Pets and Emergencies: How to Prepare in Advance

Millions of people own cats and dogs and if you’re like me, they’re family members. Billions of dollars are spent yearly worldwide in pet products of all kinds. Now that rough economic times are upon us, many are forced to make-do with smaller budgets, and that can mean spending less on your beloved furry friend. Here are some economical tips on how to be ready for any type of emergency that may involve your pet.

The likelihood that your animals will survive an emergency such as a fire, a natural disaster or even the unlikely terrorist attack depends strongly on the emergency planning done beforehand. Some things you can do to be ready for the unexpected, like assembling a pet emergency kit and developing a pet-care buddy system, are priorities.

First and foremost, be prepared in advance. Have a small backpack ready at all times filled with the absolute essentials for your pets’ health and life. The absolute essentials that are common to all pet E-kits and E-plans are:
• Make absolutely sure identification tags are up to date and tightly secured to your pet's collar. If your buddy gets lost, this is his ticket home.
• Place your pet’s immunization papers (or better yet, a copy) in the E-kit to take with you. Many shelters require proof of basic immunizations before that will allow you to enter with your little fellow. If you can’t return home right away, you may be forced to board your pet. Find out where the nearest pet boarding facilities are located.
• Call around and locate pet-friendly motels and hotels, just in case you have to leave the safety of your home. Many times local public shelters will not allow you to bring your pet into the facility. Call your local county emergency preparedness division or local ASPCA office and ask for the locations that allow pets.
• Food for your animal. Dry food has a long shelf-life and withstands exposure to the elements if need be. Be sure the food is high-protein so that your best friend gets enough high-caloric nutrition.
• Bottled water. Be sure to stash at least five bottles of water for your little guy or gal.
• A pet first aid kit. This inexpensive little item can literally save your pet’s life because these types of kits are put together with the specific genus in mind. Cats have different needs than do dogs. Consider attending a pet first aid class so when something bad happens, you’ll know just how to handle it.

In a disaster situation, you need to remember that even the most calm and well-mannered animals can behave in ways that cannot be predicted. No matter how much they love one another, separate your dogs and your cats. Be sure and keep the smaller pets like ferrets away from dogs. Feed your dogs and cats moist canned food if you can. This cuts down on their water intake and stretches the water supply. Finally, after the disaster, if you must leave town – take your pets with you. It’s highly unlikely they will survive on their own without you.