Introduction
From fires and floods to hurricanes and earthquakes, the worst can and does happen to dog owners all over the country. Just like you should have a plan in place for the humans in your family, you also need a disaster plan for your dog.
Tips
Assess Severe Risks
It is impossible to be prepared for everything, but knowing which natural disasters are most likely to affect your area can help you plan for as many of them as possible, whether it’s wildfires, tornadoes, or earthquakes — you name it. Once you understand the types of situations that can happen, it’s easier to know what supplies to keep on hand.
Prepare a Dog First Aid Kit
Most emergencies require a first aid kit. This kit should include medical supplies, food, and water, and anything else you may need to care for an injured dog. Contact ROLDA at rolda@rolda.org to help you build your own emergency kit.
Pet Evacuation Checklist
Evacuations are stressful. You may have to leave behind valued possessions, and you will often have very little time to decide what to take. The last thing you want to worry about is what your dog will need.
Put together an evacuation checklist for pets ahead of time that covers the essentials. Make sure you and anyone who regularly watches your pet know where to find your dog’s food, medications, medical records, leash, and if possible, crate.
Pet Evacuation Plan
If you have to leave your home, dogs complicate things. Not all hotels accept pets, and it may be harder to find friends and relatives who are willing to open their homes to both you and your companion animal. Research pet-friendly hotel chains as a part of your emergency preparation plan. Just as important, consider crate training your dog. Crate-trained dogs can be accommodated more easily because they’re comfortable with spending time in their crates.
An evacuation plan should contain a few elementary things like available exits, meeting places, and contact methods but it can be more detailed, to meet specific situations which vary from one family to another, or from one company/working place to another.
Stay Up-to-Date on Dog Vaccines & Microchip Information
Nothing shuts doors faster than failure to provide proof of vaccination records, especially for dangerous diseases. Keeping your pet up-to-date on vaccines offers protection from conditions such as rabies, distemper, or leptospirosis while increasing the chance of being allowed into disaster relief shelters and kennels. Also, if you and your pet become separated, dogs with microchips are much more likely to be returned with their owner.
Prepare Your Car for Unexpected Emergencies
If you are traveling with a dog, you may be faced with a disaster you’re not prepared for, that is why it is essential to have a disaster plan that moves with you. For dog owners, that means keeping a pet go bag in the car that includes a canine first aid kit, veterinary paperwork, pet food and water, contact information for your veterinarian, and a travel crate.
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Terms & Conditions
The information, guidance and recommendations contained on website or printable materials (in brief, “info”) are based on ROLDA understanding of good practice for animal welfare emergency planning.
ROLDA uses all reasonable efforts to ensure that the info is accurate at the time it is published.However, ROLDA makes no guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the Information and does not commit to keeping the Information updated.
ROLDA excludes all liability of any kind whatsoever (including negligence) for loss, injury or damage (whether direct, indirect, or consequential, and whether foreseeable or not) suffered by any person or animal resulting in any way from the use of or reliance on the info.
The info is of a general nature only and is not intended to cover every emergency situation. In no way should the info be seen as a replacement for specialist advice. Please contact your vet for specific advice regarding your pet(s).