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ARE YOU PREPARED?
Preparing in advance of a disaster is the best way to keep you and your animals out of danger. A disaster can strike anytime. It could be for a day or weeks in case of a sudden illness, chemical leaks, flooding or tornados can keep you from tending to your animals for extended periods of time.
PLAN AHEAD! |
DISASTER KIT AND SANITATION KIT |
- FIRST AID KIT includes: Bandages, gauze pads, scissors, tweezers/hemostats, needle and thread, soap, antiseptic wipes, alcohol-based hand wash, thermometer, petroleum jelly, antacids, laxatives, pain relievers, moist towelettes, super glue, and latex disposable gloves.
- SANITATION KIT includes: Five (5) gallon bucket with lid, plastic trash bags with ties, pooper-scooper, and household chlorine bleach for disinfecting.
Important Note:
If you have no choice but to leave your pets at home, keep your dogs and cats inside in separate rooms, preferably without windows, such as a garage, utility room, or a basement. Leave enough food and water to last for several days. Post a notice advising what pets are inside your house and include your evacuation site and phone number so that rescue personnel can contact you.
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IF YOU DON’T EVACUATE
First and foremost keep your pets inside with you and stay there! Shelter all large or farm animals in barns and sheds.
Build a “Disaster Kit” NOW! Don’t wait until it’s too late and find stores are out of supplies. A natural disaster or even a sudden illness could strike without warning.
We recommended that supplies be kept in a plastic container with a secure–fitting lid marked “Disaster Kit".
- Store a minimum of one week supply of non-perishable food for each animal. This should include: ready to eat canned meats, vegetables, fruit, etc) and water (two gallon minimum per each animal) Remember to store water in a dark area to minimize any bacteria build up.
- Store enough dry food for one week. Remember to rotate it every three months to prevent it from spoiling.
- Include bowls and a manual can opener if you are packing canned food.
- Include leash, collar, and/or harness for each animal.
- Keep an emergency supply of medications including the monthly heartworm preventative. (Check the expiration date on all medication). Pack medications and medical records in a waterproof bag or container.
- Store cleaning supplies, paper towels, plastic trash bags w/ties, newspapers, towels, grooming items, blankets, and household bleach for disinfecting.
- Fill spare bath tub with extra water.
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WHEN YOU EVACUATE, TAKE YOUR PETS WITH YOU
The single most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to take them with you. Even if you plan to return in a few hours, take your pets along for the ride. Too often animal owners intend to return home only to be deterred by the forces of nature.
We recommend that you assemble disaster supplies and have a plan for what to do before, during and after emergencies.
- Have a current copy of your pet’s RABIES vaccination in the glove box of your vehicle.
- Take a copy of your pet health records as your vet may also be evacuating.
- Keep a spare leash and collar in your vehicle including an identification tag which includes your cell number on the collar (remember your home phone won’t help)
- Crate/exercise pen is recommended for a longer term stay.
- Evacuate with a minimum of three days supply of medications and pet food.
- Have photographs of your pets in the event you become separated.
- Include a FIRST AID KIT, flashlight, batteries, portable radio, and a manual can opener.
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IN CASE YOU'RE NOT HOME
An evacuation order may come, or a disaster may strike, when you're at work or out of the house.
- Make arrangements well in advance for a trusted neighbor to take your pets and meet you at a specified location. Be sure the person is comfortable with your pets and your pets are familiar with him/her, knows where your animals are likely to be, knows where your Disaster Kit is kept and has a key to your home.
If you use a pet-sitting service, it may be able to help, but discuss the possibility well in advance.
FIND A SAFE PLACE AHEAD OF TIME
Because evacuation shelters generally don't accept pets (except for service animals), you must plan ahead to make certain your family and pets will have a safe place to stay. Don't wait until disaster strikes to do your research.
- Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets. Ask about any restrictions on number, size and species. Inquire if the "no pet" policies would be waived in an emergency. Make a list of animal-friendly places and keep it handy. Call ahead for a reservation as soon as you think you might have to leave your home.
- Check with friends, relatives or others outside your immediate area. Ask if they would be able to shelter you and your animals or just your animals, if necessary. If you have more than one pet, you may need to house them at separate locations.
- Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary offices that might be able to shelter animals in emergencies; include 24-hour telephone numbers.
- Ask your local animal shelter if it provides foster care or shelter for pets in an emergency. This should be your last resort, as shelters have limited resources and are likely to be stretched to their limits during an emergency.
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AFTER THE DISASTER
Planning and preparation will help you survive the disaster, but your home may be a very different place afterward, whether you have taken shelter at home or elsewhere.
- Don't allow your pets to roam loose. Familiar landmarks and smells might be gone, and your pet will probably be disoriented. Pets can easily get lost in such situations.
- While you assess the damage, keep dogs on leashes and keep cats in carriers inside the house. If your house is damaged, they could escape and become lost.
- Be patient with your pets after a disaster. Try to get them back into their normal routines as soon as possible, and be ready for behavioral problems that may result from the stress of the situation.
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