RESOURCES

Animal Evacuation & Emergency Response

When a wildfire moves through a community, everything changes in an instant—roads close, families evacuate, and for many, pets are left waiting behind.

Siskiyou Humane Society’s Animal Evacuation & Emergency Response programs exist for those moments. With trained volunteers and coordinated response efforts, we work to safely evacuate animals when possible, provide temporary care, and reunite pets with their families as quickly as conditions allow.

This is community-driven, hands-on work—and it only happens because people step forward to help.

FIRE SHELTER RESPONSE TEAM

Support animals and staff when the shelter is activated as an emergency evacuation site. Help includes animal care, intake support, and volunteer coordination.

FIRE EVACTUATION TRANSPORT TEAM

Assist with active wildfire evacuations by helping retrieve and transport animals from affected areas. This specialized team works behind evacuation lines when permitted.

PET EVACUATION ASSISTANCE

If you are evacuated or unable to return home, you can request assistance for pets left behind. Our team will respond when it is safe and possible.

 

 

Fire Shelter Response Team

 

When our facility is activated as an emergency evacuation site for pets, the Fire Shelter Response Team ensures animals receive safe, organized, and compassionate care.

Volunteer roles include:

🐶 Animal Care

  • Feeding, watering, cleaning kennels
  • Monitoring health and stress levels
  • Providing comfort and basic handling

📋 Administrative Support

  • Checking pets in and out
  • Managing owner and animal records
  • Coordinating volunteer check-ins and shift coverage
planned giving

Expectations:

  • Ability to follow structured procedures in a fast-paced environment
  • Willingness to work flexible or extended shifts during emergencies
  • Communication via GroupMe for scheduling and updates

This is the backbone of our emergency response—no specialized training required to get started.

TO JOIN THIS TEAM, CONTACT LACEY@SISKIYOUHUMANE.ORG

 

 

⚠️ This is an advanced volunteer role requiring training and availability during emergencies.

TO JOIN THIS TEAM, CONTACT AUSTIN@SISKIYOUHUMANE.ORG

 

Fire Evacuation Transport Team

 

The Fire Evacuation Transport Team is a specialized group of trained volunteers who assist with animal evacuations during active fire incidents.

Volunteers in this program operate behind evacuation lines (when permitted) to safely retrieve cats, dogs, and other pets from affected areas using shelter vehicles.

Requirements / expectations:

  • Completion of Pet First Aid training
  • Completion of Fire Safety training
  • Comfortable working in high-stress, emergency environments
  • Ability to work in 2-person teams per shift

Responsibilities:

  • Drive and operate shelter evacuation vehicles
  • Coordinate through GroupMe for real-time deployment
  • Safely transport animals to designated shelter or staging areas
  • Support field decision-making alongside emergency personnel

 

Pet Evacuation Assistance

 

If you are evacuated or unable to return home and have pets still on your property, Siskiyou Humane Society may be able to assist with evacuation when conditions allow.

Our trained teams will assess the situation and, when it is safe and permitted, attempt to retrieve your animals.

How to Request Assistance

Please text or call our emergency line at XXTBDXXX and leave a detailed message.
Requests will be processed as conditions allow.

Critical expectation-setting

⚠️ Please note:

  • We cannot guarantee retrieval of all animals.
  • Response depends on fire conditions, access, and available personnel.
  • Safety of volunteers and emergency responders is always the top priority.

Preparedness note

We strongly encourage all pet owners to prepare in advance:

  • Pick up a “Pets Inside” window decal from our shelter
  • Keep carriers accessible and animals identifiable
  • Have an evacuation plan in place whenever possible