No matter where you live, disaster can happen to you. In many cases, people can rely on emergency services for themselves, but their pets may not be so lucky. People have had to abandon their pets to get help for themselves. People have been stuck without food or water for their pets. People have had to entrust their pets with others. Want to create a better chance for your pet? Read on:
What is the nature of your emergency?
Do you know what kind of emergencies you’re likely to face, how to respond, and how your community responds? If you live in a flood zone, do you know the conditions that can put your home at high risk? Are you aware of common things that can start a fire in a home? Are you living in an area where tornadoes are common? Do you have emergency packs for everyone in the house and check them regularly?
Disaster-specific situations
Some situations might require specialized equipment for your pet.
- If you’re in a flood zone, consider packing a lifejacket or PFD for your pet. If your pet can’t be fitted with one, try to find a floating container that your pet can be placed in.
- If you are in an area where it can get very hot or cold, you might want to include a cooling or insulated coat for your pet or covering for its crate/cage.
- More and more fire departments are purchasing or having donated pet oxygen masks; do you know if your emergency responders have them and know how to deploy them?
What does your pet emergency pack look like?
Most of the time, in any emergency, you need the same things:
- Food
- Clean water
- Blankets/shelter
- Required medication
- Copies of medical records
- Anti-parasite treatment
- First-aid supplies
- Muzzle or restraint system
- Identification, including current photos and descriptions and LOST posters.
- Contact information for friends, veterinarian, kennel, and any other party that has agreed to help your pet in the case of an emergency
- Collar/harness/leash/restraint system
- Care instructions
- Cage/crate/tank, preferably of something that can stand a few hard knocks. (can be used to store your pet’s emergency supplies)
You should have enough food and water for your pet for a week. If you can’t access pet food, do you know what is safe to feed your pet in the interim? Dogs can survive on a great many plant and animal foods, while cats and ferrets require meat. There are some things that people can eat that animals can’t, and so on.