Pet Emergency Preparedness

At some point , in your life, you may find yourself facing an emergency.  Whether big or small, it is always best to prepare for yourself and your family which should include your pets.   Far too many people hear the tornado sirens or get that call to evacuate for flooding or fire and have nothing planned for the animals they have chosen to take into their lives.

Just as you would prepare yourself with essential provisions if you had to leave  home in an emergency, you need to pack a bag for your pet as well.   The easiest way to figure out what should go in this pack is to start at the beginning of a normal day caring for your animal.   For example, if you feed in the morning and give medication then write down a list of how much fed, how many times per day, what medications, dosages, and approximately how much water you see your animal drinking.  By the end of the day you should have your list complete with the basic essentials you will need to keep your pet healthy while away from home.  Type up a list of medical problems (past and present),  temperament issues (good or bad), shot information, and anything else pertinent to your animal in case you become separated and someone else must care for your pet.   Add to the bag a basic first aid kit of gauze, scissors, self adhering vet wrap, antibiotic ointment, peroxide, cotton balls, needle nose pliers, and tweezers and you are about ready.

Purchase or make, for each animal, a quick clip well fitted para cord collar with current owner information tags.   Include on them your name, address, home and cell number and a vet clinic that has records on your animal.   Often you can not get copies of rabies tags so engraving more than one tag with various information, especially the vet's phone number, can save much heartache if a lost or frightened pet bites someone.  

Keep the pets bag stocked with everything but the water, making sure to change out the dry pet food every four months to keep it fresh.   When you are readying your own water  add  the amount  your pet will drink  if you are going to keep the animal on the move with your family.   If dropping the animal off at a shelter the go bag will serve as a big help to the temporary guardians.
No matter what the emergency is, leaving a pet behind in the home to fend for itself is not a viable option.   Far too many die from lack of water or heat stroke when officials would not allow owners to return to their homes in time to care for the pets.  Setting them free is also not an option.   With any major disaster, there are operating shelters that one can drop their animals off at to be cared for rather than die a horrible death. 

Just remember that preparedness plus practice equals calmness when the time comes to act.





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