May 8th is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, an excellent time to prepare a disaster plan for pet parents. In my area of North Texas, the common disasters are tornadoes, fire, and flooding. In the coastal regions of Texas, hurricanes are added to this list of disasters.
As an Animal Emergency Responder volunteer with RedRover, American Humane, and Animal Investigation and Response (AIR), I have seen firsthand what happens to pets when a disaster plan does not exist. I deployed to Houston for a Category 4 storm named Hurricane Harvey. Winds exceeding 150 mph with a record rainfall of over 40 inches caused massive flooding. Over 30,000 people were forced from their homes, leaving approximately 250,000 pets behind. National and local rescue organizations scrambled to save these pets.
As a pet care and pet-sitting business owner, I never thought I would need a disaster plan while staying in a client’s home. I quickly learned otherwise.
A Pet Sitters Panic!
On two occasions, while pet-sitting in client homes in Arlington, tornado sirens sounded, and the electricity was lost. I panicked the first time this happened as I had no idea where the client kept flashlights or the safest place in their home to shelter until the storm passed. In my rush to grab the client’s dogs, one of the dogs became scared and ran from me. Catching the dog used valuable time in getting to the safety of the bathroom. I learned from this experience and was prepared for the next time by implementing a disaster plan for my overnight pet-sitting clients.
A Plan for Pet Parents
Disasters occur all over the U.S., leaving family pets homeless or injured. Having a disaster plan for your pet will give you confidence in your pet’s safety. A plan will need to be made for each disaster affecting your area. Questions to ask yourself are: Who will be responsible for gathering the pet(s) and leading them outside to the family meeting spot if your house catches fire? Where do you shelter in case of a tornado? What supplies and medications will your pet need until you can return home? If your home is no longer livable, do you have a pet-friendly place to stay? What happens if your pet is home alone?
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND, but in case of separation, your pet should be microchipped, and your current contact information should be given to the microchip company. Ensure your pets wear collars with up-to-date identifying information, including the pet’s name and your contact information. If your pet has a crate or kennel, write your pet’s name and your contact information on the outside. In extreme situations, people have resorted to using a permanent marker and writing their contact information on pet ears or stomachs. If your pet is rescued, you may need a copy of your pet’s vaccination history and a recent photo of your pet to have your pet released to you.
Online Resources
There are many online resources if you’re unsure what needs to go into your pet’s disaster plan. The websites of the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States, and the American Red Cross have detailed articles dedicated to pet disaster preparedness.
A Company that Cares
The Sterling Pooch Pet Services is more than a pet-sitting or pet transport business. Our company cares about all pets’ physical and emotional well-being. By sharing the importance of disaster planning for pet parents, we hope pets can remain with their families and none are left behind. Our Pet Professionals proudly serve Keller, Aledo, Weatherford, Ft Worth, Southlake, Mansfield, Arlington, and surrounding areas. Please subscribe to the email list at www.thesterlingpooch.com to receive notifications of new blogs and posts.
Renee is the owner of The Sterling Pooch Pet Services and believes in the importance of continuing her education to offer the best of care to your loved pets.
As an avid animal lover and former Vet Tech, Renee not only gives her heart to your pets, but also keeps a clinical eye on their physical and behavior health.
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