No matter where we live, disasters strike with shocking suddenness. When preparing for eventualities such as quakes, floods, blizzards, or fires, remember to locate a place where your pets can be cared for during the emergency. Shelters for people generally won't allow evacuees to bring their dogs, cats, or other animals with them.
Though many residents of northern Alberta lived in fear of grass fires eleven years ago, I had additional worries on my mind. I mentioned them in my
When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies memoir. Here's an excerpt from that paperback which shows the additional difficulties I faced from a prairie fire raging out of control some miles away.
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The spring of 2001 was extremely dry. There were numerous forest fires around the Redwater area. Some people lost their houses to the fire and one church member's farm was partially destroyed.
Given that I had a great deal of trouble getting Gideon to the vet, I worried about how I'd evacuate with two rabbits. Emergency shelters don't allow pets of any kind. That meant I would have to either leave the bunnies behind or find a friend to keep them for a while.
I prayed hard in those days that the fire wouldn't come near my home. After weeks of fretting about the possibility of my house burning, the firefighters got the blaze under control.
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When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to
contact me directly for more information.
This is another reason why we don't have pets, although Bill and I both like dogs, and I like cats and have fond memories of having both while growing up. If Bill and I had to evacuate, Bill would have to go to a nursing home since emergency shelters wouldn't have the specialized equipment needed to care for him. On top of that, I would have to find a temporary shelter for a pet. Of course Dad would certainly take the dog if we had one, and me, come to think of it, but it would still be a pain in the anatomy for all involved. I'm glad you and your bunnies didn't have to evacuate.
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