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K9 Corner: Be pet prepared for disasters and emergencies

March 28, 2007|HELEN PALMER

March is Disaster Preparedness Month and the worst night of tornadoes in Kentucky in recent years happened on April 4, 1974. Since April 4 is just around the corner, it is important to plan for various emergencies like fire, flood, tornado or earthquake. Have you included your pets in your planning?

Here are some things you can do now before an emergency occurs. First, locate a shelter for your pet. This can be a boarding kennel, a veterinarian or even a friend in the next county who is willing to care for your pets for a short period. Why in the next county, you ask? In case of a tornado, it is unlikely that both counties would be struck.

Once you have approved the shelter, make arrangements to leave your animals there for one hour the first day. The next day try three hours if possible. If all goes well, plan an all day excursion for yourself and leave the pets for that period. This will familiarize the animals and help them adjust if the need arises.

In case of a house fire, include plans for rescuing the pets along with everyone else. Granted, if you have to make a choice of rescuing the children or other family member and locating the animals, the humans must be rescued first. Executing a fire drill where specific family members are responsible for taking a pet to safety, will prevent making up your mind to stay safely outside or try to return to get the animal. Too many people have died trying to rescue a pet left in a burning house. You have to remember that smoke inhalation can kill as easily as the flames.

In case of evacuation, you need to keep a manila envelope with a current photo of your pets. It is best to have several views plus one with a family member and the pet, for proof that you really own that dog or cat. Other items to insert in this envelope are each animal's vaccination records and a written statement from your veterinarian that the animal was in good health on such and such a date.

Your pet should wear a collar with an identification tag that includes both your phone number and another phone number in a different county. Your name and address on this tag also is helpful. Omit the pet's name. If your dog is microchipped, add the microchip ID tag onto the collar.

For an evacuation, you should have at least a seven day supply of pet food and water plus necessary feeding bowls. Any medications should be in airtight containers and stored in a cool, dry, easy-to-reach place in your home. I store everything in a plastic tub with a lid and use from it to keep the contents fresh.

After practicing a fire drill, schedule a tornado drill the following week. You may have to blindfold your dog to get him down the basement steps.

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