By Chrystle Fiedler
HURRICANE KATRINA WAS eight years
ago, but it’s difficult for us to forget the pets
that were left behind or died during the dev-
astation. Whether it’s a natural disaster such
as a hurricane, flood, fire, blizzard or tor-
nado, or a power outage, hazardous waste
spill or gas leak, when it comes to your pets,
you need to be prepared. “Unexpected events
can affect you and your furry family,” says
Karen Becker, owner of the Natural Pet
Animal Hospital outside Chicago, and one of
Chicago’s Top Ten Vets, according to Chicago
magazine. “It is your responsibility as a pet
owner to prepare for any emergency.”
If you don’t take the time to get ready, it
can have serious consequences. “Statistics
show that most pet owners are not prepared.
It’s one of those things that tends to get put
off,” says Cheryl L. Eia, the coordinator of
emergency preparedness and response for
the American Veterinary Medical Asso-
ciation (AVMA). “Not being prepared can
mean that pets are left behind or don’t have
everything they need, like medications and
food if you evacuate.”
Leaving your home without your pets
during a disaster or emergency is a mistake.
Often, pet owners think they’ll be gone for a
short time, only to find out they can’t return
for days or weeks. “The key thing is to take
your pets with you,” says Becker. “Don’t ever
leave them behind. You may think that you’ll
only be gone for a few hours, but things can
change very quickly.”
Instead of waiting until disaster strikes,
create an emergency plan for your pets as an
essential part of your overall disaster plan.
Preparing ahead of time—having a plan in
place and practicing that plan—is the best
way to minimize evacuation time and keep
you and your pets safe and out of danger.
“For so many people, pets are part of the fam-
ily,” says Eia. “Having a plan in place will give
you peace of mind.”
How to get ready
Assess your risk. Whether you live in a
place prone to earthquakes or floods, you
need to plan accordingly, says Eia. Designate
safe places for you and your pets such as
bathrooms and basements that are free of
windows and potential flying debris and safe
from flooding.
Prepare a disaster plan
Ask your vet for tips. Assemble an animal
evacuation kit (see next page) and develop an
evacuation plan. Practice the plan. Keep
emergency cash on hand. Visit the Federal
Emergency Management Agency’s website
pets for your
MEDIA BAKERY
The Costco Connection
Costco members will find many items for an
emergency pet-care kit (as well as items for
daily use), including food, water, treats and
beds, in the warehouse and on Costco.com.
Many pet medications can be obtained at
Costco pharmacies.
When
pets are
ın peril
How pet owners
can prepare for
emergencies
at www.ready.gov for more help in preparing
for a disaster.
Identify your pets
Make sure that each pet is microchipped
and has a collar, leash and proper identification. Put a piece of masking tape on the back
of the collar with your evacuation site info,
and put this info on all pet carriers too.
An efficient new tool that puts all the
information about your pet in one place is
the PC Pet ID, a handy computer flash drive
available from online retailers that saves
important information about your pet, says
Becker. You can download photos of you and
your pet, along with contact info for you and
your veterinarian, and your pet’s medical
information, including microchip number,
vaccination records, medical history with test
results, any conditions and medication your
pet needs, with drug name, dosage and frequency of dosage, and dietary needs, directly
onto the PC Pet ID. It should be stored in the
evacuation kit.
Have proof of ownership
To protect against the chance you
become separated from your pet, make copies of registration information, adoption
papers, proof of purchase and microchip
info. List each pet, along with its species,
breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing
characteristics, says Eia. Put copies in your
evacuation kit and inside each pet carrier.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 58
SEE PAGE 55 for more
tips on emergency
preparedness.
“ Not being
prepared can
mean that pets
are left behind
or don’t have
everything
they need ... if
you evacuate.”
—Cheryl L. Eia