You may already have an emergency preparedness kit in your home, but have you built one for your furry family members? Just like humans, our four-legged friends have specific needs that will need to be met—even during disasters. It’s just as important to prepare for them as it is any other member of our family.
We know that pets are family, but when a natural disaster strikes, our fur babies are more dependent on us than ever! Reduce stress and worry–in the moment–by taking a few small measures to create a pet preparedness kit to ensure everyone has a safe experience.
Must-Haves for a Pet Preparedness Kit
Whether you add your pet’s preparedness kit to your existing home supply kit, or make each pet their own little bundle, here are a list of items each pet should have.
- The Necessities
Keep about a week’s worth of food and water packed for your pet. We recommend canned food (for freshness) but you can always replace dry kibble regularly if your pet prefers. Don’t forget sanitary items such as doggy bags, puppy pads, litter/litter box, pet shampoo, and a towel.
- Medical Care
Store any daily medications your pet requires in a waterproof container and assemble a basic emergency pet first aid kit (think gauze, tweezers, and adhesive tape). If you’d like suggestions for what your first aid kit should include, feel free to ask our veterinary team.
- Important Documents
Make sure you have our Bayside app download, which provides access to all of your pet medical records. It’s important to also keep photocopies or digital copies on a USB drive of health records, current prescriptions, or other relevant paperwork (e.g. AKC registration). We also recommend including some current photos of you with your pet(s). These items can come in handy if you get separated or your pet needs emergency medical care.
- Comfort Items
Pack one or two of your pet’s favorite things—toys, blankets, or treats. It may seem silly, but these can actually reduce stress for your pet, which also reduces your stress.
If you don’t already have a sturdy travel carrier, crate, or other secure way to transport your pet, invest in one now. You can store your pet preparedness kit inside the carrier when it’s not in use to ensure you have everything you need at a moment’s notice.
Other Pet Preparedness Tips
It’s not always top of mind in the moment, so be sure your pet is ready to ride out the storm—safely and smartly.
- Get your pet current on vaccines and restock any regular medications.
- Dress your pet in their finest collar and verify name tags or microchips have your current contact information.
- Recruit a neighbor who loves your fur baby just as much as you do–to have access to your home in the event that you’re away during an evacuation.
- The ASPCA offers Rescue Alert Stickers you can place on doors or windows for emergency workers to let them know there may be pets inside.
- Do not wait for mandatory evacuation to seek refuge! If you feel you or your pet is in danger, leave early rather than later. Floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes can change paths unexpectedly, which may not leave you a lot of time to head for higher ground.
- If, for any reason, you’re unable to take your pet(s) with you, do NOT leave them at home.
Please reach out to Bayside Animal Hospital for recommendations on kennels, foster homes, or emergency shelter locations you can confidently enlist to care for your pet during a disaster. An effective emergency evacuation plan and pet preparedness kit gives you peace of mind–knowing that you can care for your whole family—furry members included.
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