The tragedy of “pets left behind” in the course of a natural or man-made disaster can muster anyone to a call in quick judgment on the owner who would do such a thing. Yet intentional abandonment isn’t always the case. Emergency Management Agencies and first responders have their hands full when a predictable natural disaster is about to strike and immediately after it strikes. Unpredicted events such as flash floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, gas leaks, chemical spills, etc catch authorities and the population by surprise, with compounded disastrous affects on the animal population.

So now, before an emergency strikes, consider preparing for the animals in your life, your pet family members by assembling a pet preparedness plan and disaster pack. Make sure to include your neighbors and friends in your plan and be included in theirs. You may not be home when the emergency strikes, making them your pet’s first responders.

Each part of the country has its unique climate and topography that can bring with it potential for weather and geological emergencies. Fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, ice storms, blizzards even volcanic eruption to name a few. Depending on where you live, you must make it a priority that you understand the seriousness of what can occur and plan for both evacuation and shelter-in-place scenarios. Don’t forget that your exposure to frequent risk may be more likely to arise from man-made hazards such as gas leaks, fires, chemical spills, derailments etc than rarer natural events. Either you’re your plan should include contact information for friends and hotels/motels and animals shelters along your evacuation route in case you need to stop. Ask about their pet policies.

It doesn’t hurt to rehearse an evacuation plan. Make sure everything fits in the car and still allows for the safe transportation of all people and pets. Talk to your neighbors. Figure out who can do what and when and who has access to what. A non-rehearsed plan is a bad plan! Arrangements made now can be life saving for pet family members.

If you evacuate to a shelter, know that most all federal shelters will not accept your pets. You need to have an alternative plan in place for your pets.

So, you have been told to evacuate and you are on your way with family and pets in tow. But did you prepare the proper pet disaster pack?

Here are a few tips to help you prepare properly:

• Make sure your pet is wearing its collar with pet identification tags at all times.
• Pet medications, medical records and first aid kit
• If your pet has a medical condition, make sure the medical tag is also on the collar.
• Consider adding a nylon slip leash
• Pet litter tray/s
• Pet carriers with your name, phone number, address and pet description
• Picture of your pet and yourself for identification purposes
• Newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags, anti-bacterial soap, poop bags and bleach.
• Food and water for 7 days and bowls with manual can opener
• Comfort items, play toys, blanket, grooming brush
• Emergency phone numbers
• Important pet documents, vaccination records, registration, adoption papers

Taking the time now to prepare for the unthinkable will help insure your pet that it will not suffer abandonment if at all possible and will certainly insure that the family that prepares together stays together. For a complete list of your All-Hazards Pet Preparedness Checklists click here.

Ines de Pablo
Chief Wag’N Officer
Wag’N Enterprises, LLC
795 Center St, Ste 5B, Herndon, VA 20170
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