re outside, stay outside. Never go back into a burning building. If there are any family members or pets you couldn’t evacuate, tell the first responders. Fire fighters have specialized equipment and are trained for rescue situations. (Window clings are another way to let first responders know there are pets inside if you aren’t at home.)
How to Prepare for an Emergency Evacuation in Gilbert
Arizona doesn’t experience natural disasters very often, but just in case there’s ever a flash flood or a wildfire, it’s good to have a pet-inclusive evacuation plan in place.
- First, decide where you’ll go to find safety and how you’ll get there.
- Next, assemble a pet emergency kit. Pack a bag or plastic tote with an extra leash and harness, pet food and bottled water, and any medicine your pet needs. Keep it inside your pet’s carrier or crate so that it’s easy to find when time is short.
- Finally, make sure the contact information tied to your pet’s microchip registration is up to date. Give each pet collar ID tags and keep them current, too.
Thinking about evacuating your home with your pet can be stressful, but making preparations now is necessary. Practicing regular escape drills helps you and your pets become more familiar with the idea. When you make packing up and leaving feel routine, it can reduce some of the panic you and your pet might feel in an actual emergency. Plus, you’ll know what you do because you practiced it over and over again.
What to Pack in a Pet Emergency Kit
Food, water, comfort items, and medications should go in the bag first. While it’s hard to guess how long you’ll be away, there’s also a limit to how much you can carry out of the house in a hurry.
A common recommendation is to plan for 3-5 days of food and water. Take more water than you think you’ll need, because desert heat speeds up dehydration for your pet, just like it does for you.
If you’re planning to store the emergency kit in your vehicle, put your pet’s food and water in a heat-resistant container. Daytime temperatures inside a car can exceed 150°F, spoiling food quickly.
Here are a few optional items to include in your pet’s emergency kit:
- A copy of your pet’s vaccination/medical records
- Cooling supplies like a small battery-powered fan, a cooling mat, and a spray bottle to help reduce the risk of heatstroke
- Familiar toys or a favorite blanket to help ease your pet’s anxiety
- A recent photo of you with your pet (consider carrying a printed photo as well as a digital one for immediate sharing)
- Basic first aid supplies, including tweezers to deal with things like cactus spikes or foxtails
- Waste bags, cat litter, or puppy pads
Get Prepared with a Veterinary Checkup
As you start building your pet’s go-bag, don’t forget to schedule an appointment with Anasazi Animal Clinic for a checkup, medication refills, microchip ID, or vaccination boosters. Our team is pleased to support your pet’s good health and answer any questions you have about how much and what kind of food and other emergency pet supplies to stock up on.
Photo by Ashraful Islam on Unsplash used with permission under license for commercial use 04/03/2026.