| When the earth shakes, the wind blows or the | | | | withstand the impending danger. If the facility is in |
| home is filled with the smell of smoke, most | | | | the path of destruction, boarding your pet there |
| people automatically shift into the | | | | will not remove the danger to them. You will |
| self-preservation mode and scramble to preserve | | | | probably find that local shelters and kennels will be |
| their lives and the lives of others in the family. | | | | closed and not accepting business anyway. |
| Those who plan ahead and develop contingencies | | | | Additionally, kennels in neighboring towns that are |
| for such emergency situations generally fare | | | | not in harm's way will probably run out of |
| better than those who do not. Professionals in the | | | | vacancies very quickly. |
| emergency disaster relief field promote | | | | The best idea is to check with your local shelter |
| emergency evacuation plans for people, because | | | | or chapter of the SPCA long before the need |
| they work. | | | | arises. They may already have all the information |
| But what about an emergency plan for our pets? | | | | you need. |
| They are family members too. Shouldn't our plans | | | | In the absence of having such information, it is |
| for emergency evacuation include them as well? | | | | suggested that you keep your pet(s) with you. |
| Thousands of trusting, devoted pets are lost each | | | | Recently there has been a awakening in the motel |
| year due to natural disasters such as hurricanes, | | | | hotel industry to the importance of pets to |
| floods and fires, simply because their people did | | | | potential customers and more and more |
| not have an emergency plan that included them. | | | | establishments are making provisions for animals. |
| With proper planning, many losses and much | | | | It should be relatively easy to find a motel that |
| heartache can be avoided. Having an emergency | | | | will accept your pet for very little additional |
| evacuation plan in place that includes the family | | | | expense.o Ensure that your pet's vaccines are up |
| pet does not require a lot of effort. It is a task | | | | to date and have that paperwork in a place |
| that is very easy to accomplish. The following | | | | where you can find it quickly if the need to |
| information and tips are provided to help you | | | | evacuate arises. If your evacuation occurs during |
| develop such a plan.o Never leave your pet behind | | | | the time the disaster is taking place (i.e. the |
| unless circumstances absolutely prevent you from | | | | beginning of a hurricane, etc.) make sure your pet |
| taking them. For instance, if the house is crumbling | | | | has a collar and that the required tags are |
| beneath your feet during an earthquake and you | | | | attached. Without meaning any disrespect, it might |
| can't find the cat, you probably should get | | | | be a good time to treat your pet like a piece of |
| yourself and your family to safety first and then, | | | | luggage by adding an information tag to the collar |
| if safe, return to find the cat later. The chances | | | | with your contact information and an alternate |
| are that a cat or dog will manage to exit the | | | | family member's (outside the endangered zone) |
| house on their own accord in such a situation, | | | | contact information. In the event you are |
| because they don't want to be there either. | | | | separated from your pet, this could be the one |
| In a situation where there is time to plan your | | | | factor that ensures you are reunited.o Some |
| evacuation however, such as an approaching | | | | organizations give advice for situations where you |
| fire-line or hurricane, pets should not be left | | | | have no choice but to leave your pet(s) at home. |
| behind. Their lives are as vulnerable to these | | | | Except in those where circumstances prevent |
| threats as humans and they need to be | | | | you from locating your pet and you must leave |
| protected. Even if they manage to survive, the | | | | immediately (i.e. flood waters rising, etc.) such |
| chance of them running off and not being found is | | | | advice does not resonate with this writer. As a |
| extremely high. If they are found, it will probably | | | | member of the family, they have an expectation |
| be animal control and in the aftermath of a natural | | | | of being important too. They depend upon you |
| disaster, efforts for reuniting pets with their | | | | and you can't let them down. |
| people are not high on the agenda.o Do not book | | | | Just a little effort today may save you a lot of |
| your pet into a local kennel or temporary shelter | | | | heartache tomorrow. Take the time and draft a |
| unless local authorities determine the shelter will | | | | plan for pet evacuation. |