how do they take care of pets?

For several days, the south of the Gironde has been plagued by great fires. Forced to evacuate, the inhabitants are cared for with their pets who accompany them to their temporary shelter.

At the exhibition center of the city of Teste-de-Buch, Philippe Rocq, president of the Animal Rescue association in the Arcachon Basin, ensures the welfare of the animals of the displaced persons. “We have been on deck since Monday morning, since the evacuation of the campsites began”, he explains after taking care of a cat from a risk area. “It was assumed that the evacuees probably came on holiday with their pets.”

Heat, stress – a tricky situation for pets

Upon arrival at the reception center, our four-legged friends are entitled to a distribution of croquettes generously donated by pet shops and vets in the area. Water bowls are also available to help avoid heat stroke. The dehydration and stress of pets are in fact one of the first concerns of these volunteers. “The animals suffer from the heat wave and are stressed by the smell of smoke. They find themselves in a hall that has between 700 and 1000 people, with the stress accumulated from several days of presence, which doesn’t help things. It’s a situation they’ve never known for most of them.” complete Philippe Rocq,

Comprehensive care for all pets

The association has made an entire team available to help the animals overcome this complicated period peacefully. “We are two animal rescuers and a veterinarian”, continues its president. “We have set up an animal rescue station with all the equipment that can be found in a veterinary office.” Today, about thirty animals are alongside their families in this exhibition center. But while some were lucky enough to stay close to their owner, others had to stand still and wait a bit before being picked up.

Risk rescue to save pets

Because the authorizations to return to the site with one’s own means to collect one’s pet in areas considered at risk are granted drop by drop and under strict conditions. Thus, when the fire danger seemed to have passed, the Gironde prefecture organized shuttles so that people evacuated in an emergency could, with the help of the municipal and national police and the CRS, recover their pets that had remained on the spot . point. “The people who took these shuttles weren’t at home at the time of the evacuation or sometimes they were owners who didn’t have time to take their pet with them because they only had 10 minutes to evacuate the site,” says Philippe Rocq. “At the scene, owners who did not find their pets left bowls of water and food on the street so that stray cats and animals that escaped during the evacuation can continue to feed.” This separation fortunately does not last more than a few days, reassures Captain Sébastien Castel of the Gironde fire and rescue department: “For pets, we consider that when they are at home they have enough croquettes and enough water to be able to hold back for a while. People are evacuated for up to 4 days, but in general it’s more like 2 days.”

Preventive measures for neighborhoods on alert

To avoid this painful separation for animals and their owners, provisions have already been issued in neighborhoods that risk being evacuated in the next few hours. “Residents are being told not to forget their pets and to prepare their belongings in advance in case an evacuation occurs,” concludes Philippe Rocq.

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