J Is For… Just In Case!
By Rachel Wilder.
If you discover that the shelves are empty at your grocery store and can’t find what you need, it’s not because of overseas conflicts, politics, transportation issues, or the fault of last-minute panicked hoarders. It’s because you have dismal short-term memory skills and haven’t done anything to be prepared, even after 2020. So don’t bother now, you’ll just add to the mess. It was your decision to do nothing.
But your pet? They didn’t have a choice and can only rely on whether or not you actually care or thought about them before an emergency happens.
Emergency Planning for Your Pet: the Basics
- 5 days or a week supply of food for your pet. Consistently.
- Medications- refill before you run out. Consider having light sedatives on hand, like those used for fireworks, to help keep them calm.
- Vet records- easy to find and put in a gallon zip-lock bag.
- Leashes and collars with current information attached.
- Microchip.
Plan to take your pet if you evacuate.
- Sturdy carrier or kennel and the things needed for your pet to stay in it. Dishes, litter box, litter, scoops. Favorite toys and blanket.
- Water- more than you think, in case you need to rinse them off.
- Evacuation plan. Who can you go to if you must leave your home? Family, friends and hotels. Many shelters won’t let you keep them with you- remember Hurricane Katrina?
- Emergency sticker for your home placed by the front door showing that you have pets that need rescuing inside and remembering to mark ‘evacuated’ or ‘safe’ when you leave with them.
- If you plan to shelter in place- like in the event of a tornado or storm- plan for them as well- but do NOT hesitate to leave your home if that is a safer alternative. Deciding at the last-minute limits your options.
Think of them first, and think of them now. Because to them, you always come first.
Resources
There are many websites to help you. Here are a few to get you started:
- The American Red Cross Pet Disaster Preparedness
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Disaster Preparedness
- The Humane Society Pet Disaster Preparedness
We must think of poor souls first.. wonderful that u emphasized on it thru this post. Like covid was not enough so many natural calamities happened too in this two yr span. Cute pics there with captions!
Dropping by from a to z http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/
Rachel, this is a really eye-opening and educational post. I can’t believe how much information and how many good ideas you packed into a concise piece of writing. Thank you!
Thank you. Pet can’t plan ahead- but we can for them
I don’t have pets anymore, but when I did, I always carried extra pet food and a collapsible water dish in a backpack any time we traveled, even if we were only going to the park. Because you never know what could happen!
Very helpful advice, and yes, they are family. Thanks also for the resources.