Emergency Pet Care
Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies
Because pets rely on you for their well-being, you should be sure to including provisions for them in your household disaster plan. Because emergencies are unpredictable, you should be prepared for any one of a number of scenarios which may arise.
If you are at home, officials may ask you to remain indoors (known as sheltering in place), or an evacuation order may be issued requiring you to leave the area or to take refuge in a city shelter. If you are away from home, conditions may prevent you from immediately returning home. In any of these cases, pets will present special consideration, and advanced planning will help you and your pet better cope with an emergency.
General Considerations
Because pets can get loose during emergencies, you should fit each of your pets with a snug collar and ID tag. Dogs should also be licensed (obtain information from your local Animal Shelter or Department of Health). Licensing your dog is the best way to ensure you and your pet will be reunited if it becomes lost.
If evacuating, you and your pet need to go to a safe place outside the danger area. While it’s best to stay with friends or family, this may not be possible. Most motels, and all public shelters do not allow pets (shelters do allow specially-trained service animals to accompany their owners). For these reasons, you may need to find someone to care for your pet while you are away.
Find out now whether a local veterinarian, groomer or kennel will take your pet during an emergency. Most facilities require proof of current vaccinations, so ensure these are up to date and that you have printed records. When you select a facility, be sure it is out of the immediate hazard area. Ask if they have an emergency evacuation plan.
You should not leave your pet behind, as pets left behind can become injured or lost. However, if you must leave your pet at home, refer to our tips on preparing a safe place in your home, below. Leave a sufficient quantity of food and water to last for up to a week. Pet supply stores carry automatic dispensers which can help to limit overeating while ensuring a steady supply of food and water.
You may not be able to reach your home in an emergency. Make arrangements for a friend or neighbor to care for your pet in your absence. These arrangements should include instructions for care and feeding, location of your pet’s supply kit, daily medication and feeding schedules, and important contacts.
Even if you are staying at home with your pet during an emergency, there are certain things you should know. Just like people, pets can become frightened and may act violently out of anxiety even if they are normally friendly.
Preparedness Tips
In case you stay…
Prepare your home.
Determine the safest place in your home for your pet during an emergency. Select an above-ground, interior room, away from windows and doors to provide protection from breaking glass, wind and noise. Choose a room with tiled or other easy-to-clean flooring, and be sure your pet has access to a high place, such as countertops, in case flooding occurs.
Prepare a supply kit
- 2-week supply of clean water, food and kitty litter.
- Manual can opener (for canned food) and non-spillable food and water bowls.
- Study pet carrier or cage for each pet.
- Sufficient supply of necessary medications.
- Feeding and medication schedules and list of emergency contacts (in case you need a friend to care for your pet while your away).
- Newspaper, plastic bags and disinfectant for waste clean-up.
- Current color photo of your pet (in the event it becomes lost).
In case you go…
Prepare a “Go Bag” for your pet
- Water, food and feeding containers
- A copy of all current vaccination and health records, license numbers and microchip numbers.
- A pet carrier or cage (and a wheeled luggage trolley if your pet’s carrier is difficult to carry).
- A leash and muzzle or harness.
- Any necessary medications.
- Newspaper or plastic bags for waste clean-up.
- Current color photo of your pet (in the event it becomes lost).
In and Emergency
Bring your pets indoors well ahead of an expected emergency. Do not leave pets outside or tied up. Prepare an area indoors where your pet can stay (see “Prepare Your Home,” above).
Do not confine a dog and cat together, even if the two are normally friendly. Keep small pets, such as rabbits, mice and birds, away from dogs and cats. Leave difficult or aggressive animals in crates or cages to reduce the chance of the animals getting loose.
Know your pets’ hiding places so that you can easily find them in times of stress.
When transporting your pets, use a carrier for the duration of the disaster. This makes pets feel safer and more secure, and reduces the chance they will become lost. Keep a leash on hand to maintain control of your pet when it is out of its carrier.
After an Emergency
In the aftermath of an emergency, be extra careful when letting your pet loose outdoors and be sure your pet wears an identification tag. Familiar scents and landmarks may have been altered, which may cause your pet to become confused or lost. If your pet is lost, visit the local Animal Shelter and contact local Humane Societies as soon as possible. In addition, beware of other dangers after a disaster, such as downed power lines and debris created by strong winds or rain.
