Never leave pets behind in a structure during evacuation
Pets left behind during an evacuation rarely fare well. Smoke fills structures even when flame does not reach them; power and water often fail; and...
Pets left behind during an evacuation rarely fare well. Smoke fills structures even when flame does not reach them; power and water often fail; and rescue access can be blocked for days. The BC SPCA, Alberta, PreparedBC and Ready.gov are unanimous: take pets with you when you evacuate. If you have somehow been evacuated without your pets and they are still inside the structure, call the BC SPCA Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722 or your local ESS centre in Canada — or in the US, contact your county emergency management, local animal control or the shelter running animal rescue for the incident. When conditions allow, responders can sometimes coordinate rescue. If you must briefly shelter in place with pets while waiting for safe evacuation, keep them in a secure room with you, doors closed, with a HEPA cleaner if you have one and water available. Do not crate or tie animals where they cannot escape if conditions worsen. For livestock, see the separate guidance: open gates so animals can move away from advancing fire, mark them with identifying information, and leave at least 72 hours of feed and water. Plan to take pets with you. Plan never to leave them.
If you are already evacuated without pets, BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722 can sometimes coordinate rescue — but the right plan is always to take pets with you in the first place.
Source: BC SPCA — Wildfire Animal Evacuation Support
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
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