September is National Emergency Preparedness Month, and just as it is important to have a family emergency plan, LA Animal Services reminds pet owners that your plan should include your four-legged family members should an emergency occur.
The following tips will help you prepare for the unexpected:
Make sure your pet is wearing a City dog license tag with up-to-date identification. Your dog should have a current City license, and your cat should be wearing a name tag with your contact information. Your dog, cat, bunny or horse’s microchip should be registered with your correct contact information. If you have moved, or changed phone numbers contact your microchip company to update your pet’s chip immediately. 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 pet 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.
Prepare an emergency kit. Put together a backpack or a rolling bag 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.
Be ready to relocate pets if necessary by having crates and extra supplies on hand for quick movement of pets – making sure you have proper equipment for pets to ride in the car (carriers, harnesses, pet seat belts, etc.).
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. Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date so that they can easily be admitted to pet hotels or boarding.
Introduce yourself to your neighbors. If you are not home when an emergency happens, your neighbor can check on your companion and help evacuate your pet, if necessary.
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.
Disasters and evacuations can happen at any time, so being prepared is key to keeping you, your family and your pets safe in case of an emergency.
To learn more about pet emergency preparedness and to view our available resources, please visit laanimalservices.com/general-information/emergency-preparedness.
