For immediate release:
August 27, 2021
Contact:
David Pearl 202-483-7382
San Bernardino County, California. – As the southern fire spreads over 900 acres and evacuations continue, PETA is placing a billboard in the area urging residents to make sure their evacuation plans include: all animals, from hamsters to horses.
“When a natural disaster strikes, animal safety requires foresight or swift but careful action, whether you need to evacuate vulnerable people of any size or species, living, feeling,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “With the climate crisis, a protracted and more intense fire season has become the new norm, and PETA is urging everyone to make an evacuation plan now and be ready to escape the fire with the whole family.”
PETA offers the following urgent reminders for the bushfire period:
- In no case should animals be left to their own devices during the evacuation. They are no better equipped to survive disaster than humans, and anyone who evacuates and deliberately leaves animals to take care of themselves can be held accountable.
- Be ready. Pre-assemble an animal emergency kit that includes food, water, carriers, leashes, veterinary records, and anything else you need to keep your animal safe and comfortable during the evacuation. Make sure your pets are wearing identification collars or harnesses.
- Trapped horses and other animals cannot escape forest fires. They should never be locked in stalls or restricted in any way to prevent them from escaping. Anyone who sees animals in distress and cannot help should note their whereabouts and alert authorities immediately.
PETA, whose motto is in part that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way,” is opposed to arrogance, a worldview focused on human superiority. For more information on collecting news and reporting on PETA investigations, please visit PETA.org or subscribe to the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram…