The Purrfect Nanny & Purrfect Pet Health Blog

Last weekend I went to Atlanta’s largest Animal Rescue Fair and I brought home great info for Disaster Planing. I’m going to share it with you and would appreciate to hear back from you what you think.

Planning ahead is the key to keeping yourself and your companion animals safe during a disaster. Follow these tips to reduce the risk to your companion animals during disasters:

Place an emergency decal on your front window or door
If disaster strikes while you are not home, this decal will alert rescuers of the animals inside. Order an emergency window decal online.

Microchip your pets
Microchip identification is one of the best ways to ensure that you and your pet are reunited if you are separated. Be sure to keep the microchip registration up-to-date, and include at least one emergency number of a friend or relative who resides out of your immediate area. 

Keep a collar and tag on all cats and dogs
Keep several current phone numbers on your animal’s identification tag. Identification on indoor-only cats is especially important. If your home is damaged during a disaster, they could easily escape.

Plan a pet-friendly place to stay
Search in advance for out-of-area pet-friendly hotels or boarding facilities, or make a housing exchange agreement with an out-of-area friend or relative. Search for pet-friendly accommodations at:
Pet Friendly Hotels and Travel  (US only)
PetTravelCenter.com (US and Canada)
PetsWelcome.com (US)
PetsWelcome.com  (Canada)
Use the buddy system
Exchange pet information, evacuation plans and house keys with a few trusted neighbors or nearby friends. If you’re caught outside evacuation lines when an evacuation order is issued, your neighbors or friends can evacuate your pets for you.

Prepare an evacuation kit for each animal
Include copies of your pet’s vaccinations, photographs, emergency contact references, temporary identification (see below), food, water and important supplies in an easy-to-grab container. Get more details on what to include in your disaster kit for specific species:

• List for Dogs
• List for Cats
• List for Horses
• List for Reptiles and Amphibians

Have temporary identification available when you evacuate
When you evacuate with your animals, create a temporary tag  with your temporary contact information and the phone number of an unaffected friend or relative.

Include extra medication in your disaster kit
If your animal takes medication, a replacement supply may not be easily available following a disaster, so keep extra on hand. Don’t use expired medication.

Have a carrier or leash for each animal
Each dog should have his or her own harness and leash. Cats should have their own carriers. Caregivers of multiple cats or other small animals can use an EvacSak, which is easy to store and use for transport. Order an EvacSak at http://www.animal-care.com.

Carry photos of you and your pets
If you are separated, photographs can prove that you are the rightful caregiver of your pets. Clear photographs of your pets, especially if they include identifying marks, can be helpful to create “lost pet” fliers.

Identify emergency veterinary facilities outside of your immediate area
If a disaster has affected your community, emergency veterinary facilities may be closed. Pets may become injured or ill during the disaster, so make sure you know how to access other emergency facilities. You can also check with your veterinarian to find out if they have an emergency plan that includes setting up in an alternate, emergency facility.

Store a week’s supply of fresh food
Keeping your pets’ diet consistent during a time of stress is important. Make sure your food supply is always fresh, and store it in a water-tight container. If you use canned food, keep a spare can opener with your emergency supplies.

Store a week’s supply of fresh water
If officials declare your household water unfit to drink, it’s also unsafe for your pets. Follow American Red Cross guidelines for storing emergency water for your family and your pets.

Plan for temporary confinement
Physical structures, like walls, fences and barns may be destroyed during a disaster. Have a plan for keeping your animal safely confined. You may need a tie-out, crate or kennel.

Comfort your animals
Your animals will appreciate your calm presence and soft, comforting voice if they are stressed following a disaster or while evacuated, and you may find it comforting to spend time with them, too. Some animals, especially cats, may be too scared to be comforted. Interact with them on their terms. Some animals may find toys, especially long-lasting chew toys, comforting.

Know where to search for lost animals
When animals become lost during a disaster, they often end up at a local shelter. Keep handy the locations of shelters in your community and nearby.