How to Keep a Dog Safe During a Disaster

Disasters are hard on everyone involved, including your dog. Keeping your dog safe during a disaster takes some preparation and common sense. You have to remember that your dog may get scared during a disaster because it is faced with unfamiliar situations.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Place pet alert stickers on your doors and windows. If you are away from home when disaster strikes, these stickers will alert emergency personnel that you have living animals in your home.

2. Put a copy of your dog's papers and a picture of your dog with your important papers. This will help you to identify your dog if you get separated from it during a disaster. The picture is also useful in case your dog gets lost and you want to make fliers.

3. Prepare a disaster kit for your dog. You need enough food and water to last your dog at least a week. You should include a leash, collar and muzzle in your kit. This will help to keep your dog in control even if it gets startled. If your dog gets hurt, you will need the muzzle to keep it from biting.

4. Keep your dog with you or at a safe haven. When a disaster, such as a hurricane, strikes, it is best to keep your dog with you because that will help it to feel safe. If you are unable to keep your dog with you, place it in a safe haven where you know that it will be cared for properly.

5. Make sure that your dog has its rabies tag and name tag on at all times. The rabies tag will let anyone who tries to rescue your dog know that it has had its shot. As a bonus, the number on the rabies tag serves as a form of identification. The name tag will provide your contact information so you can be reunited with your dog.

Tips & Warnings

• If your dog requires medication, make sure that you put that information on the dog's collar. You can write it in permanent marker on the inside of the collar if it is on more than one medication.