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Birds
What Do I Do Before a Disaster?
Our birds rely on us for their safety. This is especially true during an emergency. The key to a successful evacuation is to plan ahead.
**If You Need to Evacuate Without Your Pet**
Plan
- Plan for different types of emergencies
- Make arrangements with dependable neighbor or friend living nearby to take care of your bird in case a disaster strikes and you cannot return home. They should have access to your house and know where your bird's "Go Bag" is located.
- Have a dependable neighbor or friend that lives outside of the area willing to take care of your bird if you need to evacuate your town, city or county.
- Make sure neighbors/friends who may need to take care of your bird are familiar with your pet and the location of its "Go Bag."
- Contact hotels and motels in your surrounding area to see if your bird can stay with you in a room during an emergency. A list of websites for Pet-Friendly Hotels.
- Have a list of your primary veterinarian and secondary veterinarian willing to take care of your bird during an emergency.
Prepare
- Prepare a "Go Bag" for your bird and keep it in an easily accessible place (by the door or closet).
- Complete "My Pet Vital Information" form
- Have a carrier for each of your birds, if needed. The carrier should be lined with paper or a cage liner. Attach your bird's name, your name and contact information and your veterinarians' name and number to the side or bottom of the carrier in a plastic bag or a clear document holder. Keep your Go Bag, as well as a carrier, by the door or in an easily accessible place like a closet.
- Become familiar with local evacuation routes.
- Establish a means of identifying your bird such as a microchip or leg band, for example.
Act
- Practice placing your bird in a carrier, if one is needed. Use the same carrier for veterinary visits or other travel trips.
- Take your bird and "Go Bag" with you in an emergency.
Fires can be especially dangerous for birds
Fires are especially dangerous for birds because of their delicate respiratory system and the heavy smoke and ash in the air. If you need to evacuate in a fire and are worried about your bird having breathing problems, place a damp sheet over its carrier or cage so that some of the soot and dust will be captured in the sheet. Heat, dehydration and smoke from a fire could be harmful to your bird. If you think that your bird is suffering from being exposed to the after effects of fires, seek veterinary attention.
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