How to Keep Your Pet Safe During a Natural Disaster

Whether it is a cat, a dog or a snake, your pets become part of your family. In some ways they become extensions of you. Being forced to leave them behind during a disaster would naturally break your heart. However with a little planning before, during and after a natural disaster, you can ensure that your pets are kept safe, and should the worse happen be reunited with you as quickly as possible.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Before a Disaster

1. Train your pet to come to you on the first call no matter what. Time will be of the essence during a disaster, so you want your pet to come to you as quickly as possible.

2. Keep a pet carrier on hand, and teach your pet to think of the carrier as a safe haven.

3. Plan an emergency kit for your pet. Be sure to include, food, water, and anything else your pet would need, such as medication. Just like people our furry and feathered friends need to have enough food, water and medication stored for at least 3 days.

4. Keep your pet identification tags current and legible. If you are separated from her, your chances of a reunion increase greatly with identification tags. A current photo would also help.

5. Arrange a predetermined place for your pet to stay. Most shelters don’t take animals, so check with your local law enforcement to locate shelters that do. You can also try and find a kennel that is out of the immediate hazard area. If you choose a kennel, visit beforehand to learn their requirements and standard of cleanliness. You might also contact out of town friends and hotels to see if they allow pets or if their pet policies would be waived in the event of an emergency.

During a Disaster

6. Don’t panic! If you have practiced your emergency plan, just remind yourself you know what you are doing. It will go smoothly.

7. Make sure to bring your pet inside. An approaching storm may frighten your pet, and he could run away and get lost.

8. Prepare a safe indoor area for you and your pet. If your pet becomes frightened, put him in a crate or carrier to reduce his stress and chances of getting lose.

9. If you are forced to evacuate, take your pet with you. Remember if the house is unsafe for you, it’s unsafe for your pet as well. If you haven’t made arrangements before hand for a safe place to put your pet, as a last resort leave, your pet in your car parked at an emergency shelter.

10. If you leave your pet in the car, keep her in a carrier with food and water and leave a window slightly open to provide ventilation. Also park in a protected area.

Should the Worse Happen

11. Visit your local humane societies and question them about where a pet would be if they had been found during the disaster. You can call, but the phones are usually busy after a disaster with other pet parents like yourself, calling about their pets, so checking each and every shelter might be the best way to go. It’s also the only way to make sure your pet isn't there.

12. If you are still unable to find your loved one, put up posters around your town. Offer a reward with your phone number. This is where a current picture would come in handy, and use as much description as possible.

13. Have faith. If your pet has all his proper identification the chances of being reunited with him dramatically increase.