Pet Emergency Kit

(Picture of Pete, last summer, at the UP)

Hurricane Katrina was awful. But one of the good things that came out of it was the realization that the Emergency Evacuation Plan needed to be improved. One of the benefactors of this realization were pets. Because of Katrina, pets are now able to be included in emergency evacuation support. There is no longer a need for thousands of animals to be left behind because of an unexpected emergency situation. The next step as a pet owner is to make sure that we are prepared, not just for our family, but for our pets. I found this list from ASPCA of items that every pet owner should have in case of an emergency. And don't think an emergency is only a natural disaster...it could be a fire, robbery, anything that could - God forbid- happen to any of us. I know that one of my goals for myself this year is to not only have an emergency plan for my family, but to have one for my pets as well. I hope and pray that I will never need it.

The ASPCA would like to offer the following list of essential items to pack for your animal companions in advance, should you be faced with evacuation:

• Pet first-aid kit and guide book
  3 to 7 days' worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food
  Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
  Litter or paper toweling
  Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
  Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
  Dishes for food and water
  Extra harness and leash
  Photocopies of medical records
  Waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires
  Bottled water—at least seven days' worth for each person and pet
  Traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
  Flashlight
  Blanket
  Recent photos of your pet(s)
  Pet Grab ‘N Go Bag (can be crucial to protecting your pet’s paperwork)
  Especially for cats: Pillowcase or EvackSack, toys, scoopable litter
  Especially for dogs: Long leash and yard stake, toys and chew toys, a week's worth of cage liner
  

For a more complete list of emergency planning tips and the Ready Pets brochure on pet-friendly evacuation, visit the Disaster Preparedness section of the ASPCA website.