Emergency Supplies Blog

With respect to places that will take your pet.  Check out dogster.com, catster.com, and petpop.com for sitters.  These sites are useful in other respects besided pet sitters.  Nancy

Fear sometimes makes our nerves freeze still. The thought of losing our pets during a crisis can make you even more fragile. There are people who have pets at their homes and are so attached to them that they will not leave their home during a crisis.  There are also pet owners in a panic-laden situation that forget to carry their pets with them. The occupants are often then do not even have the option of getting back and bring their pets, resulting mostly in a tragic death of the helpless animal.  The responsibility of the owners increases even more with a pet that cannot discriminate between a dangerous and an ordinary situation.

With the sudden outbreak of a disaster, the circumstances may force the occupants to vacate their house within minutes.  It is necessary for the owners to learn the tips and precautions that are beneficial to help the pets. Similarly, using the same preventive measures to ensure that the pet is secured during an emergency is equally necessary. When you love your pet saving its life while battling against the odds is your duty.

What to do when the disaster strikes? When a disaster strikes most people care more about the human casualties than the animals. Essential services like water, food, and life support equipment are often lacking when it comes to treating pets. For surviving such shortfalls, you should ensure that when a crisis occurs, your pet is secured and cared for.  Here are some simple tips and tricks to follow:

Preparation for Pets:

- Know where your pets can be shifted during a crisis.

- Keep your pets’ vaccination card and records with you.

- Make an id card for your pet or use a dog tag id, providing the necessary information like contact name, address, phone numbers.

- Have disaster kits ready with equipments like extra ID tags, leashes, collars, water, food, medicines, photos and health records to prove your ownership.

- Prepare first aid kits with necessary vet information and medicines and also authorization to treat your pet.

- Gather relief information from multiple resources. So that when a crisis occurs you know where to get help from.

- Train your pet how to board the vehicles.

- Keep your neighbors informed that you own a pet and keep your neighbors contact information with you or in your emergency kit. – Know about the organization in your area that can help during a crisis.

- Always keep a photocopy of your pet and ownership papers.  

- Prepare a pet first aid kit with all the unique supplies, food, water, bowels, cages, pet vaccines, bandages, blanket and others supplies that may be needed.

- Last but not the least train your pet to differentiate between objects that should be gotten close to and the ones that are dangerous

Preparing for pet emergencies in advance is the main factor that will help save your pet in a crisis.  Getting  a pet emergency kit is a good place to start preparing for pet emergencies.

Dogs and cats are gifted with heightened powers of perception – they can often sense an approaching natural disaster by gauging changes in air pressure. This can be useful up until it comes time to evacuate a dangerous area. At that point, however, most people are focused on the wellbeing of children and elderly people. Dogs and cats become lost in the shuffle. Pet safety products help alleviate this problem.

A pet safety vest wraps securely around a cat or dog’s body, marking the animal in an easily identifiable bright orange. Homeowners can keep one eye on the pet’s movements and another on the secure transfer of valuables out of the house. These vests are especially handy when there’s no leash readily available.

Pet emergency preparedness is usally easy if you prepare in advance and have your supplies ready to go.  If you have a small pet, a carry bag for your pet is ideal as it can also serve as a shelter and a safe spot for your pet. 

The next thing you’ll need is a basic pet emergency kit, which should include a pet first aid kit, and enough food and water for a three day period, just like your emergency kit.

As a veterinarian I would suggest that you have someone in mind who will care for your pets in an emergency.  You should talk to at least two responsible people who will agree to take care of your pets in an emergency.  Both of these people should live outside of your neighborhood, in case you need to evacuate the area.  Make sure you can bring the pets to them and/or they should be willing to come to your house if you have to leave your pets in an emergency.  They should have keys to your house, the name and phone number for your veterinarian, and the information about the care, feeding, and health of your pet.  Make sure the people you choose to care for your pet is someone who your pet knows well and likes. 

If you ever have to leave your pets at home it is a good idea to post emergency stickers or notices on your doors or windows specifying how many pets you have so emergency personel can look for them in a serious emergency. 

Its also a good idea to keep a card in your wallet listing the names and contact information of your pets caregivers and your veterinatian.  

I would also suggest that you drawing up a up a document like a will or trust, possible with an attorney, to provide for the care and ownership of your pet while you are away.  Basically, just make sure the people you choose to take care of your pet have your pet’s best interest at heart. 

Finally, get a pet emergency kit in case of an emergency, disaster, or emergency evacuation.

I still believe that you do provide the best care for your pet and its still best to take your pets with you, along with your pet emergency kit .   

In closing your “Plan A” should be that you provide for your pets emergency care yourself and your “Plan B” would be your default plan to have others take care of your pet.

I suggest you take your pet with you and I would buy a pet emergency kit and supplement the kit with items particular to your pet.

Make sure your pet’s vacinations are current and you have a copy of their records.  You will need them especially if you do decide to use a boarding facility. 

Also, make sure that your pet’s collar has your cell phone number listed on it.  This will prove especially important in rescuing your pet quickly should you become seperated during your emergency evacuation trip. 

With respect to emergeny evacuations for pets you will need to have a place to stay that will welcome you and your pet too.  Your relatives or friends may be able to help you.  I would suggest that you check out dogfriendly.com as they recommend places that have pet friendly accomodations and bring your prepacked pet emergency kit.

I have a pet carrier all supplied with all of my pet’s emergency food and water including portable bowls, first aid supplies,  and all of our pet survival gear.  We keep an empty duffly bag in the carrier along with all of our pet gear.  Basically, we then just remove all of the items from the carrier, put them in an empty duffle bag, and insert our pet and we are ready to go.  

 Buying complete, convienent, and ready to go emergency pet survival food is the best way to always be prepared for emergencies for you and your pet. 

   We use the emergency cat and/or dog food meals as we travel as well.  We bring along our pet travel bowel and some extra water, a few other pet supplies, and we are off.

If you plan to get a pet, there are some things you have to consider before totally deciding you are ready to be a pet owner. Any pet needs tender loving care. This means you are available to their needs almost 24/7. It is no joke to care for a pet. There is responsibility involved.

Pets depend on you for their board and lodging. Like humans, you have to feed them, bathe them, and play with them. You also have to make regular visits to the vet as well as make sure they are healthy.  A pet owner must also have a pet first aid kit at all times in case of emergency.