The How and Why Pet Preparedness is so important.
According to epa.gov, the rising global average temperature is associated with widespread changes in weather patterns. Scientific studies indicate that extreme weather events such as heatwaves and large storms are likely to become more frequent or more intense with human-induced climate change.
Whether you believe in climate change or cyclical weather patterns it’s a fact that we have seen a change in the past few years with stronger storms and dryer weather creating more devastating fires.
Now is the time to make a plan for you, your family, and your pets. We are here to help you with your pet planning. It’s better to be prepared and not need it than to need it and not be prepared. Through our experience, we have put together some facts that we have learned along with questions and answers that we are frequently asked.
If you are looking for a list of items for your pet’s go-bag please download our free e-Book on the front page of our website. We also list some other great resources on our resource page. Please visit redcross.org for your family planning.
How to Prepare for Flooding
Floods, flash floods, and mudslides can happen without warning. Levies and dams can break, rivers and creeks can overflow after heavy rain or a hurricane. We once had to evacuate when we lived in California after the levy broke. My neighbors left their dogs in the garage. I waded in 3 days later to rescue the dog, thinking it was not going to be a good outcome. Fortunately, he got out of the contaminated water by climbing up on some lumber stacked in the garage. He was dehydrated and hungry, I carried him to safety and he was able to recover. He was lucky!
Make a plan with a trusted neighbor. Show them where your pets are and their emergency supplies. Contact the local Animal Control and let them know your animals are home. Keep their phone number handy.
Always take your pets with you. Their chance of survival especially in a flood is slim
Yes if you download our free E-Book, each disaster listed has a list of items.Â
Did you know?
During emergencies you pet could panic. It’s important to practice drills for evacuating with your pet. Get them used to being in a crate in case they have to be in a shelter away from you.
How to Prepare for Hurricanes
Thanks to advances in weather forecasting technology, we usually have some warning before a hurricane makes landfall. But, as we saw during hurricane Harvey, so many people were not prepared. There are lots of reasons pets were left behind but with a little help some of those reasons can be eliminated. Your pet’s best chance for survival is for you to take them with you. If you can’t take them, turn them loose. Never leave them on a chain or in a kennel. If they don’t have ID tags, you can use a magic marker and put your phone number on their belly.
Sometimes it’s not the hurricane itself that causes the devastation but the massive flooding during and after the hurricane passes.
Make sure they have an ID tag or at minimum use a sharpie and put your phone number on their belly. Always best to take them with you if you can.
Water! Your pet can survive 2 or 3 weeks without food but they can only survive for 72 hours without water before their system starts to shut down. – Add extra Mayday water for you as well. With its 5-year shelf life, you can’t go wrong.
A good general guideline is that a healthy pet should drink between ½ and 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. For example, a 20-pound animal would normally drink 10 to 20 oz per day.
Absolutely! But when you compare pricing you might find that the Pet Evac Pak is a better value. With its 5-year shelf life for a Big Dog Pak, that’s less than $16 per year over the next 5 years.
How to Prepare for Wildfires
A wildfire can spread quickly across forests and fields, giving us little time to evacuate. It is extremely important to have your pets go-bag ready. That will be one less thing to think about when you are panicked and in a hurry. Whether you are in a house or an apartment, in the city or country, it is essential to have an evacuation plan ready. One great item for your go-bag is our Pet Vet Antibacterial First Aid Gel, which is great for first- and second-degree burns. It is human grade so it’s pet and people-friendly.
Make a plan today that includes a trusted neighbor. Show them where your pets are and their emergency supplies. Also, make sure you have a Save Our Pets window decal on your front window for first responders to see. You can also contact your local Animal Control. If they can get in, they will always do their best to save your pets. Keep their phone number handy.
If I am separated from my pet and they are not microchipped what is the best way to identify them.
Believe it or not if you have a selfie with your pet that is usually all the identification you need. Make sure you print out a copy and put it in your pet’s go-bag!
For health reasons, your pets are usually housed in a different location according to the American Red Cross. It’s important to make sure your pets are comfortable using a crate. It’s never too early to start using one even if the door is always open. Never use a crate as punishment.
Did you know?
- Nylon collars can melt in extreme heat! Leather is better!
- Plastic water bottles have an expiration date? Usually, between 1 and 2 years the plastic will start to deteriorate and contaminate the drinking water. Best to use emergency drinking water for you and your pets that have a 5-year shelf life. Â
