It’s time to plan rather than panic. Let’s discuss what to expect in the event of a disaster during a government shutdown and how it may affect your pets.
Pet Shelter
We all know that FEMA will likely be unable to respond to any disasters during this period. While the American Red Cross maintains supplies, they may not be able to resupply after a few days. Additionally, Animal Control, which typically assists the Red Cross, may also be shut down as their employees are government workers. This means that there likely won’t be pet shelters available.
If you need to evacuate with your pets and you don’t have the necessary supplies, you’ll find store shelves empty due to panic buying. While pets can survive for a couple of weeks without food, they can experience severe health issues within 72 hours without water.
When packing food for your pets, avoid repackaging it in Ziplock bags, as kibble can start to go rancid in about three weeks. Instead, purchase a smaller bag that will last you 3 to 5 days and rotate it based on the expiration date. A better option is to use our Mayday emergency pet food ration in your pet’s go-bag. It is packaged in a foil-sealed pouch and comes in individual 8-oz bags with a 5-year shelf life.
Emergency drinking water is crucial. Most healthy pets require between ½ to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. Be aware that most water in plastic bottles has a 1-year shelf life. Do not consume it after the expiration date, as the plastic can begin to leach into the water. We recommend Mayday emergency drinking water, which comes in foil-sealed pouches and has a shelf life of 5 years.
It’s best to create a plan now and have an emergency kit ready for your pets.
Minimum 3-day supply.
Pet Emergency Kit – Big Dog
- Food and water
- Bowls for food and water
- Slip lead or collar and leash
- ID tag
- 5 days of medication
- Shot records
- Waterproof pouch or storage container for documentation and medication
- Basic first aid supplies
- Night light
- Mylar blanket
- ID card with microchip number and pets’ information
- Poop bags for dogs, litterbox, litter, and a scoop for cats.
If you prepare now, it will not only provide peace of mind, but it could also save your pet if disaster strikes. Pet Evac Pak offers a complete range of premium emergency kits for both cats and dogs. If you have multiple pets, consider our customizable “Build Your Own Kit” option, where you can add the items you need and leave out the rest.
Who knew a government shutdown could be such a buzzkill for disaster preparedness? Its funny, though, that while our own government grinds to a halt, were suddenly expected to be the unsung heroes of pet survival. The idea of empty shelves during a panic buy is a classic, and I love the practical advice on avoiding Ziplock rancidness – who knew kibble had such delicate shelf-life requirements? But really, the Mayday emergency kits sound like the ultimate party favor for the apocalypse, dont they? Having that 5-year shelf life is just the cherry on top for when the world ends and were all watching re-runs of cat videos. Thanks for the survival guide, Ill definitely start building my pets go-bag, mostly so I have something to do during the inevitable zombie uprising.
Oh, great. Just when I thought government shutdowns couldnt get any more inconvenient, theyre planning on leaving my furry friends high and *dry* during a disaster too? FEMA cant help, the Red Cross might run out of supplies faster than my kid can eat cereal, and Animal Control is MIA. Its a pet owners worst nightmare! But hey, at least we can prepare, right? Stocking up on that Mayday emergency pet food – because lets face it, nothing says survival like a five-year-old kibble surprise. And dont forget the water; better to be safe than sorry, even if the plastic bottles only last a year – who plans for *that*? Honestly, its a bit much, but at least we can feel prepared to save our pets… or just have a really, really good emergency snack.
Who knew government shutdowns could be such a disaster for my dogs social life? But seriously, the part about animal control being MIA is a real downer. Its like asking, Who will play fetch when the constitution is on the line? Planning is key, though – my pets evacuation kit is now seen as more important than my own survival gear. And those Mayday pouches? Genius! My dog probably thinks theyre gourmet treats. Just hope the government shutdown doesnt make me forget to rotate the stash.<