How To Create An Emergency Plan For Your Pets
It’s important to have an emergency evacuation plan in place for you and your family; that includes your pet! In the case of an emergency, having a plan allows you to react safely and calmly to whatever situation arises. Because these situations can be overwhelming and come at any time, it’s best to be prepared! Here are a few ways to protect your pets in case of an emergency.
Make a plan
Having an emergency evacuation plan will ensure that you and your pets are safe and prepared! Your plan should be shared with all of the people living in your house so everyone is aware of what to do in an emergency situation.
Be sure to have the proper tools to help evacuate your pet; this could be a carrier, harness, or leash. You should make your plan around your pet's needs and abilities. For older pets, you might need to carry the pet out, so you should decide if a carrier is needed to safely evacuate your pet. Decide on a meeting spot and a safe place to bring your pet after the evacuation.
The best way to know if your evacuation plan is right for your pet is to practice! Do a run-through at least once or twice a year to make sure all of your pet's needs are accounted for.
Create a safety kit
When creating a safety kit for our pets, you should think about what they will need. Here are a few items you should include when assembling your kit.
Food that is stored in a waterproof and airtight container
A travel first aid kit, (Here’s what we suggest to keep in it!)
Litter boxes or plastic bags to clean up after your pet
Leashes and collars with tags
Familiar items such as toys or blankets
Emergency contact information
Copies of documents showing ownership of your pet in case you get separated
Find a place to stay
Not all emergency shelters or hotels allow pets, so do your research on where you can safely keep your pets if needed. This can either be at a friend's house, animal shelter, or boarding facility.
Make sure your pets' medical info is up-to-date
If you ever need to keep a pet at a boarding facility, most will require updated medical records to show proof of vaccines. This is to lower the chance of spreading diseases to other animals staying there. Take your pet to the veterinarian every year to ensure their medical records are up to date.
Microchip your pet
In a stressful situation, some pets might hide, run away, or get lost. A great way to keep them safe is by talking to your veterinarian about microchipping. If your pet gets separated from you and someone finds them, the chip can be scanned to show your contact information. Making sure that your pet wears a collar that has your updated contact information on the tags is another great way to keep them safe!
Ask questions!
If you are still concerned about creating an emergency plan that works for you and your pet, contact your local emergency management office. They will be able to share valuable resources and information to help better prepare you for an emergency situation.
An emergency situation can be overwhelming for both you and your pet, so making sure everyone in your house knows what to do is crucial. Our pets have different needs than us, so it’s important to always have all the tools to keep them safe and comfortable.