Remember Your Pets!

“Never work [as an actor] with children or animals.” - W.C. Fields

Pets are often overlooked during disasters and emergencies, as seen during the recent California wildfires, which displaced 15,000 pets according to PRNewswire. "Pets cannot survive on their own," said Brent Hinton, PetFirst chief executive officer and former head of the Kentucky Humane Society.

PetFirst suggests the following steps to increase the chance of pet survival:

• Identify a pet friendly shelter in advance
  Many disaster shelters, including Red Cross, will not accept pets due to health and safety regulations. Find pet friendly hotels and motels or friends that will accept your pets.
• Pack a pet-survival kit
  Include pet food, bottled water, meds, vet records, toys, a leash or pet carrier and a current pet photo in case the pet becomes separated.
• Bring pets indoors
  Never leave pets outside or tied up during disasters.
• Separate dogs and cats
  Pets can act irrationally during an emergency

If there is no alternative to leaving pets behind, PetFirst recommends the following:

• Confine pets inside
  Provide dry food (moist, canned food may spoil) and drinking water
• Post a Note Outside
  Post a note (waterproofed?) stating what pets have been left inside and where. Include your name and a contact number like a cell phone and your vet's phone

Bottom Line

Should you become separated from your pets it is important that they have ID tags with your phone number on it. Dogs (and some times cats) need to have rabies vaccination tags. Locating your lost pets will also be easier if you have photos of them in your evacuation kit to put online and on posters.

For more information the Pets & Animals in Distress Web site is a great resource center that offers pet preparedness with a hurricane checklist for pet owners and pet friendly hotels.

MORE HELPFUL LINKS
The HUMANE SOCIETY: www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/
FEMA - Animals and Emergencies - http://www.fema.gov/individual/animals.shtm
PET-FRIENDLY Hotels & Motels - http://www.petswelcome.com/