How to help animals and their people recover from catastrophes like the Maui fire

Dogs rescued from the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California. Like people, animals that survive fires may experience trauma and stress symptoms. — AFP

AN estimated 3,000 pets were missing more than a week after deadly wildfires ripped through Maui, Hawaii. Almost two months on, many have still not been found.

When disasters of this magnitude strike, people often flee with their pets if it’s possible for them to quickly grab them. However, they may not have time to gather their animals during a quick-onset event like a wildfire, or their animals might be hiding. This is especially true for cats, because they can be skittish.