National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

by Christy Caplan | May 10, 2015

Bruiser relaxing

One of the most important things when preparing for a disaster is to simply have a plan in place. For example, one of easiest things to do is to have a sticker in your window telling emergency crews how may animals are in your house and what species they are so know to look.

Also, one of the must have items are crates. Each animal needs to be crated as there may be debris or areas you don’t want them exposed to and then you also free yourself up to take care of other pressing things. A basic First Aid kit is a must and Whole Dog Journal recently reviewed a few – it’s a very good article on which to choose and why. I’ve added some things to it including: Pepcid (know the doses for your animals in advance); extra Vet Wrap in case you need to wrap a limb and I also added muzzles for each dogs. If your dog is injured or in pain –you should consider a soft muzzle. Your dog doesn’t want to harm you but if they were stung by a bee and screaming when you touch to remove the stinger you’ll want to protect yourself.

There are so many useful tips but here’s some advice packaged up very nicely from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Fortunately, I don’t live in an area where hurricanes happen and at worst we have some windy storms but everyone should be prepared. June 1 is when Hurricane Season kicks off and even this past week Hurricane Anna is threatening to hit the East Coast.

Hill’s Pet Emergency Go-Kit Contents

Basic first aid supplies
A 3-day supply of bottled water and the pet’s preferred food, held in a waterproof container
Safety harness and leash
Waste clean-up supplies
Medications and a copy of the pet’s medical records
List of veterinarians and local pet care organizations
List of the pet’s feeding routine and any behavioral issues
Comfort items, such as a blanket or favorite toy, to help keep the pet calm and comfortable

Helpful Links from Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Additional information on planning for your pet’s safety during an emergency or disaster can be found on the following websites: