By Tatum Hearn
Boerne Animal Care Services has partnered with the Boerne Police and Fire departments to equip them with the necessary tools when encountering an animal in need.
With summer in full swing, animal safety is always prominent this time of year. As much as we like to think our furry friends can withstand the heat and embrace the outdoors, the reality is that just like humans are affected by heat, so are they.
Boerne Animal Control Officer Coleman Sparks acknowledged that this is a constant issue and created his own solution, an emergency animal go bag. The project started out as a goal Sparks had for 2024, and with the generous donation of several crucial items from local pet shop Fetch & Friskers it soon became a reality.
“I was previously a firefighter, so I understand firsthand how challenging the job can be,” Sparks said. “Recognizing the need for emergency go bags, I saw an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. These bags contain the essential items needed to safely remove an animal from a dangerous situation until animal control can arrive.”
The bags are equipped with water bottles, bowls, leashes, treats, and food, with the ability to restock items once they run out. Whether it’s a house fire, a loose dog, or even an animal trapped in a hot car, firefighters and police officers regularly encounter animals when responding to calls.
“We recently had a situation where an officer responded to a dog in a locked car and had to cut the top of his own water bottle off to allow the dog to drink from it,” Sparks said. “To keep that from happening, it is just better that these go bags are available at all times.”
In all, Sparks and the team at ACS assembled 30 go bags and distributed them to the Police and Fire departments to be placed in squad cars and fire response vehicles.
If you would like to contribute to ACS and all the wonderful things they do for our animals, head on over to their website to see ways you can help an animal in need today.
