Realty Times August 3, 2000

Before Disaster Strikes, Make a Plan for Your Pet
by Courtney Ronan

Understandably, homeowners who reside in hurricane-prone regions are preoccupied with creating evacation plans for themselves and their families. After the creation of those plans comes consideration of one's personal belongings. What may be stored in a safe? If the family has to evacuate, what should go and what should be left behind? Families are wise to plan ahead, but they sometimes forget the "other" residents in the household: the four-legged family members. Disaster-relief agencies recommend that families prepare their pets for the arrival of hurricane season regardless of whether or not any hurricanes are forecast.

Prepping your pet actually involves two plans: one for keeping your pet with you (in the event that you remain at home and wait out a storm or head inland and bring your pet along), and one in the event that you have to board your pet(s) with family, friends or a veteranarian/boarding facility located further inland. Waiting until the National Weather Forecast tells you to evacuate is too late to begin considering what to do with your pet. In the ensuing chaos, you're going to find yourself in tremendous stress if this is the first occasion during which you attempt to find a boarding facility for your pet, or round up his food, toys and other supplies while gathering the family for an evacuation.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management recommends that pet-owners take the following measures well in advance of hurricane season:

  • Keep your pets' vaccines current, and obtain a copy of their vaccination report(s). If you elect to board your pet in a facility, you may be asked to present a vaccination report first.

  • What if, during all of the commotion surrounding your evacuation, your pet escapes? Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and rabies vaccination tags that bear your mobile phone number or that of a trusted family member or friend (having your own home phone number on the tag isn't as efficient if you have to evacuate and aren't able to check your messages). Take a new photograph of your pet each year, and keep it in your wallet. You may need it for identification purposes.

  • Purchase a generously sized pet carrier for your dog or cat (nothing too small or too large). Your pet should feel secure without being cramped. A good rule of thumb is to find a carrier large enough to enable your pet to stand and turn around. The carrier should be labeled with your name and mobile phone number.

  • Pack a leash with your evacuation kit, and keep it with you at all times. Whether or not you're planning to board your pet, you'll want to keep him on a leash as much as possible during your evacuation. When your front door is wide open, your pet could easily escape.

    If you're planning to board your pet at a shelter for the duration of the storm, call the shelter well ahead of time to determine its space constraints and whether or not you'll need reservations. Shelters are likely to be packed, and most will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pet should have his own "evacuation" kit which includes not only his carrier, vaccination record and leash, but also his collar/rabies tag, food and water bowls, required medications and their instructions for dosage, a few toys for security and a supply of food, as well.

    When the storm subsides and everyone has returned home (your pets included), ease your pet back into his old, familiar schedule. Keep them on a leash as often as possible so you can control their comings and goings. Certain areas of your home may be off-limits if your residence experienced any damage during the storm. Your pet's sense of orientation will be thrown. Furniture may be rearranged or even absent, and he'll smell unfamiliar smells. To prevent any marked behavior changes or signs of distress, he'll need extra TLC from the family. If your neighborhood experienced substantial damage such as fallen power lines, flooding, broken glass or splinters lying in the street, under no circumstances should you allow your pet outside. If your pet escapes for any reason following your return -- a consequence of unfamiliar activity and your pet's trauma -- call the animal control center in your city to find out where found pets are being sheltered. You stand the best chance of recovering your pet if he's properly tagged.

    Preparing your dogs and cats for a storm long before it happens is an insurance policy for your pets' safety and security, and will help ease a source of considerable stress both for you and your four-legged family members.


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