May 8th is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

The potential for experiencing a major disaster in California is real. Earthquakes, wildfires, and severe weather are all possible dangers faced in this area of the United States. When disaster strikes, you want to be prepared for all members of your family, including your pets. This means making a plan and having emergency supplies.

In honor of National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day on May 8th, we thought we’d take a few moments to share our top tips, so you can be ready and able to protect your pet in a disaster.

• Make sure your pet is micro-chipped.This will help reunite you with your pet if they become lost or separated from you in the course of a disaster or emergency.
• Get a rescue alert sticker from the ASPCA. The sticker can be placed in a front window of your home to provide emergency rescue workers with details on the number and kinds of pets in the home. 
• Keep extra leashes near the exits of your home. Just like people, pets can become afraid and even panic in a crisis, making even usually calm animals difficult to control.
• Designate a caregiver in the event you are not home during an emergency.
• Keep a current photo of your pets in case you become separated. 
• Have a pet first aid kit ready. Include any medicines your pet takes, copies of vet records, bandages, liquid soap.
• Keep a pet travel bag ready including pet dishes, plastic bags for clean-up, food and water for several days, and extra leashes and harnesses. Include a copy of their vaccination records.
  
• Keep a list of “pet friendly” hotel and motels ready. Remember, by law, Red Cross shelters do not accept house pets unless they are Service Animals.
• Keep a list of board and care facilities that shelter animals in emergencies. Make sure the list includes numbers for facilities outside your own area, as local shelters might be full or also affected by disaster. 
• Have a transport carrier for each pet. Use indelible ink to write their names and other important information on the crate to help others identify and care for your pet should you be away or not able to care for your pet.  

We can’t prevent disasters, but we can be as ready as possible. Make sure to include your pets in your emergency preparations.

For more information visit the ASPCA’s page on disaster preparedness.