Hurricane season in New England is officially June through November with over 60% of past hurricanes occurring in August and September. The weather has been far from average over these past few months and it is best to be prepared in case of emergency. Do you have a plan in place? Does this plan include your pet? What will you need in case of an emergency? Where will you go? The Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New England (VESCONE), a 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital offers the following information to help you and your pets in the case of an emergency.
Most importantly if you need to evacuate take your pets with you. You may not be able to go back and get them later. Look at all the animals that were left behind during Hurricane Katrina. You may think you will only be gone a short time but it may be much longer than that. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Prepare a pet emergency supply kit along with one for you family. Your pet’s kit should contain the basics for survival most importantly food and water for at least three days.
• Have an extra supply of any medication your pet may be on, in an emergency you will may not be able to obtain a refill.
• Both your kit and your pet’s should include a first aid kit. Your pet’s should include the basics – cotton bandages, bandage tape and scissors, flea and tick prevention, latex gloves, hydrogen peroxide, and sterile saline solution.
• You pet should wear proper identification at all times with contact name, phone number and an alternative contact in case you are unreachable. Include a back-up tag with this same information, along with a leash, in the emergency supply kit. Also include any important documents – medical records, vaccination documents, adoption papers, microchip number, etc. These documents should be stored in a waterproof container/bag.
• Don’t forget the litter, litter box, and bedding along with a favorite toy or two to help reduce the stress for your pet of being in unfamiliar surroundings
• Current pictures of your pets, preferably with you in the picture too. If you and you pet become separated this can help you document ownership and allow others to assist in identifying your pet.
Plan ahead –
• Not all evacuation shelters allow pets. Keep a list of pet-friendly hotels and motels in the area. Dogfriendly.com is a resource that publishes a list of pet friendly establishments. Contact family or friends outside of your local area that may be able to take you and your pets in during an emergency.
• Obtain “Pets Inside” stickers and place them on doors and windows to alert rescue workers that there are animals inside. If you do evacuate with your pets you should write “evacuated with pets” across the stickers so that rescue workers do not waste valuable time looking for a pet that is safe with you.
• Develop a Buddy System. Share your evacuation plan with neighbors, friends or relatives that are comfortable handling your pets in the case you are not home during an emergency. Make sure your buddy has a key to your home, knows where your supply kit can be located and any favorite hiding places that your pet may be.
