Pet Survival Kits

One of the major disasters has just hit your home, you grab your emergency kit and your bin of important papers, making sure you've rounded up your human family members so you can all get out as soon as possible, but where is fluffy the family cat? Do you leave the kids most prized possession behind or do you risk live and limb to save the little critter? I would have a hard time leaving me beloved cat behind and if you're a long time pet owner I'm placing my money that you would too. Some people say pets have a sense that warns them before something like a tornado hits, it could be that or Murphy's law that the pet suddenly disappears the one time you're looking for him. The one time that could mean the difference between his life and yours.

I've compiled a few tips on how to round up your family pet in the event you're hit with a natural, unavoidable disaster. If you haven't heard me say it before, you're obviously not reading the other articles on how to avoid being caught in a deadly disaster, but being prepared and having a plan are the first measures you can take in the defense of your animals life.

Purchase a pet carrier you can safely place your pet in for when timing is critical and you don't have time to worry about a scratching pawing animal in your arms.  Keep it in a spot that is easy to access by all members of the family. And please, for your pets sake, make sure it's big enough to be comfortable and scruffy isn't balled up so tight he can't breathe.

Use common sense and make sure your pet is properly I.D'd. Even if you aren't in the middle of a hurricane making sure your pet has an identification tag reduces the changes you'll be taping up LOST CAT posters around your neighborhood.

Like us pets need food and water to survive, along with your emergency kit your pet should have his own little box of goodies kept with your emergency stash. Fresh dry food & water. Keeping copies of old medial records is a good idea as well. You treat your pet like a member of the family any other time so why should this be different? Letting people know your pet was recently vaccinated will help both of you in the end.

If your pet has any special needs make sure those are attached to medical records. If Rover needs his Alzheimer's medication at 5 you need to make sure someone knows that!

If you know what hotels in your area accept pets you would most likely retreat there first. So, find out what hotels DO offer friendly pet accommodations for a time of need.
Getting to know your neighbors could also mean the price of your pet's safety. If you're not home neighbor Bob can easily enter your home and cage up your pet for evacuation. Letting a few people in on your life details doesn't always hurt!

You should be caring an identification card yourself for in the event you're in an accident away from home that lists emergency contact. Let this emergency contact know what to do and how to care for your pet. Or if you'd like list your pet(s) on your id card. If you know local shelters or boarding houses include these phone numbers as well.
In the end if you are frantically still searching for fluffy and must get you and your family out of the house now you must do what you have to do. They are just pets and as special as this one particular pet May be, they are replaceable and you and you're loved ones are not. If you do end up leaving the pet and you're able make sure food and water are available and that they are clad with their I'd cards at all times. We don't like to think about if this situation should happen but we must be prepared to leave them and save ourselves for if it does happen.

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