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DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR PETS
When disaster strikes, always
keep your pets with you. If it isn't safe for you to stay put, it
isn't safe for your pets.
Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, hazardous material spills—disasters
can strike anytime, anywhere. If you think you will never have to
evacuate unless you live in a flood plain, near an earthquake fault
line or in a coastal area, you may be tragically mistaken. It is
imperative that you make preparations to evacuate your family and your
pets in any situation. In the event of a disaster, proper preparation
will pay off with the safety of your family and pets.
If You Evacuate, Take Your Pets
The single most important thing you can do to protect your pets is
to take them with you when you evacuate. Animals left behind in a
disaster can easily be injured, lost, or killed. Animals left inside
your home can escape through storm-damaged areas, such as broken
windows. Animals turned loose to fend for themselves are likely to
become victims of exposure, starvation, predators, contaminated food
or water, or accidents. Leaving dogs tied or chained outside in a
disaster is a death sentence.
- If you leave, even if you think you may be gone only for a few
hours, take your animals. Once you leave, you have no way of
knowing how long you'll be kept out of the area, and you may not
be able to go back for your pets.
- Leave early—don't wait for a mandatory evacuation order. An
unnecessary trip is far better than waiting too long to leave
safely with your pets. If you wait to be evacuated by emergency
officials, you may be told to leave your pets behind.
Don't Forget ID
Your pets should be wearing up-to-date identification at all times.
It's a good idea to include the phone number of a friend or relative
outside your immediate area—if your pet is lost, you'll want to
provide a number on the tag that will be answered even if you're out
of your home.
Find a Safe Place Ahead of Time
Because evacuation shelters generally don't accept pets (except for
service animals), you must plan ahead to ensure that your family and
pets will have a safe place to stay. Don't wait until disaster strikes
to do your research.
- Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check
policies on accepting pets. Ask about any restrictions on number,
size, and species. Ask if "no pet" policies would be
waived in an emergency. Make a list of pet-friendly places and
keep it handy. Call ahead for a reservation as soon as you think
you might have to leave your home.
- Check with friends, relatives, or others outside your immediate
area. Ask if they would be able to shelter you and your animals or
just your animals, if necessary. If you have more than one pet,
you may have to be prepared to house them separately.
- Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary offices that
might be able to shelter animals in emergencies; include 24-hour
telephone numbers.
- Ask your local animal shelter if it provides foster care or
shelter for pets in an emergency. This should be your last resort,
as shelters have limited resources and are likely to be stretched
to their limits during an emergency.
The following are links
directly to specific information on The Humane Society of the United
States web site designed to assist pet owners, animal lovers and
communities prepare for a crisis or disaster.
Emergency Kit and Plan
Detailed information on creating a plan and putting together an
emergency kit for your pet. Also, information for equine and
farm animal owners.
Take the Disaster Preparedness
Quiz
Are you prepared? Find out by answering these questions.
Disaster Animal Rescue
Learn more about what The HSUS Disaster Services Department does
for communities and animals across the country.
Volunteer
Become a member of The HSUS Volunteer National Disaster Animal
Response Team.
Find out what training is necessary to rescue animals during a
disaster.
This information is provided courtesy of The Humane Society of the
United States
www.hsus.org.[ back
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