Will Your Pet Be Safe?

Our pets enrich our lives in more ways than we can count. In turn, they depend on us for their safety and well-being. Do you have a disaster plan for your pet?  Being prepared can help save lives. Most pet owners in the Phoenix, Arizona area don't worry about disasters because we don't have tornados, hurricanes, or earthquakes.  But what if you had a flood, or a fire?  Would your be prepared?

How can I prepare?

·Plan to take your pets with you in an evacuation. If it is not safe for you to stay, it is not safe for your pet.
· Know which hotels and motels along your evacuation route will accept you and your pets in an emergency. Ask if no-pet policies could be waived in an emergency.
· Most Red Cross shelters cannot accept pets because of health and safety concerns and other considerations. Service animals that assist people with disabilities are allowed in Red Cross shelters.
· Include your pets in evacuation drills so that they become used to entering and traveling in their carriers calmly.

Assemble a portable kit with emergency supplies for your pets.

· Keep items in an accessible place and store them in sturdy containers so that they can be carried easily. Your kit should include

· Sturdy leashes, harnesses and/or carriers to transport pets safely and ensure that they can't escape
· Food, drinking water, bowls.
· A manual can opener.
· Cat litter/pan (if applicable)
· Medications and copies of medical records stored in a waterproof container
· A first aid kit
· Current photos of you with your pet(s) in case they get lost. Since many pets look alike, this will help to eliminate mistaken identity and confusion.
· Pet beds and toys, if easily transportable

After a disaster...

· The behavior of pets may change dramatically after a disaster, becoming aggressive or defensive, so be aware of their well-being and protect them from hazards to ensure the safety of other people and animals.
· Watch your animals closely, and keep them under your direct control as fences and gates may have been damaged.
· Pets may become disoriented, particularly if the disaster has affected scent markers that normally allow them to find their home.
· Be aware of hazards at nose and paw or hoof level, particularly debris, spilled chemicals, fertilizers and other substances that might not seem to be dangerous to humans

Return to May, 2010 Newsletter