Disaster Plans for Your Pets

I live in southeastern Florida and June 1 marked the start of hurricane season. A few years ago, my wife and I were directly impacted by hurricane Wilma. In 1995, I was a pharmacist first responder when hurricane Andrew devasted the Homestead, Florida area. As a result of these hurricanes, my wife and I make it a point to review our disaster plan. We make sure our property is secure and that extra food, water and other necessary supplies are on hand prior to June 1.

I'm sure we've all read about the disasters affecting the mid-west. Torrential downpours, flooding, and tornadoes have been causing havoc to so many families.

My question to those of you that have not been affected by these disasters is; if an emergency such as flood, fire, tornado, or hurricane were to happen, how prepared are you? If you are not prepared, now is the time to mke sure you have a disaster plan in place and make sure your pets have been included in this plan.

In preparing a disaster plan, you need to consider what needs to be done before, during, and after a disaster. Let's look at these considerations:

Before a disaster strikes:

• If you must evacuate, take your pet with you, if possible. However, if you are going to a public shelter, know beforehand if the shelter is pet friendly. Not all shelters allow pets. You need to plan in advance for shelter needs for you and your pets.
• Is the pet current on vaccines? Pet friendly shelters may require proof of vaccination.
• Have a current picture of your pet.
• Make sure you have a collar, identification tag, and a leash on hand.
• Have a pet carrier for each pet large enough for the pet to stand in and turn around in.
• Don't forget to include your pet when creating your disaster plan.

During a disaster:

• If the shelter allows pets, bring along the collar with ID and rabies tags, leash, and pet carrier.
• Bring an ample supply of food, water, and food bowls.
• Bring any necessary medications and any specific care instructions.
• Bring newspapers or trash bags for clean up.

After A disaster:

• Pets may need to be reoriented to their home and should be kept on a leash since familiar scents and landmarks may be altered. In addition, pets can be easily confused and become lost.
• Have a picture of your pet with you in case your pet cannot be found after a disaster. Check with local authorities such as animal control to see where animals can be recovered.
• Be aware of behavior changes in the pet as a result of the disaster. Your pet may become aggresive or defensive.

Additional information on a disaster plan for dogs and a disaster plan for cats can be found on www.PetHealth101.com