| Planning for pets is essential
when faced with an emergency situation. Many pet owners will simply
not leave their residences if that means leaving their pets behind.
One of the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and acted out in
the evacuation for Hurricane Rita is that government officials were
encouraging people to leave and take their pets with them.
During Hurricane Katrina, countless rescues occurred because pet
owner stayed behind in order to care for their animals. They hadn't
taken any measures to bring their pets with them in the event of
an evacuation. Many were caught off guard by this necessity and
decided last minute to stay behind.
When planning your exit strategy from an emergency zone be sure
to think about beforehand how you would like to evacuate your pets.
Cat carriers and dog carriers will work for some. Bringing along
plenty of pet food and water also will be a necessity. You may need
to find a shelter for your pet or a pet hotel or a friend to take
in your pet on a temporary basis. Some human shelters may even take
in pets as well, but it is best to check beforehand for this possibility.
Remember that your pet will be even more anxious than you are by
being taken to unfamiliar surroundings so bring a bag of your pets
favorite comforts such as chew bones or a small pet bed. Call ahead
to make sure there is lodging for your pet where you are staying
or in a place close by so that visiting your pet will not be a problem.
With so much going on in an evacuation many put pet preparedness
near the bottom of the list. But, be thinking ahead, planning and
visualizing your strategies before a disaster strikes, you can prepare
yourself, your family and your pet for a safe evacuation.
|