At
the Ready: Preparing Your Pet for the Unexpected
By Diane Krueger
If
a natural disaster or similar emergency were to strike, are you prepared for
your pet? If you’re like most of us, then probably not. But that doesn’t mean
you can’t be. June is National Pet Preparedness Month and there are several
steps you can take today to plan for such unforeseen events so that you won’t
be scrambling as much in the moment.
Step
1: Identification – Sounds simple and straightforward, right? Well, sometimes
we overlook the basics. Is your pet’s tag easy to read or is it worn? Is the
information on it still correct? Does the phone number on it correspond to a
landline or cell? If your pet is microchipped, that’s something that should be
on its tag. In fact, if your pet isn’t microchipped, that’s something to
consider doing. It’s a simple procedure and could provide another useful tool
to track your pet if it ever got lost in such an emergency situation. If your
pet is microchipped, make sure its information is updated with the chip
tracking provider with which you registered.
Step
2: Contact Info – Make sure you have
your pet’s contacts stored in your phone. This should include your
veterinarian’s contact information, the contact information for a nearby emergency
vet, a pet-friendly hotel, the number for the Pet Poison Helpline and an
updated photo of your pet. These are little things that might be stored on the
‘fridge or on a computer or elsewhere around the house, but should be
accessible in your phone in the event you have to evacuate and/or lose internet
service during the emergency.
Step
3: Make a Kit – You’ll want to have a survival kit at the ready that you can
grab and go if need be. The kit should include several days’ worth of your
pet’s food, water, medications, poop bags, flea and tick treatment, an extra
leash, blanket, toy, some treats, as well as a copy of your pet’s veterinary
records. Your kit should also have some basic medical supplies like bandages,
tape, scissors, antibiotic ointment, latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline
solution.
Step
4: Communicate – Once you’ve updated the identification, contact information
and prepared a kit, you need to communicate your plan with others. For example,
your dog walker or pet sitter should know where the kit is in case disaster
strikes while they are with your pet. Share your pet’s contact information with
them too so they know who to go to if needed. In addition, it’s a good idea to
have a sticker on your home’s entrances that alert first responders of the fact
that you have pets and how many you have. You can get a sticker free online at www.aspca.org. If you do have to
evacuate and you have time, be sure to mark on the sticker that you evacuated
so responders know your pet is not inside.
Thinking
about such disastrous events is not something that’s easy to do. But planning
for you and your pet in circumstances such as these can go a long way in easing
some of the fear, anxiety and confusion that arise in trying times.