How to Evacuate Safely With Your Pet

For those of us who inhabit the southeastern portions of the United States, the devastating threat of a hurricane is all too real. Many counties and parishes often call for mandatory evacuations, leaving families forced to leave behind their homes and most of their belongings.

One thing you can't leave behind, of course, are your pets. But how do you evacuate safely with a pet in the car? Here are some tips.

See the table to the right for a list of materials needed.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Up-to-date vet and medical records
• Any medications they may be on (including heartworm and flea)
• At least one week's worth of food for each animal
• A sturdy leash and collar
• An appropriately sized crate, cage or kennel
• A crate fan for riding in the car to prevent overheating
• Bottled water for in between any stops
• Misc. items (food & water bowls, treats, toys, grooming supplies, anything else needed)

1. The unthinkable has happened -- a mandatory evacuation for your county is called. For some, who have lived in hurricane threatened state all their lives, this is the norm. For others, it can be a terrifying experience. So what do you do?
   
   First and foremost, get your family and their belongings situated. (Visit link at the end of this article for hurricane evacuation checklist.)
   
   Discuss with your family if you're going to take more than one vehicle (if possible). For families with multiple pets, this may be the only option. Figure out which vehicles your animals will ride in. If two pets don't get along, it may be a good idea for them to ride separately, or be caged apart from one another.

2. Get your pet's belongings together. For a dog or cat, it's a good idea to cage them during an evacuation. High traffic is guaranteed when evacuating, and a loose animal in a vehicle is an accident waiting to happen.
   
   Be sure to provide a crate fan for cooling if the weather is especially hot or your vehicle doesn't have A/C Or you can provide a small bowl of water (make sure it doesn't spill).

3. Keep your pet's medical records on hand in case of accident, injury or illness while you're out of town. Most vets won't be open for days if not weeks following an evacuation, so it's a good idea to keep the medical records with you. Make sure to pack any medication or supplements they may be taking.

4. Make sure your pet is wearing a comfortable but secure collar with their ID tags. This will help a stranger contact you if your pet gets loose from you in a strange area. Be sure to keep a sturdy leash nearby as well - even the most well behaved pets may get startled or distracted during an evacuation and take off.

5. You will need to bring at least one week's worth of your pet's food, for each pet, even if you don't think you'll be gone that long. It could be weeks before you're allowed to return home, but a week is a good window to shoot for. If your pet is on a prescription diet, try to phone ahead to any vets in the area you'll be staying in case you happen to run out.
   
   Also bring along some water for the ride, as pets can get anxious from being in the car for too long and potentially overheat. Plus, it helps calm them when they're well hydrated.

6. If necessary, phone ahead to a kennel or veterinarian in the area you'll be staying to make boarding reservations if your pet can't stay with you while out of town. This may be costly, so shop around for prices if you need to. They'll need to see vet information which is another reason why it's always good to bring along vet info.

7. Depending on their care, other pets such as reptiles, rodents and birds will need different items than a dog or cat. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself what you use daily, weekly and monthly in the care of your pet, and will you be needing said item? It's always good to bring extra items along, just in case, provided you have the room to do so.

Tips & Warnings

• It's a good idea when traveling with dogs to make frequent stops (at least every 3-4 hours) to let them stretch their legs, relieve themselves and perhaps get a drink of water.
• For pets who don't get along, keep them separate when traveling. Any kind of major distraction in heavy traffic can be a liability!
• Always keep ID tags on your pet.
• Never walk your dog in an unfamiliar area without a leash, even if you feel he is well-trained. You never know when something is going to frighten or distract him and cause him to take off.
• Be leery of any strange animals you may come across when evacuating. While it's sad to think they have nowhere to go, they may be carrying illnesses that could be passed on to your pet.
• Watch for signs of overheating; we all know southeastern states are warm, especially during hurricane season, so if your pet is panting too hard, get them some water and cool air ASAP! It could be too late after that.

Resources

• Hurricane Evacuation Checklist (for Humans)
• www.canine-einstein.org