We hope everyone on the East Coast is safe and sound, hunkered
down for the storm or well on your way to a safe place.As many of
us prepare for ourselves and our families in case of evacuation
or the possibility of days without power or water, you may be
wondering what you can do to prepare for your pet's safety.
Have a go-bag ready
with food, water, vaccination and veterinary records, leashes and
collars, and any medications. Have a kennel or crate ready to go
as well. You don't want to be searching your house for the things
you need if you have to leave quickly. Even if you're staying
put, having important items in one place will be one less stress
for you.
If you have not been ordered to evacuate
, your first step is to bring your pet inside with you. Cats
especially may retreat to a hiding place in your house, so keep
your cat in a certain room so you always know where they are.
Make sure you have enough food and water on-hand to feed your pet
for several days. Wet food can be more useful because it already
contains some water, and your pet won't need to drink as much.
Keep lots of newspaper and plastic bags handy--your pet will
still have to do their business, whether they can get outside or
not. When and if the storm gets bad in your area, you may want to
separate your pets, especially dogs and cats. Animals that
usually get along can get into fights in stressful situations.
Have kennels and carriers at the ready, preferably with blankets,
toys, and other familiar items to help ease your pet's stress.
If you need to evacuate
, take your pet with you. You'll need leashes, or harnesses for
cats, carriers, and muzzles. Even if your dog is usually
even-tempered, a muzzle will protect you and others from your dog
if the stress of the situation makes them agitated.Some shelters
won't allow animals, so look in advance for pet shelters that are
close to the shelter you're headed for. You'll likely have to
leave your pet at the pet shelter until the disaster passes, so
be sure to have the following information on hand: your
pet's name, species and breed, sex, fur color or any
marking, age,
microchip
identification number, vaccination records, and medications.If
you can't get to a pet shelter or a regular boarding kennel out
of reach of the danger, check with friends, family members, and
neighbors who don't need to evacuate to see who might be able to
care for your pet for a few days. Even if your friends can't host
your whole family until danger passes, they may be able to
provide a safe place for your pet.If you're evacuating to a hotel
instead,
check first to see which
hotels allow pets
.
Visit ready.gov
for more information on preparing for your pets for a
disaster.Stay safe!
Disaster Preparedness for Your Pets
Natural disasters have wrecked homes, towns, and whole cities in
the past, and unfortunately, pets are just as affected by storms,
earthquakes, and emergencies as their people are. You can include
your pet in your familyโs disaster preparedness plan, and youโll
be ready if and when the time comes for evacuation or hunkering
down through a storm.
Make a list for a go-bag, and gather all the items you can.
If a disaster is approaching, your local officials will probably
tell you to prepare a go-bag, in case your area is evacuating.
Your petโs go-bag will need food, water, vaccination and
veterinary records, leashes and collars, and any medications your
pet needs. Youโll need a kennel or crate as well.
So what can you do today to make it easier if the call for action
comes?
Make a list of all the things youโll need in the go-bag for your
pet or pets. If any of these items can stay in one place in your
home, put them there and keep them there. For example, you may
use your dogโs travel crate as the bin for their veterinary
records (neatly filed in an envelope), extra leash and collar,
and pet-safe antibiotic ointment. Keep the travel crate in your
garage, and tape the rest of the list to it.
That way, when itโs time to assemble the rest of the go-bag, like
food, water, and medications, you already have a gathering place
and some of the items ready to go.
- Make sure you have enough food
and water on-hand to feed your pet for several
days. FEMA
recommends having a 3-day supply for every pet.
- Wet food can be more useful
because it already contains some water, and your pet won't need
to drink as much.
- Get all the medicines your pet
will need, including flea and tick prevention.
- Make a first aid kit. Lots of
items you might pack for yourself and your family, like gauze or
bandages, will also be usable on a pet in a disaster, but make
sure you have a pet-friendly antibiotic ointment.
- Your list should include lots
of newspaper, paper towels, and plastic bags--your pet will still
have to do their business, whether they can get to their normal
spot or not. Your cat will need a litter box and litter.
- You'll need leashes, or
harnesses for cats, carriers, and muzzles. Even if your dog is
usually even-tempered, a muzzle will protect you and others from
your dog if the stress of the situation makes them agitated.
- Have a notebook or sturdy note
card with your pet's name, species and breed, sex, fur color
or any markings, age, microchip identification
number, and a current photo of you with your pet. All of these
will help reunite you with your pet if you have to leave them at
a designated pet shelter, or if you get separated during a
disaster.
Develop a buddy system with your neighbors and friends.
In case you can't get to a pet shelter or a regular boarding
kennel out of reach of the danger, check with friends, family
members, and neighbors to see who might be able to care for your
pet for a few days in case of a disaster. Even if your friends
can't host your whole family until danger passes, they may be
able to provide a safe place for your pet.
- Be sure to cast a โwide netโโa
disaster could affect your whole town, so consider people in a
wide radius of your home.
- Remember to be part of their
solutionโoffer to take their pets in if their area is ever in
danger.
Research the shelters, kennels, hotels, vets, and emergency
centers in your area.
Some emergency shelters won't allow animals for public health
reasons, so look in advance for pet shelters that are close to
the shelters youโd be evacuated to.
If youโd be evacuating to a hotel instead, check to see which hotels
allow pets and make a list with directions to each
option.
Make a list of kennels that could take your pet in, and ask them
in advance what their requirements are in terms of medical
documentationโthen get those documents for your pet.
Your veterinarian may also operate as a pet emergency center, but
be sure to ask. If they donโt, get a list from them of nearby
emergency hospitals that care for pets.
When disaster strikes.
If you have not been ordered to evacuate...
Your first step is to bring your pet inside with you. Cats
especially may retreat to a hiding place in your house, so keep
your cat in a certain room so you always know where they are.
When and if the storm gets bad in your area, you may want to
separate your pets, especially dogs and cats. Animals that
usually get along can get into fights in stressful situations.
Have kennels and carriers at the ready, preferably with blankets,
toys, and other familiar items to help ease your pet's stress.
If you need to evacuate...
Take your pet with you. If for some reason thatโs just not
possible, FEMA recommends you take the
following steps:
- Confine your pet to a safe
area inside - NEVER leave your pet chained outside!
- Leave them loose inside your
home with food and plenty of water.
- Remove the toilet tank lid,
raise the seat and brace the bathroom door open so they can
drink.
- Place a note outside in a
visible area, advising what pets are in the house and where they
are located.
- Provide a phone number where
you or a contact can be reached as well as the name and number of
your vet.
Visit ready.gov for more
information on preparing for your pets in a disaster.
Stay safe!
More on Emegency Pet Care
Treating a Dog's
Laceration
Treating Cat and Dog Pain with
NSAIDs
How to Calm Down a Dog
This information is for informational purposes only and is not
meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or
diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian. Always seek the
advice of your veterinarian or other qualified professional with
any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never
disregard or delay seeking professional advice due to what you
may have read on our website.
