In the wake of the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, many across the nation are thinking about disaster preparedness and the best ways to plan for natural or human-caused emergencies. All community members - pet owners, veterinarians, and shelter workers - should be involved in the crucial planning for pets’ safety in advance of an emergency. In fact, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act passed in 2006 requires that state and local emergency preparedness authorities include how they will accommodate households with pets or service animals in disaster planning to qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding.
Many important steps in protecting animals during an emergency can and should happen long before a natural disaster or other event. The hours and minutes leading up to an evacuation situation or other emergency are not the time to begin thinking about how best to protect pets and other animals. Lack of preparedness may lead some owners to take additional risks to protect their animals, putting not only their pet’s health and safety in jeopardy, but also their own.
Veterinarians play a key role in minimizing last-minute risks to pet owners by helping them formulate a plan and gather essential supplies to keep their pets safe before a disaster occurs. Ready.gov has several resources for pet owners to prepare for disasters. Here's a closer look at three steps veterinarians can recommend clients take today to ensure safe and healthy pets – and owners – when an emergency occurs.
1. Build an Emergency Kit for Your Pet
Most households, especially in disaster-prone areas, have emergency supply kits with nonperishable food, water, and other supplies. Pet owners should make sure common supplies for their animals are a part of this kit. This includes several days’ supply of food in an airtight, waterproof container, a water bowl and several days’ worth of water, and any medicine the pet takes regularly. Other important items include:
- Backup leash, collar, and ID tag
- Traveling bag, crate, or sturdy carrier
- Grooming items
- Sanitation needs
- Familiar items such as the pet’s favorite toys or bedding
- A towel or sheet to cover the cage or carrier to minimize stress
- A picture of owner and pet together to assist with searching for the pet
- Any paperwork documenting pet ownership
- A copy of the pet’s medical records
Veterinarians play an important role in helping owners think through medication and how best to store it and administer it. At the same time, they can help owners build a first-aid kit that is suited to the pet’s specific health needs.
2. Get Pets Comfortable with Carriers
If a family or pet owner is forced to flee their home quickly, that’s not the time to struggle to force a cat or exotic pet into a carrier or a dog into a crate. It’s better to get pets acclimated to travel before a true emergency. One good practice is to take note of where pets often hide, so that they can be found quickly in an emergency. Veterinarians can share strategies to gradually familiarize pets with their travel carriers, including the recommendation that pet owners:
- Leave carriers out and open near where pets usually spend time or visit.
- Feed them treats near – or inside – the carrier.
- Place favorite toys or bedding with familiar smells inside the carrier.
- Encourage the pet to take naps inside the carrier.
3. Microchip Your Pet
The benefits of microchipping pets are well-established. Per the American Animal Hospital Association: “This identification (ID) device provides invaluable benefits designed to keep your four-legged friend by your side.”
Microchipping significantly increases the chances that owners and lost pets will be reunited. Lost dogs with microchips are more than twice as likely to be returned to their owners. Less than 2% of cats who are not microchipped are reunited with their owners, while nearly 40% of microchipped cats are returned.
Veterinarians can encourage microchipping and answer clients’ most common questions about the procedure. It’s a safe, simple, and important step to identify a pet, especially if the pet has to travel to another state or country. Vets can also remind clients to keep their contact information and other personal details up-to-date, especially in advance of an anticipated emergency.