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Utah assistant state vet urges pet and livestock owners to prepare animals for wildfire season
Summary
Dr. Sabo, assistant state vet for the state of Utah, told meeting attendees to make a plan, communicate it, and assemble an emergency kit (documentation, feed/water/medications, first aid) to protect animals during wildfires; the Utah Department of Agriculture offered resources and assistance.
During a public comment, Dr. Sabo, assistant state vet for the state of Utah, urged pet owners and livestock producers to prepare animals for wildfire season by making a plan, communicating it to others, and assembling an emergency kit. "We've got 3 steps that we want you to focus on today," Dr. Sabo said.
Dr. Sabo said the advice is timely because the state was experiencing active fires. "Because we're in the middle of wildfire season and unfortunately we've got a couple fires burning right now, I wanted to speak about some things you can do to prepare for a wildfire or any other type of disaster for your animals," Dr. Sabo said.
The first step Dr. Sabo recommended is to make a written plan. He said livestock are often a business and should be planned for as such; the plan should cover both sheltering in place and evacuation options and include who will help and where animals could be moved.
The second step is to communicate that plan. "We want to make sure that everyone knows our plans, including our neighbors, our close and extended family, and any other agricultural or livestock associations who you think might benefit from knowing your plan," Dr. Sabo said.
The third recommended step is to assemble an emergency kit that can support either sheltering in place or evacuation. Dr. Sabo outlined three key kit components: documentation, supplies for care, and first-aid items. For documentation, he advised pet owners to take photos of themselves with their pets to demonstrate ownership and asked livestock owners to record identification methods and testing records such as EIA testing; he also recommended sharing copies of those records with others who might assist.
On supplies, Dr. Sabo recommended storing feed, water, and necessary medications to cover anywhere from three days up to a week, noting that "we never know how long an emergency might take place." For first aid, he said owners should gather whatever basic items they would need to care for animals and themselves during evacuation or sheltering.
Dr. Sabo also said the Utah Department of Agriculture offers resources to help producers develop emergency plans. "We here at the Department of Agriculture would love to help you develop your emergency plans for your livestock," he said. He closed by directing listeners to department links for more information and saying, "Stay safe."
This public comment provided information and guidance; no formal policy or regulatory action was proposed or taken during the remarks.
