Historically, the months of April and May have produced the most frequent and deadly tornadoes in the United States. Locally, we begin dealing with nor-easters and hurricane watches/warnings in the spring. However, Mother Nature does not keep a calendar, and natural catastrophes can happen at any time of the year. Many times pet owners are left worrying about the care of their pet when these catastrophes occur.
Five states, including Virginia, have passed bills addressing animals in disasters. These bills require state and local civil preparedness officials to create strategies to evacuate pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster or emergency. However, the responsible pet owner will have their own plans in place.
To avoid tragedy, remember the Three P’s of pet-disaster planning: Practice, Planning, and Preparation. Follow the guidelines below to ensure the safety and well-being of your pets.
8 Tips to Prepare Your Pet for a Disaster
1. Understand the possibilities. Know the different weather disasters that can occur in your area and know how to effectively plan for each.
2. Make decisions early. Different disasters require different courses of action. The sooner you create an evacuation plan, the more time you will have to prepare.
3. Update identification. Make sure your pet wears current identification at all times. This includes adding your current cell phone number to your pet’s tag. This could also include a tag with your pet sitter’s phone number.
4. Carry a picture. Always carry a recent picture of your pet with you. You may encounter needing it for identification.
5. Research animal-friendly places. Know where you can take your pet in the event of an emergency. Evacuation shelters and pet-friendly hotels outside a 60-mile radius of your home are a good place to start.
6. Stock up on needed supplies. Keep extra leashes, bowls, newspapers, trash bags, cat litter, litter pans, and at least a five-day supply of pet food and water on hand.
7. Get a carrier. Have a properly sized pet carrier for each pet. The carrier should be large enough for them to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.Communicate your plan. Make sure that people you rely on for your pet’s care know your specific pet-care plan in case you are away from home when a disaster occurs.
Five states, including Virginia, have passed bills addressing animals in disasters. These bills require state and local civil preparedness officials to create strategies to evacuate pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster or emergency. However, the responsible pet owner will have their own plans in place.
To avoid tragedy, remember the Three P’s of pet-disaster planning: Practice, Planning, and Preparation. Follow the guidelines below to ensure the safety and well-being of your pets.
8 Tips to Prepare Your Pet for a Disaster
1. Understand the possibilities. Know the different weather disasters that can occur in your area and know how to effectively plan for each.
2. Make decisions early. Different disasters require different courses of action. The sooner you create an evacuation plan, the more time you will have to prepare.
3. Update identification. Make sure your pet wears current identification at all times. This includes adding your current cell phone number to your pet’s tag. This could also include a tag with your pet sitter’s phone number.
4. Carry a picture. Always carry a recent picture of your pet with you. You may encounter needing it for identification.
5. Research animal-friendly places. Know where you can take your pet in the event of an emergency. Evacuation shelters and pet-friendly hotels outside a 60-mile radius of your home are a good place to start.
6. Stock up on needed supplies. Keep extra leashes, bowls, newspapers, trash bags, cat litter, litter pans, and at least a five-day supply of pet food and water on hand.
7. Get a carrier. Have a properly sized pet carrier for each pet. The carrier should be large enough for them to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.Communicate your plan. Make sure that people you rely on for your pet’s care know your specific pet-care plan in case you are away from home when a disaster occurs.
No comments:
Post a Comment