INCLUDE YOUR PET IN YOUR DISASTER PLAN
by Gina Spadafori | Mar 16 '03
These days, it seems as if many of us have a roll of duct tape floating around as part of some vague disaster plan. If that's true of you, here's something specific to do with it: Include it in a preparedness kit for your pets.
That's not all you need to do, but the rest of it isn't much harder. And it's important, because if you don't look out for your four-legged family members, who will?
Start your preparations with something you've probably already taken care of: Make sure your pets have ID.
Most animals will survive a disaster, but many never see their families again because there's no way to determine which pet belongs to which family if the animals go missing, a common occurrence even under normal circumstances. That's why dogs and cats should always wear a collar and identification tags.
Once your pet has up-to-date ID, it's time to collect some equipment to help you cope in case of an emergency. A big storage bin with a lid and handles is an ideal place to keep everything you need together and at hand.
Keep several days' worth of drinking water and pet food as well as any necessary medicines, rotating the stock regularly. For canned goods, don't forget to pack a can opener and a spoon. Lay in a supply of empty plastic bags, along with paper towels, both for cleaning up messes and for sealing them away until they can be safely tossed.
For cats, pack a bag of litter and some disposable litter trays.
Even normally docile pets can behave in uncharacterist ic ways when stressed by an emergency, which makes restraints essential for the safety of pets and people alike. For dogs, as well as those cats who are used to them, leashes should always be at hand.
Shipping crates are probably the least-thought-of pieces of emergency equipment for pets, but are among the most important. Sturdy crates keep pets of all kinds safe while increasing housing options. Crated pets may be allowed in hotel rooms that are normally off-limits to pets, or can be left in a pinch with veterinarians or shelters that are already full, since the animals come with rooms of their own.
Final item of restraint for dogs and cats: a soft muzzle, because frightened or injured pets are more likely to bite.
Don't forget to put first-aid supplies in your disaster kit, along with a book on how to treat pet injuries.
Now, about that duct tape.
It's a good idea to have some lost pet flyers prepared in advance and put in with your emergency supplies along with a large black marker and -- yes! -- duct tape for posting them. Preprint the fliers with the word "reward" in large type, with a picture and description of your pet below, and leave a blank space to add a phone number or other details.
And since the job's not over until the paperwork's done, you should also tuck a photocopy of your pet's current vaccination records into the disaster kit, along with a list of locations and phone numbers for animal shelters and veterinary hospitals or clinics (should your pet become lost, these are the places where he'll be most likely to be turned in). Veterinarians and shelters are also essential in the coordinating of post-disaster animal relief efforts.
Chances are you'll never have to pull out your disaster kit, but as we're hearing more often these days, it's always good to be prepared.
