Disaster Preparedness - Tips To Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe During A Disaster Reprinted with permission from the United Animal Nations, Emergency Animal Rescue Service Program. If you would like more information about being prepared to take care of your pets during a disaster, or becoming a trained disaster volunteer for animals, contact: P.O.Box 188890, Sacramento, CA 95818.   Take several pictures of all animals in your household and keep these pictures with your important insurance papers (include shot records too). Be sure to include in the pictures any distinguishing marks. These pictures can help reunite you with a lost pet. Store the pictures in a resealable plastic bag in case you have to post them during the months that rain. Have at least a week's supply of pet food and water on hand at all times for your pets. Store the dry food in air-tight/waterproof containers. if you use canned food, buy the flip top cans or have a can opener in your airtight Disaster Supply Container. Keep some of your pets' favorite treats on hand. They become stressed during a disaster too and a treat provides your pets some comfort. Also keep a supply of cat litter for the cats in your household and keep a clean litter scoop and litter pan in your Disaster Kit. Keep a collar and tag on your pets at ALL times (this includes cats that never go outdoors). During a disaster a pet can escape and a collar and tag increases your chances of getting the animal back. On the tag, include your phone number and address. Remember the phones may not be working, so in order to reunite you with your pet an address is necessary. You may want to consider tattooing or microchipping your pets as a more permanent means of ID. If your pet rides in the car, always have a leash in the vehicle. A disaster may occur while you are away from home, and if you should have to abandon your car, you want to be able to keep your dog safely controlled. If your pet is on long term medication, always keep a back up supply on hand. A vet may not be open for some time following a disaster. If the medication needs to be refrigerated, keep an ice chest on hand to store it in. Ice will keep to be obtained from a store, and if they are not open, check with the Red Cross. Ask your regular vet if he/she has a disaster plan.Your pet may need medical attention after a disaster and you need to know where to take your animal. Knowing this in advance may save your animal's life, if it is in critical condition and time can not be wasted. Keep a First Aid Kit in your Disaster Kit for your pet. Assembled kits can be bought at pet stores or ask your vet what to include in one. Have a cat carrier (an EvacSack is a wonderful option too) to evacuate each cat in your household. If you have to confine the cat for a long period of time, have a carrier large enough to hold a shoe box size litter box, a water/food bowl, and room for the cat to comfortably lie down. Make sure the carrier is not left in the sun, and if it is warm, that the cat gets good ventilation. If you take the cat out, do so in a confined space. The cat may try to run away. Have a chain leash for all the dogs in your household. Walls and fences may come down during a disaster and it may be necessary to keep your dog confined on a chain leash until repairs can be made. Be sure the chain is long enough for the dog to move around without getting tangled around something and maybe choke itself. Shelter from the elements should be within the dog's reach too. If your dog is kept in an outdoor run, make sure it's in a location where falling debris (trees, shingles, power lines, chimney bricks, etc.) won't fall on the run and possibly injure the dog. If something were to fall on the run and possibly prevent opening the door, you should have a heavy duty wire cutter, in case the dog was trapped inside and had to be freed. Start a buddy system with someone in your neighborhood, so that they will check on your animals during a disaster in case you weren't home. Agree to do the same thing for them. Exchange information on veterinarians and have a permission slip put in your file at the vets, authorizing your buddy to get necessary emergency treatment for your pet should you not be able to be reached. If someone watches your pets while you are on vacation, talk with them about a disaster plan to be used to evacuate and care for your animals in your absence. Be sure and comfort your pet during a disaster. They are frightened too, and having you near to give them a hug will help. If your pet is not ready to be comforted though, do not force it. Let them come to you when they are ready. Continue to feed the pet the food they are used to and put it out as close to the normal time as you can.If you feed canned food, reduce the normal amount by half (supplement with dry food) to reduce the possibility of diarrhea. Be sure to provide your pets with fresh water at all times. Know where the animal shelters are in your area.You may need to visit them after a disaster to look for a missing pet.

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