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Encyclopedia on Pets

Important: this archive article (written 2009–2016) mentions medicines, doses, poisons, emergency first aid or raw diets. It has not been checked by a veterinarian against current advice. Do not use it for doses or emergencies: call your vet or an animal poison helpline. About our articles

Caring for Pets during Emergencies
Nothing says it better than the horror story from Hurricane Floyd: A man was leaving his flooded home when he noticed a neighbor's dogs swimming in circles around the yard. Wondering why the dogs didn't simply swim to safety, the man swam over to investigate. To his horror, he found that the dogs had been left chained to a stake in the yard and were swimming frantically just to stay alive. He was able to rescue the dogs, but stories such as this pointedly demonstrate the need for to you to have a good action plan in place in case a natural disaster strikes your home. In this case, the dogs' owner most likely had been told to leave everything behind and flee as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, his dogs nearly lost their lives as a result.

In the event of an emergency, your life and your family's lives are the first you should be concerned with. You should only look to save your animals once you are sure you and your family will be safe. But once you are safe, you most likely will want to ensure the safety of your pets.

Are you prepared?

Consider your location
First things first. You can only be prepared with a plan of action if you know what you're planning for, so take some time to think about the area you live in. Some areas are naturally prone to certain disasters California's earthquakes, for example. Find out what types of disasters have previously struck your area hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, blizzards, etc. Contacting your local emergency management office or Red Cross will help you to identify what could affect your particular neighborhood. You should also plan for non-natural disasters fires, gas leaks, chemical spills, etc. If, for example, there's a big chemical processing plant in your area, then you need to be aware of the possible dangers so that you can react if need be. No matter where you live, you've got your own special brand of disaster just around the corner, and it may strike at any time.

If you leave, they leave
In the event that you have to leave your home, take your pets with you. If it isn't safe for you to be there, it isn't safe for them either. Too often people rationalize that their pets' instincts will kick in, and they'll be okay. Even if your cat, who has spent the last six years of his life hunting only the fake mice you pull around on a string for him, does have the instincts to survive, it doesn't mean that the conditions are survivable. No drinkable water for you means no drinkable water for him too. Of course, you have to have somewhere to take your four-legged friends--Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets. Make a list of all the places with in a 100-mile radius of your home where you might be able to take your pet if the need arises, include boarding facilities, veterinarians with boarding capabilities, hotels that will accept pets (ask if they'll allow pets during a disaster situation), and animal shelters. (Use animal shelters only as a last resort, as they will be overburdened with other animals whose owners did not plan for them). Also, you need to gather your critters inside the house as soon as you are aware that you may have to leave, so that you can easily get them when it's time to go. Then, when you do leave, make sure you have your little friends under firm control--even the best behaved dog can become scared during an emergency, making his behavior less than predictable
Be prepared
Like a Boy Scout, you should always be prepared. This means having a disaster kit in your home as well as a smaller version in the trunk of your car if your pet routinely rides with you. Make sure that your pet's kit is contained in something that is easy to pick up quickly and take out the door with you. You should replace this food and water every six months and rethink your pet's needs for the kit once a year to make sure that the supplies meet your current needs the same collar that fits your new kitten is not likely to fit him a year later.

The kit should include a week's supply of food and water in no breakable, airtight containers to ensure safety and freshness. If you pack canned food you'll want to make sure you have a hand-held can opener too. And don't forget a plastic dish that can double as a food and water dish. An extra collar and leash are also important things to have in your kit. You should also have a portable kennel for each of your critters handy. The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that the official Red Cross policy is that there are no animals allowed in emergency shelters, but they have been known to make exceptions if the animal is securely confined. Pets such as birds will obviously have to have a carrier of some sort as they cannot be leashed. You will want to make certain that you have a well-stocked first-aid kit for your pet that includes tweezers, gauze bandages, first aid cream, antiseptic spray, and hydrogen peroxide. Ask your veterinarian about storing any medications that your pet may need to take regularly.

All the right papers
Many people have their home telephone numbers on their pets' ID tags. You may want to have an extra set of tags made that list the number of a friend or family member outside the area so that if your phone lines are down, or you've been evacuated, your pets can still make it back to you. Another option is to simply include an out-of-area number on your pets' everyday tag, which can be useful if you're away on vacation too. And many people don't have tags for their cats at all, even though they should. According to the 1996 National Council on Pet Population Study, out of one million dogs and 580,000 cats that were taken in as strays, only 17 percent of the dogs and two percent of the cats made it back to their owners. The American Humane Association strongly believes that tags are your pets' ticket home. You may also want to consider having your pet micro chipped or tattooed. And finally, don't forget the paperwork. Have a copy of your pet's recent vaccination records in your kit--some boarding facilities may require them before they will take your pet in. A recent picture of your pet may also come in handy if you should become separated and need to make "Lost" posters. Hopefully you won't ever have to put them up, and hopefully you'll never have to use your disaster plan. But if you do ever need it, you'll be very thankful that you were prepared; it could make a trying time a bit easier for you and your faithful companion.