You’ve made sure your children know how to reach you in an emergency.
You’ve decided upon a meeting place for the adults in your family, too. But...
Have you arranged for your pets if an emergency or area-wide disaster strikes?
Consider This:
- A little planning now on your part can increase the chances that your pets will survive
a disaster.
- Companion animals, such as cats, dogs, some rodents, birds, and reptiles, cannot survive
for long without caretakers providing the basics of life for them.
- Pets react to the way their keepers act. That means they will reflect human fear
and confusion.
So What Do You Do?
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When an emergency strikes or disaster looms, stay calm for the sake of your family and your pets.
- Assemble the necessary supplies and map evacuation routes and meeting places.
- To prepare for emergencies, brainstorm with the family about events that might happen.
- Don’t be afraid to bring up the subject with the family.
- Make the discussion “age appropriate” for each family member.
- For example, for a toddler, don’t say, “We have to evacuate".
- Rather, say, “We will be going to stay with family/friends for a day or two – and our pets will be coming with us.”
- Speaking in a calm, reassuring tone of voice will help convey to all members of your family – even you – that you are in control and the outcome will be positive.
Make a Plan
- Assemble the necessary supplies and map evacuation routes and meeting places.
- Practice the plan. Revise the parts that don’t work. Practice the revised plan.
- Be sure every member of your household – including pets – can “work the plan”. easily, without having to stop and think about it because, in an emergency, you need to be able to go through the steps of your response plan automatically.
Inform your family, neighbors and friends
- Ask their cooperation, including their permission to let you bring your pets.
- Make it easier on your family by assuring that your pets are welcome guests.
- Train your pets now in basic obedience, especially dogs.
- Have properly sized carriers or crates for each of your pets to stay in while in someone else’s home if the animals are not under your direct care and control.
- Remember: while your pets are away from home, they may be disoriented in their temporary surroundings and risk becoming lost if not under your direct control.
- Bring pet foods and supplies that are familiar to your pets to minimize the chances that their appetite and digestion will become upset.
- Determine the quantity of supplies by the magnitude of the emergency. Some emergency managers recommend a supply of 3 to 5 days; others recommend 10 days to two weeks. Use your judgment.
- Bring cleaning and hygiene supplies. Don’t assume your host will have them.
- Assure your host that you and your family, including the pets, will be staying only long enough to weather the immediate emergency. Reassuring them verbally will create good will on your part and make the experience easier for everyone.
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