BEFORE DISASTER HITS pet owners should consider the safety of their furry friends in the event the worst comes to pass. It is good practice to maintain an emergency kit, not only for yourself and your family, but for your pets as well.
Ideally, a pet kit should contain relevant supplies needed in the case of a disaster. All pets should have identification collars with relevant information and owners should maintain an up-to-date photographic record of each pet.
When compiling a disaster kit for your pet, it is good to look into purchasing a carrier or a cage for your animal. Make certain that all the supplies in your kit are marked and accounted for with owner-information.
What to pack inside your pet kit
• Detailed list of belongings
• Identification
• Leash or harness
• Muzzle (if necessary)
• Medication
• Vaccination/medical records
• Food for 2 to 4 days
• Water for 2 to 4 days
• Food/water bowls
• Special care instructions
• Newspaper and trash bags for clean-up
Animals have more acute hearing and heightened awareness of natural phenomena than humans do. During a hurricane, with thunder, lightning and high winds, animals are likely to become agitated and scared.
A hurricane is a low pressure system; dogs and cats can sense this change and may become disoriented. It is important to heed weather warnings and ensure their safety. Animals left on leashes outdoors or in insubstantial outside shelters risk being injured by debris or by their own struggles to find sanctuary from the storm.
If you are unable to make arrangements for your pets to be fostered at a safe area during the storm, it is best to find a shelter or pet-friendly hotel that can serve as a temporary home for you and your pet during the critical period.
Those that intend to stay put during a hurricane should remember that the pressure change can confuse your animal’s senses and cause them to become frantic. Pets should be kept comfortable and safe from falling or breakable objects if they are being safeguarded indoors during the storm. The bathroom is a good place to keep dogs and cats to have them corralled and abated.
Even with ample food and water in your home, it is best not to leave your pet alone during a major tropical storm.
After storms, scents and landmarks may have changed. This alteration of environment should be taken into account when re-introducing your pet to once familiar properties. It is important to keep dogs on their leashes until they are able to orient themselves and become more confident in their surroundings.
It’s good to remember that, for disaster preparedness, canned tuna is full of protein and a healthy supply stock can benefit both your family and your pets. Make sure to set up your evacuation plan and emergency kits before the action is necessary. Preparedness will facilitate a smooth, routine layout of steps to be taken in the event of catastrophe and you can stand firm in the face of natural chaos.
More than just pets are in danger. Livestock is also at risk when the potential for disaster increases. Wild animals can also be an aid before any natural travesty occurs. From unusual behaviour in animals to bodies of water, there are many ways to potentially get a quick start just before the worst happens.
Normally placid horses stomp, neigh incessantly, buck, and roll on the ground with approaching inclement weather and earthquakes. The larger the herd, the more the horses restlessly circle and group in fear, in forewarning of these weather and geological activities.
Birds prior to the 2005 Indian Ocean tsunami suddenly abandoned nesting areas before the devastation hit Thailand. Whether it’s a tornado, hurricane, earthquake or volcanic eruption, bird reaction prior to the event is to fly away en masse.
Household cats will tend to hide or and protect their litters before a disaster is about to occur while dogs will usually create a ruckus and try to aid their owners in a search for safety. It’s important to pay attention to animals and try and derive some meaning from their attempts at communication as it may safe a life.
