Pets and Emergencies

Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies Makes Sense. Get Ready Now.

If you are like millions of animal owners nationwide, your pet is an important member of your household. The likelihood that you and your animals will survive an emergency such as a fire or flood, tornado or terrorist attack depends largely on emergency planning done today. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling an animal emergency supply kit and developing a pet care buddy system, are the same for any emergency. Whether you decide to stay put in an emergency or evacuate to a safer location, you will need to make plans in advance for your pets. Keep in mind that what's best for you is typically what's best for your animals.

If you are going to a public shelter, it is important to understand that animal may not be allowed inside.  Plan in advance for shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your pets.

Make a back-up emergency plan in case you can’t care for your animals yourself. 

Develop a buddy system with neighbors, friends, and relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.

A supply kit for your pets should include the following items:

• Extra food
• Water
• Medicine
• Carrier and leash
• Extra kitty litter

What if you are not at home?

Place stickers on the front and back doors, barn doors and pasture entrances to notify neighbors or rescue personnel that animals are on the property.  Another option is to designate a willing neighbor to tend to your animals in the event a disaster occurs when you are not at home.  They should have a key to you home and be familiar with your animals.

Identification

All animals should have some type of identification.  The identification should include your name, address, a phone number where you can be reached and an out of state number of someone you will be in contact with in case of an emergency.  It helps to include your veterinarians name, address and phone number.  For small animals there are a few forms of identification.  These include collar tags, microchip, tattoo, and a temporary neckband.  For livestock there are even more choices.

More information can be found at http://www.avma.org and www.ready.gov.