Pet Preparedness

8/12/2019 (Permalink)

Include your pets in your emergency preparedness plans.

As pet owners we love our animals like family, but is your pet treated like family regarding emergency preparedness? Our pets should be included in our emergency preparedness plans. Here are a few on how to include your pets in your emergency preparedness plans:

-Research and compile a list of places in your area that allow pets in the event of an emergency. Notate any requirements (pet needs to be in a carrier or pet needs to be on a leash). Shelters often don’t allow animals, but there many be one in your community that does. Some hotels allow pets should you become unable to stay in your home after a disaster.

-Take photographs of your pets and keep digital records. This can help others locate and reunite you with your pet should you be separated for any reason. Microchipping can help with this as well, but photographs are always useful. Make sure to keep your contact information current and keep the microchip registration information with you to help locate them faster after a disaster.

-Make sure you put together an emergency kit for your pets just like you would for yourself. Pets needs food, water, medications, and other supplies that need to be packed for them. A favorite toy could help keep a pet calm during storms and stressful situations.

-Large animals and livestock may require special arrangements for a disaster (when there is advanced warning).

-It is not recommended to leave animals behind if you are told to evacuate before a storm. Pets left behind could be injured or lost easily.

-After a disaster, animals should not be allowed to roam freely. Landmarks could have changed causing disorientation or injuries. Debris can be just as hazardous to our pets as it is to us.

-Place signs in the windows of your home so that in he event of a home fire the fire fighters will know that there is a pet that needs to be rescued inside.