June is National Pet Preparedness Month. How prepared are you? The best way to stay safe in any emergency or disaster is by being prepared. Our pets are family members and they depend on us for love, care and protection. An emergency situation, such as an earthquake, flood or wildfire, can happen any time.
If you need to evacuate, take your companion animals with you! And be prepared with the supplies they may need for several days.
Here are some simple steps you can take now to prepare for the unexpected.
Make sure your pet is wearing tags with up-to-date identification. Your dog should have a current City license. Your cat should be wearing a name tag with your contact information. Your dog, cat or bunny's microchip should be registered with your correct contact information. If you and your animal are separated, proper identification will help reunite the family.
Create copies of important documents for your animal such as vaccination records, microchip information, photos of your pet, your contact information, friends/relatives contact information, any notes on feeding, medication and behavior. Keep a copy off site with a friend or family member, in Cloud storage and tape a copy to a portable kennel.
Train your companion animal to be comfortable in a portable kennel. If an emergency happens or you have to evacuate, this will help your pet feel safe and make it easier to transport them.
Introduce yourself to your neighbors. If you are not home when an emergency happens, your neighbor can check on your animal and help evacuate your pet if necessary.
Prepare an emergency kit. Put together a backpack of emergency supplies for your pet such as food and water for several days, treats, medications, toys and blankets. Make sure that perishable items are replaced every few months.
Find a safe place to stay ahead of time in case you have to evacuate. Identify hotels inside and outside your area that accept pets during emergency situations. If you cannot take your furry family member with you, identify boarding facilities nearby and outside of your area where you can take your pet.
Have a rescue alert sticker visible in one of your home's windows that lists the number and species of animals residing in your home. If you evacuate with your pets during an emergency, and time allows, write "Evacuated" across the alert sticker.
If you have larger animals such as a horse, be sure to prepare for them as well.
For more information on Emergency Preparedness please visit:
http://www.laanimalservices.com/general-information/emergency-preparedness/
