Chapter 19. Planning for Horses, Livestock, and Larger Animals
Evacuating horses, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, alpacas, and other large animals requires considerably more time, equipment, and coordination than evacuating household pets. Animals may need to be gathered from pastures, fitted with halters, separated into compatible groups, loaded into trailers, and transported over congested or restricted roads.
Owners in Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore, San Ramon, Danville, Sunol, and surrounding Tri-Valley and Bay Area communities should prepare well before wildfire season or another emergency. A fast-moving fire, earthquake, flood, hazardous-material incident, or severe storm may leave little time to locate a trailer or arrange a destination.
Determine Transportation Requirements
Begin by listing every horse and livestock animal for which you are responsible. Record the number, species, approximate size, location, temperament, health needs, and transportation requirements.
Calculate how many trailer spaces will be needed. A trailer that can transport two horses will not provide a complete evacuation solution for a property with five horses. Livestock species may require different trailer configurations, loading methods, partitions, ventilation, and handling equipment.
The towing vehicle and trailer should be appropriate for the animals and combined load. Follow manufacturer limits and applicable transportation requirements. Regularly inspect:
- Tires, including the spare
- Brakes and lights
- Hitch and safety chains
- Trailer flooring
- Doors, ramps, and latches
- Dividers and interior fittings
- Ventilation
- Vehicle fuel and fluids
- Registration and insurance information
Keep the trailer accessible, facing toward the exit when practical, and free from stored equipment that could delay its use. Do not depend on a trailer with neglected tires, damaged flooring, an incompatible hitch, or an unavailable towing vehicle.
Practice Loading Before an Emergency
Even an animal that usually loads calmly may resist when exposed to smoke, sirens, wind, darkness, frightened animals, or unfamiliar handlers. Practice loading and unloading under calm conditions throughout the year.
Training should be gradual, humane, and appropriate for the animal. If an animal has persistent loading difficulties, seek assistance from a qualified trainer, veterinarian, or experienced large-animal professional before an emergency occurs.
Practice with the trailer and handlers who are likely to participate in an actual evacuation. Include safe closing of partitions, securing doors, and preparing for low-light conditions. Never overload a trailer or use unsafe handling methods simply because an evacuation is underway.
Establish Transportation Partnerships
Owners who do not have sufficient trailer capacity should arrange assistance in advance. Potential transportation partners may include:
- Trusted neighbors with suitable trailers
- Local horse or livestock associations
- Boarding facilities
- Ranch managers
- Professional livestock transporters
- Veterinarians
- County animal-services resources
- Organized large-animal evacuation groups
Discuss exactly what assistance may be available. Confirm which animals and equipment can be transported, who will provide the towing vehicle, where keys are kept, who is authorized to enter the property, and what will happen if the primary helper is unavailable.
Create more than one arrangement. During a regional emergency, transportation partners may be evacuating their own animals, roads may be closed, and trailers may already be committed elsewhere. Do not assume that emergency responders will have the personnel, equipment, or time to evacuate privately owned livestock.
Maintain Identification and Records
Each horse or livestock animal should have an identification plan appropriate for its species and circumstances. Consult a veterinarian, animal-services agency, breed organization, or livestock professional about suitable methods, which may include microchips, brands, ear tags, tattoos, collars, or other recognized identification.
Keep written records containing:
- The owner’s name and contact information
- An out-of-area contact
- Clear photographs of each animal
- Species, breed, sex, age, color, and markings
- Microchip, brand, tag, registration, or tattoo numbers
- Veterinary and vaccination records
- Medication and feeding instructions
- Proof of ownership when available
Photograph animals from several angles and include distinctive markings. Keep protected paper copies with evacuation supplies and secure digital backups in another location. Avoid relying solely on records stored at the property.
Temporary identification methods may be recommended during a particular emergency, but owners should follow current instructions from veterinarians, animal-control officials, or agricultural authorities rather than improvising a method that could injure an animal.
Prepare Feed, Water, and Medication
Assemble portable evacuation supplies before they are needed. These may include halters, lead ropes, buckets, appropriate feed, safe drinking water, medications, first-aid supplies, grooming tools, manure-handling equipment, gloves, flashlights, and written care instructions.
Pack familiar feed whenever practical because sudden dietary changes can contribute to digestive problems. Store feed safely and rotate it before it becomes spoiled, moldy, contaminated, or attractive to pests.
Ask a veterinarian how prescription medication should be transported and stored. Do not change dosages or give sedatives without direct veterinary guidance. Sedation may create additional transportation and balance risks and should never be improvised during loading.
Prearrange Several Safe Destinations
Identify at least three possible destinations in different directions. Options might include fairgrounds, equestrian centers, boarding facilities, ranches, livestock evacuation centers, or properties belonging to trusted friends.
Confirm in advance:
- Which species and number of animals the facility can accept
- Whether advance registration is required
- What identification or health records are needed
- Whether owners must provide feed, water containers, bedding, or panels
- Whether veterinary support is available
- How animals will be separated and secured
- Whether trailers can safely enter, turn, park, and exit
A destination that is safe today may enter an evacuation zone tomorrow. Monitor official information and confirm availability before departing when conditions allow. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources recommends planning multiple destinations, knowing route options, maintaining animal records, practicing loading, and leaving early. Review its wildfire preparedness guidance for livestock producers.
Leave Earlier Than Other Households May Need To
Large-animal evacuation can take hours. Owners should monitor official alerts, weather conditions, fire activity, and road closures closely. If authorities issue an evacuation warning, consider beginning transportation preparations or moving animals early when it is safe and permitted to do so.
Do not wait until flames are visible, smoke makes handling difficult, or an evacuation order creates heavy traffic. Once an order is issued, human safety takes priority. Never enter a restricted area, drive around a barricade, or place helpers and responders in danger to retrieve animals.
Helpful Hint
Do not wait for a fast-moving emergency to locate a trailer or teach an animal to load. Arrange adequate transportation, practice loading, identify backup helpers, and confirm several possible destinations well in advance.
Important Safety Reminder
If animals cannot be evacuated safely, contact the appropriate animal-control, agricultural, or emergency-management authority and follow current instructions. Do not release animals, move them onto roads, or return to an evacuated property unless authorized officials specifically direct you to do so.
Important Preparedness and Safety Notice
This chapter provides general preparedness education, not real-time emergency instructions. Conditions, evacuation zones, routes, shelters, road closures, and public-safety directions can change rapidly. During an emergency, consult current information from authorized public agencies and follow all instructions issued by emergency officials. Call 911 for an immediate threat to life, active fire, serious injury, crime in progress, or another urgent emergency.
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