Disaster ready pets: an owner’s responsibility Published May 4, 2007 By Dr. Heather Mazzaccaro Hanscom Veterinary Treatment Facility Veterinarian Hanscom AFB -- Disasters come in many forms, from hurricanes to house fires. If a disaster happened tomorrow, would you know what to do? Perhaps you have a family disaster plan and an emergency kit all ready to go, but did you include pets in the planning? If not, take the steps outlined below so the whole family will be prepared in the event of an emergency. Disasters are almost always unpredictable and unpreventable, so it is crucial to act now. Why worry about my pets? The job of first responders is to ensure the safety of people affected by a disaster. Any pets residing in the area affected are ultimately their owner's responsibility. Whenever possible, plan to take pets with you, should the need arise to evacuate. Never let pets loose as free roaming animals in a disaster area; this presents a health hazard to the community and the owner would be held responsible for any injuries or damage caused by their pet in the aftermath. If you must leave pets behind, be sure to provide them with sufficient food and water for at least 72 hours. Post information and warnings for rescue workers about what type and how many animals are left in your residence, tips for immediate care and handling and who to contact about the ongoing care of those animals. Evacuating with your pet Not all human shelters are prepared to care for pets, due to the health hazards posed by co-populating large numbers of people and animals in a congested space. Therefore, it is important to make plans to house animals in alternate locations. Some communities will set up pet shelters near human shelters. It is best to make arrangements ahead of time with friends or relatives in other states or different areas of your own state to temporarily house pets until you can return home. In addition, research pet-friendly hotels in the local area and in nearby states. It is imperative that pet owners keep their pet's vaccines up-to-date -- especially rabies vaccines -- which are required by law for dogs, cats, ferrets and most livestock. Many shelters and hotels will not accept pets if their vaccines are outdated. Pet Emergency Kit Finally, prepare a pet emergency kit and store it with family emergency kits. Here is an example list of what should be kept in this kit: Pet first aid kit · extra bottles of daily medications or copies of prescriptions with current expiration dates · Copies of current medical and vaccination records · Veterinarian contact information · Muzzle, collar and leash · Food and water to last at least 72 hours · Manual can opener · Bedding · Plastic bags · Newspaper (when shredded, it can be used as cat litter) In addition, owners should have an appropriately sized crate to transport and temporarily house pets. This should be large enough that the animal can easily stand and turn around inside. Familiarize your pet with the crate so it will not be a stressor in an emergency situation. Lost Pets In many situations, pets become scared and may hide or run away during disasters, which may prevent owners from evacuating. To make sure the animals are rescued and returned, make sure they have proper identification. Collars with identification tags listing owner information and an out of state contact should be worn by pets at all times. In addition, microchips or tattoos can act as additional identification tools for rescuers and increase the likelihood of a pet being returned. It is also a good idea to keep current photos of pets for identification purposes. Pet owners should remember that their personal safety should always come before that of their pets. For more information about pet disaster preparedness contact your local veterinarian or call Hanscom's Veterinary Treatment Facility at (781) 377-3266.