Emergency preparedness

Do you have an emergency kit and plan for your family?  Did you remember to include your pets in your plan and to include a supply kit for your pets as well?  If you did congratulations!  If you forgot to include your pets, or perhaps haven't put together your emergency plan September is Emergency Preparedness Month.  There a lot of resources out there for putting together an emergency plan for both yourself and your pets. 

Here are a few tips I picked up this weekend speaking with some members of the Washington State Animal Response Team (WSART). 

• Put together an emergency kit for your dog or cat.  For a small dog using some easy to find items this can cost less than $10.
• Use food samples that you pick up at pet stores or community pet events.  These often are packaged to last longer than baggies of food which should be changed out every 90 days or so.
• If you include canned food in your kit be sure to choose pop top cans in case you don't have access to a can opener.
• Include information about your pet including vet's name and contact information, description, identifications (tattoos or microchips), medical information.  Include some pictures of you with your pet to aid in reuniting you with your pet.
• Sometimes veterinary clinics, training facilities, boarding facilities will give out slip leashes.  These are a great addition to your pet kit as they are easy to use and quick to grab.  Also include a sturdy leash and collar but the slip leads can also be helpful if other animals are spotted in the neighborhood.  In a pinch then can even be fashioned into a halter for a horse, a muzzle or a harness for a cat.
• Think about the container you store your pet kit in.  A sturdy plastic tote can make an excellent water bowl or litter box in a pinch.
• In addition to a microchip purchase a pet tag or collar with a tag that includes your name and cell phone number.  In a disaster cell phones may be the best way to get in touch with you.
• Keep a supply of any pet medications you will need in your kit at all times.  Change these out every 90 days and replace with a fresh supply. 

There is so much other wonderful information out there about putting together a plan for emergencies.  The  WSART website has information for setting a plan, what to include in your kit, and putting together a pet first aid kit.  Check them out here then click on Documents on the left side of the page.  At the bottom you will see an article titled Disaster Preparedness for Pets.  This is one of the most comprehensive articles on preparing with your pet that I have seen.  You can find additional information at http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/pets.html.