Plan for Pets

If you evacuate your home, do not leave your pets behind unless instructed to do so by emergency personnel or public officials. Pets most likely cannot survive on their own, and if they do, you may not be able to find them when you return. Here are some tips to helping pets in the event of an emergency or disaster:
• Identify a shelter which will accept animals, including hotels or motels in the area- Find this information out before you need it
• Take pet food, bottled water, pet medication, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, can opener, food dishes – These could be gathered and kept in a “pet survival kit”
• Make certain identification tags are up to date and securely fastened to your pet’s collar
• If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site – If you become separated from your pet, his identification tags are his ticket home
• Have an up to date photo of your pet for identification purposes
• Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet, to prevent escapes during times of crisis
• If you are ordered to leave your pets behind, be sure to leave plenty of food and water out for the pet to last for an extended period of time. Check back on your pet regularly and as soon as possible

Additional information is available from the Humane Society of the United States at www.hsus.org.

This information was provided by John Ciccotelli, Director of Public Health for the town of Canton, Massachusetts, as published in his “A Canton Citizens’ Handbook for Emergency Preparedness”.