Pet News

Pets are like our children in that they rely on us for protection and safety. In an emergency, they will look to us for direction and security. The following is a list of protocols to follow to ensure your pets are safe during a crisis.

• Keep a backpack with food and medications readily available in case you need to leave in a hurry. The contents of the bag can be easily rotated to ensure freshness. Include leashes and collars if necessary, though collars with tags should always be kept on your pets. Don’t forget bottled water, lightweight and collapsible dishes, flashlights and blankets. Also, bring photocopies of your pet’s health records since shelters and kennels will require these records.

• Place a rescue alert sticker on your home near the front and rear doors to alert first responders of the number of pets inside. Should you safely exit your home with your pets in the time of an emergency, be sure to mark your stickers “EVACUATED” if time allows.

• Establish a safe zone for your pets in the event of an evacuation. This may include local hotels that allow pets, friends or family members willing to foster them, or a shelter that has foster opportunities available. You should also include a list of boarding kennels and their phone numbers.

• As always, be sure to keep an adequate amount of food and supplies on hand for your pets. Should the emergency be a personal health crisis, make sure your pets’ foods are of ample supply for the person feeding them in your absence. Litter, waste bags, and medications should also be supplied.

Hopefully, none of us will experience a disaster that requires extreme measures, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Taking the small steps now to ensure your pets safety and security in a moment of crisis can make a world of difference to them.