Caring for Your Pets in an Emergency

Taking good care of your pets is always a priority, between making sure they are fed, loved, and healthy. But what happens when there’s a situation that you can’t control? Emergencies can strike at any time, natural disasters, fires, etc., and having a plan in place to make sure your pets are safe is so important. We at Prestonwood Kennels have put together some tips for caring for your pets in an emergency. Read along to find out more!

• Have a plan: This is Step 1. Creating a plan on what to do in a variety of emergency situations is important. When it comes to having pets, you need to take into account that many hotels and shelters won’t accept animals, so you need alternatives. Have a buddy system in place with your neighbors in case someone isn’t home, as well, and make sure your vet for any additional advice on what you’ll need to do.
• Get your pet microchipped: Having your pet’s identification up to date is always crucial, but especially during an emergency. Make sure their physical tags have the accurate information and look into getting them microchipped for extra safety. A microchip doesn’t run the risk of getting lost like a physical tag might.
• Build an emergency kit: Just like your human family, your pet needs an emergency kit set up that has the survival basics. This kit should include copies of their paperwork, food and water for at least 2 weeks, a way to clean up waste, any medications needed, a leash, their ID number, contact information for a friend or relative, and a pet carrier. You should also include things like familiar toys or blankets, a photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated, and grooming items like shampoo, a brush, and nail trimmers.
• Practice: This may seem a little silly but practicing your evacuation plan and your shelter-in-place plan with your pet will help them to get comfortable with the process just in case the situation arises where it becomes real. You should also practice catching your pet if they tend to run and hide when spooked.

These are just a few of the important things to remember when it comes to staying prepared for emergencies. Your pet is part of the family, so including them in the emergency plans is necessary. We hope this has given you some ideas to put into play for your family! Stay ready for anything.