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<\/p>\nBy Michelle Patel, Owner of Pet Life Saver in Jacksonville, Florida<\/p>\n
Hurricane season is upon us.\u00a0 When making preparations for possible evacuations, it is important to plan for our furry family members also.\u00a0 The last thing you want to do is leave your pet home in an emergency to fend for him or herself.\u00a0 Preplanning takes much of the stress out of an emergency situation when it arises.\u00a0 Before the storm is approaching, do some research on animal friendly shelters.\u00a0 Know your evacuation routes and scope out hotels that are pet friendly. Keep their contact information handy so that you can book a room as soon as you know you will need one. When disasters are imminent, rooms (especially pet friendly ones) book up quickly. Keeping your pet up to date on vaccinations is not only good for their health, but also up to date vet records are often a requirement for bringing an animal to a shelter or hotel.<\/p>\n
Evacuating as soon as possible will greatly reduce your travel time. The closer people wait until mandatory evacuations, the more congested the roadways get. When traveling with your pet, you will want a minimum of three days worth of medications, food\/treats, toys, water, a towel or blanket, litter and a litter pan (for cats), a first aid kit, paper towels, trash bags, carrier, and leash\/harness. If you keep these items in a large bin, that is one item off of your to do list when an emergency strikes.\u00a0 Everything is already together (except for the perishables that need to be packed last minute), and you can simply grab the bin.<\/p>\n
If you do not plan to travel with your pet, have several boarding options available. Do research ahead of time to know which vet offices and boarding facilities will board during a disaster.\u00a0 Make sure you have their 24-hour contact information handy, as one can never be sure when a disaster will strike.<\/p>\n
If you decide not to evacuate for whatever reason, figure out the safest room in your home and set up camp together there. Make sure there are no unsafe areas where frightened pets can run off to, hide in, and escape your reach.\u00a0 Keep poisonous substances out of your pet\u2019s reach.\u00a0 Bring any outdoor pets inside at the first sign of approaching danger. Keeping dogs on leashes and cats in carriers prevents you from having to round them up if you need to leave in a hurry.\u00a0 Monitor the situation via radio, television, or cell phone regularly, and do not leave your home until it is safe to do so.<\/p>\n
Sometimes disaster can strike while you are away, and you cannot get to your pets at home.\u00a0 It is always advisable to have someone trustworthy that can access your home and care for your pets in the event you are unable to.\u00a0 Carrying a card on your person at all times with instructions on who to contact in the event of an emergency is helpful to emergency personnel if anything were ever to happen to you and you could not get to your pets.<\/p>\n
The first line of defense against a pet getting lost is ensuring proper identification.\u00a0 Ideally, two forms of identification should be on the pet at all times.\u00a0 A permanent form of ID (such as a microchip or tattoo) is recommended.\u00a0 Since these are permanent, they cannot be removed from your pet.\u00a0 A veterinarian can read these and get in touch with you.\u00a0 Additionally, a collar with identification tags containing the address and phone number to the pet parent increases the likelihood that someone who finds your pet will be able to reach out to you.\u00a0 It is critical to keep the contact information up to date at all times.\u00a0 GPS trackers that are located on your pet\u2019s collar are also becoming quite popular.\u00a0 In case you ever need to show proof of ownership, it is a good idea to always carry a photo of you and your pet.\u00a0 When it comes to our pets, we can never be too cautious.<\/p>\n
Always being prepared for a hurricane would come in handy if any other emergency were to come about as well.\u00a0 We never know when a fire, flood, tornado, break in, terrorist attack, etc. could happen.<\/p>\n
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About the Author:<\/p>\n
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By Michelle Patel, Owner of Pet Life Saver in Jacksonville, Florida Hurricane season is upon us.\u00a0 When making preparations for possible evacuations, it is important to plan for our furry family members also.\u00a0 The last thing you want to do is leave your pet home in an emergency to fend for him or herself.\u00a0 Preplanning … <\/p>\n