In a world where natural disasters occur, we can be caught off-guard when emergency and mandatory evacuations affect us. Not only do we become responsible for getting ourselves to safety, but our household members as well – this includes our pets.
For dog owners, it can be overwhelming and disorienting knowing what to grab with limited notice. Below are things you can prepare in advance to make sure you have all you and your dog need in an unknown situation.
- Pack an emergency bag
To be at your most prepared, pack and store an emergency bag for yourself and your dog. This bag should contain enough dog food and water for several days, medication, leashes, collars, blankets, and first aid supplies (bandages, ointment, etc). Essentially, anything that is pertinent to your dog’s health should be prioritized and included in this bag. You can store it in your car for a quick evacuation or another easy to access spot in your home. - Coordinate a safe spot
Under duress, it can be difficult to know where exactly is a safe place to go. This is why determining a location to evacuate to prior to any emergencies can be helpful. Whether it is a friend or family member’s home, a hotel in another state, or even a safe shelter, knowing where you can go at the drop of a hat will help hasten your departure and keep you and your dog out of harm’s way.
This is particularly helpful if members of your home are split up and unable to gather prior to evacuating. You can use your safe spot as a place to reunite until it is safe to return home. - Update identification
In a worst case scenario situation, you could become separated from your dog. Having identification tags that are up-to-date can make all the difference with being reunited. DOuble check all of your dog’s collars and tag to be sure the information is current. In fact, store an extra set of ID tags in your dog’s emergency bag to be extra safe.
Including your phone number on the tag makes it very easy to ensure that when your dog is found, he can be brought home to you. - Get a microchip
Along the same lines, if your pet is microchipped – be sure the chip reveals current address information for you, as the owner. If your dog is not microchipped, you may consider having this very simple procedure done. Microchips can be scanned on a dog and reveal owner contact information. This is especially critical if you are separated from your dog and/or he is not wearing his ID tags and collar.
While we always hope to never encounter an emergency situation, it’s always best to be safe rather than sorry.