If you have a dog, cat, weasel, hamster or other four legged family member of the small to medium size variety stop what you are doing! Stop what you are doing! Is the pet supply store open? If it is go now and buy a carrier, harness leash and in the case of dogs a muzzle. I’ll wait here……………..
Your Back!!!
You are going to need these things if a situation comes around in which you have to evacuate your furry friends!!! A carrier is the easiest way to transport a pet. You’re going to need the leash when they time comes to take your friend out to use the restroom or just stretch their legs. If you end up in some sort of shelter you will need the muzzle for a dog in most cases. Some shelters will not take you in if you have furry friends, be ready for this situation. For those of us without the furry type of friends a carrier can still be used to transport the pet iguana or birds. For birds try and get a carrier big enough to hold their cage inside of.
Another very important and absolutely needed item for your furry family member is up to date papers!!! These are just as important as the paperwork you need to have for your two legged family members. Make copies of all their paperwork and put it where you keep your own. Last thing you want to do is waste time in an emergency looking for "Fiddo’s" paperwork!!!! Along with paperwork your pets should already have tags. If not go this weekend and get them some!!!!! This will help out greatly if you are separated from your loved one or the little guy has run off during the situation!!!
Most cases we can use a car to transport all of our family members. In some cases we might not be able to. For these rare cases when you have to walk, pick up a red wagon or garden cart; something big enough to place the carriers on along with being easy to maneuver. You will not be able to carry your furry family very far in the carrier.
In most emergency situations animals, excuse me, furry family members, can take care of themselves. At times they take care of themselves better than some two legged types can! Animals will go outside if the can during an earthquake, they will run from fire and generally take the proper action to save their little butts when needed. The rough part is usually after an incident.
After an incident we might really need the leash and carrier to take our pet somewhere safe. Once there we might need to keep them in the carrier until they get used to the new surroundings. We also need to have the ability to feed and water our family members.
Planning food and water for them is no different than planning the same all the other family members. Food needs to be stored and they should be included into the water plan. How much of do you need? You know what your pet eats daily or weekly. Add this amount into your planning. Another words you do not have a weeks’ worth of food for the “family” until every member of the family has a weeks’ worth!!! The good part about most of our friends is they will also eat whatever we feed them. This means you can find food for the fuzzy family members almost anywhere you find food for the two legged.
For larger animals such as horses, goats, bulls or other larger animals we need to plan now to evacuate them. Do you have access to a trailer without counting on anyone else? Do you have all the tack you need if you had to saddle the horse up right now? If not we need to acquire these things ASAP. Do not count on anyone being able to help you when something happens and you should plan on doing as much as you can alone.
As hard is this might sound to some of us; abandoning your pets might be a necessity. I know you do not want to think about having to do this but their might come a time when you have to. This might not be as bad as it sounds. Cattle can be let out, along with horses, goats and other live stock. They will do everything they can to stay alive and you will find them after the emergency is over. Smaller furry friends have tendency to run off at the first sign of danger. This is a good instinct on their part and odds are they will come back when things are over. Never let the life of an animal take precedence of the life of any other part of your family!!!
Furry friends, pets and animals are some of the easiest family members to plan for. They are also a overlooked part of most people’s planning until they are involved in a situation. Plan now and take steps to ensure your special friends are also included in your plans!!!!!
As Always,
Stay Safe!!!
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