It’s summer! Are you making plans to travel with your animals? Or, is a sitter staying with them?

Maybe you’re having guests with pets. Whatever your summer fun scenarios, planning for animal emergencies and disaster prep should be part of your prep.

This year brings a dramatically longer fire season, and new concerns about fuel and other shortages and infectious diseases in animals as well as humans. Whew… not exactly the summer fun mindset we want! But if your summer plans include emergency plans for your animals, you’ll be better able to truly relax and enjoy.

Whether you’re an animal owner, sitter, or AirBnB, HipCamp or resort items in our Summer Animal Preparedness Guide will help you organize and check off all the considerations for safe traveling and hosting.

We also live in Earthquake Country, it’s a big consideration! Have you upgraded your preparedness plans for yourself and the rest of your family—the critters as well as the humans?

Having a plan is a start, now, how about Plan B, C, D…? Upgrading and updating your Disaster Action Plan includes taking a realistic look at everything that could have health and life-threatening impacts and doing what you can to improve the odds for safety and resilience.

Take it one step at a time, starting with the basics:

Whether you’re hitting the show circuit, riding in the back country, welcoming visitors to your inn, farm stay, or vacation rental property, or vacationing without your pets and/or equines – planning is more important than ever in this drought-stricken, supply chain-and-COVID-challenged year.

We’ve compiled important checklists, action items and resources that will help you improve your plans for equines, pets, poultry, and livestock that could save lives and are guaranteed to provide peace of mind.

Incorporating emergency and disaster plans into your vacation prep means factoring in all the same essentials in your home Disaster Action Plan, (“DAP”). Ensuring safety for your animals takes a few more steps.

Safety starts at home! Weekly walk-arounds should be part of your summer home and barn routine.Sonoma FireSAFE and Cal Fire’s “Ready for Wildfire” app, both offer super checklists to self-assess your property. HALTER Project has a great “FireSAFE Animals” resource library.

Don’t expect your home and animal-sitters to tackle safety chores in your absence. Start with a clean, green and safe setting so maintenance is easy. Know Before You Go is critical when you’re leaving animals at home, or traveling to, or through, a fire or storm-prone area.

Basically, everything you have in your home emergency plan should be part of your vacation. Chat with friends who routinely go walkabout, especially if they take their animals, to share tips and advice.

Planning for animals who are your traveling companions, those relaxing at home, or visiting pets, requires a few more steps. Don’t assume anything!

Take the lead to ensure that the people caring for your animals or staying in AirBnBs or Hip-Camps in your neighborhood are fire and earthquake-wise and have the tools they need to evacuate with animals, and to request assistance for animals sheltered in place.

If you’re taking your pets on your vacation this summer, there are some extra considerations to keep them safe, healthy, and relaxed.

Here’s a checklist. Most items are applicable to equines as well as pets:

Here in beautiful and hospital Sonoma County, it’s vitally important to help visitors AND neighbors stay safe and healthy, and safety awareness should be “SOP” for travelers and hosts. So, here are a few more notes about Vacation Safety for travelers and hosts:

We live in a spectacular region, loaded with beautiful blessings as well as challenges. The best way to have a relaxed summer, with or without travel, is to be prepared. Readiness has brought us together, let’s keep paying it forward. Share information with neighbors, friends and family. And have a fabulous summer, filled with fun and companionship!

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