We are sorry that things have been a little quiet around here this week; we have been busy with the Texas wildfires in this area. Thankfully, we are OK here but we had quite a scare earlier in the week when our little valley filled with smoke and fires were burning in two directions. A few of our neighbors evacuated, and we were packing up to leave. Soon our neighbors returned when they found out the fires were further away than we thought. We’re still packed to evacuate, just in case, and we’ve packed up many items and put them in off-site rental storage, too.
Bastrop photo/credit Earl Nottingham, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
We’ve been so, so lucky this week but, sadly, many people in this area have not been so fortunate. We’ve been manning our DogTipper Twitter account all week and sending along pet and livestock news related to the fire and evacuation. The largest of the many fires, in the town of Bastrop (photo, right), is now 34,000+ acres, having destroyed nearly 1400 houses so far. It is a sad and scary time for many.
This morning we ran over some pet supplies, cat litter, and toys to our local shelter; they were making a run to the Bastrop animal shelter where animals that have been found since the fire are now housed. (The pets that were housed at the shelter have been taking in by Austin Pets Alive and the Austin Humane Society so that now the Bastrop facility can house lost animals.)
Smoke conditions in our area have improved; right now, central Texas just really needs rain, rain, rain. We’re having a record drought in this area; that, combined with record heat this summer, has left the countryside completely parched.
Wherever you live, please take a moment to consider what you would need if you have to quickly evacuate with your cat! We heard that some families had as little as five minutes to grab a few items and run. It definitely pays to have items you need…from a cat carrier to your cat’s medication…available where it can be found quickly!
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