Emergency Evacuation Plan For Your Pet

All families should have a plan in case of emergencyYou will also need an emergency toolkit for your pet.
and disaster situations. And the family pet needs toBe sure to have proper carriers, leashes, enough
be part of your plan. Knowing ahead of time what isfood and water for three days for each pet, food
needed and where to take your pet can preventbowls, cat litter and box, any medications and your
much potential heartache in the future.vet's phone number. You should have recent photos
First and foremost, the most important thing you canof your pet so you can easily identify your pet
do as a pet owner is to be sure your dog has propershould you become separated.
identification on them at all times. While tags areYou should also evacuate before it becomes
useful on their collars, if the collar comes off, chancesmandatory, as you can leave safely with your pet. If
of retrieving your pet are greatly diminished. Havingyou wait to long, you may be forced to leave your
your pet microchipped greatly increases the chancespet behind.
of you being reunited with your pet.An alternate plan should be in place in case you are
In the event that your family has to go to a shelter,not home during an emergency. Make arrangements
many do not accept pets. Where will you be able towith a neighbor to care for your pets and meet you
take your dog?with them. Be sure they know where all emergency
You should contact your town's police or firesupplies are kept.
department to find out about their emergencyWhile the thought of disaster and emergency
operation plan - specifically how it relates to pets. Ifsituations are not on the top of our mind, taking the
they don't offer a plan for pets, you may want totime now to prepare helps to ensure the safety of
take the initiative to work with your town toyour family and pets.
implement one.