When planning for yourself, it is also important to also consider your pets. Here are a few tips to get pawsitively prepared.
- Make A Pet Emergency Plan
- ID your pet
- Have a current photo of you and your pet
- Make a pet emergency kit. Check out this quick list:
- Pet food
- Bottled water
- Medications
- Veterinary records
- Cat litter/pan
- Manual can opener
- Food dishes
- First aid kit and other supplies
- Identify shelters. www.gopetfriendly.com
- Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can't escape.
Prepare Shelter For Your Pet
Call your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office to get advice and information. If you are unable to return to your home right away, you may need to board your pet. Include copies of vaccinations in your "pet survival" kit along with a photo of your pet.
If you have no alternative but to leave your pet at home, there are some precautions you must take, but remember that leaving your pet at home alone can place your animal in great danger!
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 notice 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.
Protect Your Pet During A Disaster
- Bring your pets inside immediately.
- If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND!
- If you are going to a public shelter, it is important to understand that animals may not be allowed inside.
- Make a back-up emergency plan in case you can't care for your animals yourself.
Caring For Your Pet After A Disaster
If you leave town after a disaster, take your pets with you. Pets are unlikely to survive on their own.
In the first few days after the disaster, leash your pets when they go outside. Always maintain close contact.
The behavior of your pets may change after an emergency. Normally quiet and friendly pets may become aggressive or defensive. Watch animals closely. Leash dogs and place them in a fenced yard with access to shelter and water.