Humane Society offers temporary shelter for pets during wildfire evacuations
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- As wildfires pop up and prompt evacuations around Southern Colorado, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region promises to support pet owners during these chaotic moments.
The Humane Society says it will accept pets needing temporary shelter during mandatory evacuations.
"We do have a plan in place that when we have fires in our own community, we can create some space so people that are affected by those fires and are getting evacuated but maybe don't have a place to go with their pets, can bring them here," said Cody Costra, Public Relations Manager for the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. "We can look after them so they have a safe and loving place to stay while they can't be at their home.”
Depending on the situation — your pet might only need to be at the Humane Society for a few hours before evacuation orders are lifted. However, the shelter says they’re prepared to host pets overnight too.
“We had a couple of animals come in last week, and luckily our firefighters here in Colorado Springs got those fires under control pretty quickly, so those animals weren't here very long," said Costra. "They did go back to their families within a day or two.”
The Humane Society says they’ll take any domesticated animal, including fish, lizards, birds, and rabbits.
If your pet gets loose and runs away during evacuation chaos, call the Humane Society. Your dog or cat may have been picked up by their Animal Law Enforcement team.
"Our Animal Law Enforcement team will look out for any stray animals are wandering around fire zones," said Costra. "If you have to leave and your animal is still in your home, our Animal Law Enforcement team can go into homes in those evacuated zones and they can check and try to save your animal for you as well."
During evacuations, HSPPR says to check their Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information. While the shelter will typically be the place where pets are accepted, sometimes the location can change depending on the situation and where the fire is burning.
It’s also smart to have a 'go bag' ready for your pets in case of evacuation. The Humane Society recommends having extra food and water, leashes, and medical records like vaccination cards in the bag.
