{"id":5324,"date":"2018-09-14T11:39:12","date_gmt":"2018-09-14T18:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/?p=5324"},"modified":"2020-06-27T21:42:00","modified_gmt":"2020-06-28T04:42:00","slug":"8-things-to-include-in-your-pet-disaster-preparedness-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/pet-care\/8-things-to-include-in-your-pet-disaster-preparedness-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Eight Things to Include in Your Pet Disaster Preparedness Plan \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Hurricane Florence wreaking havoc on the Carolinas, it seems like the perfect time to consider how our pets fit into our emergency plans. Personally, the only thing that stresses me out more than preparing for a natural disaster is thinking about how my five-pound ball of fluff is going to take it.<\/p>\n

So how can you create an disaster preparedness plan for your pets? Here are 8 tips to make sure your pet is emergency ready!<\/p>\n

1. Use Common Sense<\/strong><\/h4>\n

First and foremost, if it\u2019s too dangerous for us to be there, it\u2019s too dangerous for our pet to be there. Having a plan to ensure our pets safety is as imperative as having a plan for our safety.<\/p>\n

\"pet<\/a>2. <\/strong>Neighborhood Buddy System<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You may not be home when disaster strikes, so it\u2019s important to have a plan for what to do if you aren\u2019t there. Find a neighbor whom you can trust that\u2019s home when you\u2019re working. You want them to be around when you\u2019re out and you need to be able to trust them with a key to your house and the care of your pets.<\/p>\n

Make sure they know where your emergency kit is, your pet\u2019s feeding schedule and any medical needs. You\u2019ll also want to discuss important details such as how long you might need your neighbor to watch your pet, and what your neighbor\u2019s plan would be in an emergency. Knowing all expectations is essential to avoid any confusion during the craze and the stress of natural disasters.<\/p>\n

3. Making Your Home Safe<\/strong><\/h4>\n

When the first warnings of disaster strikes bring all animals inside, they can spook easily during these times and end up lost. Find the safest rooms in your house for you and your pets.\u00a0 You want this area to be somewhere that\u2019s easy to clean and has access to fresh water. Close off any unsafe nooks or crannies, and secure dangerous tools and toxic materials. If you find yourself in an electric outage or amidst some other utility issue, consider filling a bathtub or sink with water. For advice specific to your region try calling your local shelter to find out what precautions they are taking.<\/p>\n

4. Identification<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In addition to having your pet microchipped and ensuring they have a collar with ID tags on, one of the most interesting bits of advice I\u2019ve seen going around on Facebook is to use a sharpie to write your pet\u2019s name and your phone number on their stomach. This way if you get separated from them and they get out of their collar or someone finds them but doesn\u2019t have a microchip reader, they can find your information already written on your pet! How smart is that?<\/p>\n

5. Evacuation<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Reach out to the local disaster shelters to see if they accept pets. A lot of them don\u2019t due to health concerns. Those planning to stay with a friend or family member living in a safe area outside the evacuation zone, it’s essential to find out if they can house your pets as well. It\u2019s possible you will have to split your pets up to ensure they are all accommodated. If you plan to stay in a hotel or motel, find out about their pet policy ahead of time.<\/p>\n

\"pet<\/a>Not to worry if you don\u2019t have a housing situation for you and your pets, make sure you check out the animal kennels in the areas you plan to stay. Check availability and if need be reserve a spot as early as possible. You\u2019ll also want to check out the local vet and pet hospitals, though let\u2019s hope you won\u2019t ever have to use that information.<\/p>\n

Have your emergency kit packed in a secure box that\u2019s easily accessible and ready to go.<\/p>\n

6. Recommended Health Precautions by the CDC<\/strong><\/h4>\n

When disaster strikes health risks increase, so it\u2019s vital that we take extra precautions during these times to keep you and your pets healthy. First of all, wash your hands\u2014it\u2019s the obvious advice, but also the most important. From there make sure you\u2019re handling your pet with extra care. Disasters are scary for everyone, and our pets are particularly likely to be spooked during this time. They need our gentle care, and if we touch them it should be soothing, otherwise, try to keep them in their cages or crates, so they don\u2019t wander off.<\/p>\n

7. After Disaster<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Keep your pet in their cage or carrier inside your house while you find out the extent of the damage. Don\u2019t let them back outside till you\u2019ve confirmed your area is safe and secure. Check for wild animals inside and outside of your house, particularly in the case of flooding. Remember they can be unusually erratic after a disaster, so you don\u2019t want your pets interacting with them. Your pets may still be unsettled as well so take some time to comfort them and make sure they feel comfortable.<\/p>\n

8. Emergency Kit<\/strong><\/h4>\n

So what about an emergency kit? You probably have one for yourself, but your pets need one too! Here are some good rules of the road to follow with pet emergency kits.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0All Pets<\/strong><\/h5>\n