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STEP
2: ARRANGE A SAFE HAVEN
Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of
evacuation. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND.
If you do, they may be at risk for injury or even worse. Red
Cross disaster shelters will not accept pets because of
health and safety regulations. So it is imperative that you
have determined where you will bring your
pets ahead of time.
- Contact
your veterinarian for a list of preferred boarding
kennels and facilities for use in the event of an
emergency.
- Check
with your local animal shelter to determine if they
provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
- Identify
hotels or motels outside of your immediate area that
accept pets.
- Ask
friends and relatives outside your immediate area if
they would be willing to take in your pet.
STEP
3: EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AND TRAVELING KIT
Keep an emergency kit handy for your pets. This kit
should contain the following:
- Pet
first-aid kit and guide book.
- Canned
(pop-top) or dry food.
- Disposable
litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect) .
- Litter
or paper toweling.
- Pet
feeding dishes.
- Extra
leash.
- Photocopies
of medical records and a waterproof container with a
two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires.
(Remember that food and medications need to be rotated
out of your emergency kit otherwise they will go
bad or become useless.)
- Bottled
water.
- A
pet traveling bag or sturdy carrier, ideally for each
pet.
- Flashlight.
- Blanket
(for scooping up a fearful pet).
- Photos
of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make
"Lost" posters).
STEP
4: CHOOSE "DESIGNATED CAREGIVERS"
This is something that should take considerable time and
thought. You should make plans for a temporary home for your
pets in the event of an emergency. (And also make
arrangements for a permanent home in the event you can no
longer care for your pet.)
When
choosing a temporary caregiver, consider someone who
lives close to your residence. He or she should be someone
that is generally home during the day while you are at work
or has easy access to your home. A set of keys should be
given to this trusted individual. This may work well with a
neighbor who has pets of their own. (You may even swap
responsibilities depending upon who has accessibility.)
When
choosing a permanent caregiver, other criteria should be
considered. This is a person to whom you are entrusting the
care of your pet in the event that something should happen
to you. When selecting this "foster parent,"
consider people who have met your pet and have successfully
cared for animals in the past. Be sure to discuss your
expectations at length with a permanent caregiver, so he or
she understands the responsibility of caring for your pet.
Additionally,
you will want to provide a trust for your pet's financial
future. Unlike a will, a trust provides for your pet
immediately, and can apply not only if you die, but if you
become disabled. You may designate your permanent caregiver
as the trustee, or choose a separate person to be the
trustee of the funds that you have set aside for your pet's
care.
Contact
your attorney or the ASPCA at 212-876-7700, x4554 for more
information on trusts, wills, and how much money to set
aside for your pet's needs in the event you are unable
to care for them.
STEP
5: EVACUATION PREPARATION
Time is of the essence when you must evacuate your home in a
crisis. To minimize evacuation time, take these simple
steps:
- Store
an emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as
possible.
- Make
sure all pets are collared with up-to-date
identification. Your pet's ID tag should contain
his name, telephone number, and any urgent medical
needs.
- The
ASPCA recommends microchipping your pet for the most
permanent identification. (A microchip is implanted
in the animal's shoulder area, and can be read by
scanner at most local animal shelters.)
- Always
bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a
storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and
wander away from home during a crisis.
- Consider
your evacuation route and call ahead to make
arrangements for boarding your pet outside of the danger
zone at the first sign of disaster.
STEP
6: GEOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATIC CONSIDERATION
You may live in an area that is prone to certain
natural catastrophes, such as tornadoes, earthquakes or
floods. If so, you should plan accordingly.
- Locate
rooms well in advance that offer safe havens. In
other words, selected rooms that are clear
of hazards such as windows, flying debris, etc.
- Choose
easy-to-clean areas such as utility rooms, bathrooms,
and basements as safe zones.
- Access
to a supply of fresh water is particularly important. In
areas that may lose electricity, fill up bathtubs and
sinks ahead of time to ensure that you have access to
water during a power outage and other more forseeable
crises.
- In
the event of flooding, look for the highest location in
your home, or for a room with access to counters or high
shelves where your animals can take shelter.
ABOUT
OTHER PETS
BIRDS
- Birds
should be transported in a secure travel cage or
carrier.
- In
cold weather, make certain you have a blanket over the
cage. This may also help reduce the stress of traveling.
- In
warm weather, carry a spray bottle to moisten your
bird's feathers periodically.
- Have
photos available and leg bands on for identification.
- If
the carrier does not have a perch, line it with
paper towels and change those frequently.
- Keep
the carrier in as quiet an area as possible.
It
is particularly imperative that birds eat on a daily basis,
so purchase a timed feeder. If you need to leave your bird
unexpectedly, the feeder will ensure its daily feeding
schedule.
REPTILES
- Snakes
may be transported in a pillowcase, but you should have
permanent and secure housing for them when they reach a
safe place.
- Take
a bowl of water with you that is large enough for
soaking, and also bring a heating pad.
- Lizards
should be transported like birds.
SMALL
ANIMALS
Animals
such as hamsters, gerbils, mice, guinea pigs, etc., should
be transported in secure carriers with bedding materials,
food and food bowls.
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