06
Sep

Your livestock may be a way to make a living, but the animals also become part of your family. You need to ensure they are safe in the middle of an emergency.

It is worth working with neighboring farms to ensure that all animals are safe. You’ll also want to make sure emergency services know that you have livestock, what you have, etc. This helps if you are away at the time of the emergency or if you are struggling to get everyone out.

Get Ready for the Emergency

You don’t know when some emergencies are going to happen. It’s always worth having a trailer ready to get your animals out should it happen. You need that trailer to be ready to hit the road, and you need a plan to get all livestock on that trailer as quickly as possible.

Animals panic. This is especially the case for horses, alpacas, and llamas. They don’t know what to do, and their flight instincts kick in. You need to get them into the trailer quickly, otherwise you will have a situation that quickly gets out of control.

There are times when you need to choose a human life over an animal life. This is devastating, as anyone who has been in that situation will tell you.

When to Cut the Animals Free

There are times that you need to hope that the animals can find a way to protect themselves. A situation can turn dire quickly, and there are times that you just don’t have the chance to get all livestock on the trailer. Sometimes, you need to cut the animals free and let them run.

You can be prepared for some of this. Make sure all your animals are microchipped. This way, if they survive and they are caught, you will be called to be reunited. Even if they don’t survive, you won’t be left wondering forever what happened.

A luggage tag can also help. Have this zip-tied to harnesses, a tail, or something else connected to the animal. You can even use animal-safe paint to put identification on them.

When you do cut them free, make sure you remove all halters and headstalls. They can get caught on trees and branches, trapping the animal in place.

Always notify the authorities right away if you are going to set them free. Animals become another hazard to take care of, and the more the emergency crews know, the better equipped they will be.

When Your Animals Need to Be Left Behind

If you’re going away, make sure those checking on the animals know what to do in an emergency. You’ll also want to have a list of details about the animals, emergency phone numbers, number of animals, etc. ready for your sitter to post on the barn door.

This is also good for you even if you’re at home. Sometimes, you need to make that difficult choice to leave the animals behind. When this is the case, make sure there is a note for firefighters. They know what they’re looking for and can help.