Severe weather can be scary, especially for pets. When making emergency plans for your family, be sure to include your pets.
- Make sure that all of your pets have microchips and the registration is current. Also make sure that all of your pets are wearing collars with current tags for quick identification.
- Make a kit that includes at least a week’s supply of food and medications, leashes, a carrier for cats and small pets, and a recent photo of you with your pets for identification purposes. Additionally, it may be a good idea to keep up-to-date vaccine records in case you need to go to a shelter or hotel that requires it. Be sure to keep these items in a water proof container.
- In case your family needs to evacuate your home, be sure that you know ahead of time a place to go that will allow pets.
- Bring pets inside long before severe weather is warned. Your pets can sense storms approaching long before they hit and can panic and hide. It’s always a good idea to have crates with heavy blankets over them set up in your shelter area to place pets in. Not only will this help protect them, but will keep them from getting loose during a crisis.
Once your family has a plan, be sure to review it with all members and do practice runs ahead of time. A little prepping goes a long way in keeping not only your two-legged but your four-legged family safe!
-Amanda Ward, R.V.T.
Kutter Pet Care Center
