A Disaster Plan to Protect Your Pals

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General - Safety

A Disaster Plan to Protect Your Pals

Natural and man-made disasters can strike without warning. While emergency shelters are made available to humans, they don't allow companion animals due to public health concerns. And, you can't depend on your city or county to have a plan in place for securing pets. Your dog and other pets need you to keep them safe during disasters. To help you develop an effective plan, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offer the following guidelines:

If you evacuate your home, do not leave your pets behind. Ask yourself whether you could safely leave a child in this situation. Even if rescue personnel say you'll be able to retrieve them later, take your pets with you. An unstable situation can deteriorate, making it impossible to return for them. Remember, pets cannot survive on their own, and if they venture out in search of food or refuge, you may lose them.

Make advance arrangements. Don't wait for disaster to strike - devise an evacuation plan for your pet now. Check with your veterinarian, local animal hospital, kennel or shelter to see if you can board your dog or other pets during a disaster. You will need to have medical records ready to submit. To find a pet-friendly hotel in an area where you'd go in an emergency, check PETCO's Pet Yellow Pages. Another option: Put together a "pet network," in which you have arrangements with someone outside of your immediate area to care for each other's pets in a crisis.

Keep an up-to-date identification tag securely fastened on your pets. If one of your pets gets out or flees from a scary scene, this will greatly increase the chance he'll be returned to you. Take this measure even for indoor cats. Use breakaway collars, and make sure your cat could slip his head out if the collar caught on something. You might also consider getting microchip IDs for your animals.

Bring outdoor pets inside during a storm. Make sure they always have access to a warm, waterproof shelter stocked with ample food and fresh water.

Keep a harness and leash for every dog in your household. During a disaster, your dog may become frightened and pull away from you, slipping the collar over his head. Having a harness for each dog will allow you to control them all. Never let dogs off the leash during heavy rain or a snowstorm. If they become frightened or confused, they may run away.

Keep a carrier for each cat. If you have more than one cat, you may not be able to bring them all to the same place. For each cat, decide on an easily accessible refuge.

Make sure you have extra pet supplies. Stock up on dry and canned food, bottled water, extra leashes and collars, and pet carriers. (Keep these supplies separate from the everyday ones, so you aren't tempted to dip into them when the kibble, for example, runs low. Keep the food rotated so it does not get stale.) Always have at least one week's supply of water in storage for your animals. If the drinking water gets contaminated in a disaster, it's not safe for people or pets.

Keep a backup supply of your pet's regular medications. Ask your veterinarian where you should take your pet if injured. Knowing this in advance could save their life. Stow a first-aid kit and first-aid guidebook, specific to the kinds of pets you have in an easy-to-grab location.

Keep current photographs of your pets with your important documents. If your pet is lost during a disaster, a sharp, recent photo can be used to make flyers.

Keep a "traveling pet emergency bag" on hand. In a grave situation, you might have to evacuate immediately. This waterproof bag should include pet food and dishes, bottled water, treats, a can opener, medications, paper towels and cleaning supplies, copies of your pets' medical records (in their own waterproof container), toys, leashes, harnesses, collars, current photos and contact numbers. For cats, you'll also want to pack disposable litter pans, litter and a scoop. It's best to have one emergency bag for each of your pets.