When natural disasters, like earthquakes, strike we rarely get significant warning. Therefore, it is important to be prepared and make sure we have plans already in place when disaster strikes. This could include a first aid kit, stores of clean water and food. But once you have the human members of your family covered, make sure those preparations include the furry members of your family as well. They won’t be prepared, and will be relying on you.
There are a few key things you can do to make sure earthquakes don’t lead to pet related heartache. In this article, we present our top tips to getting your pet ready for any natural disaster.
Identification: All too often disasters separate pets from their families. This can occur when the animal has gotten disoriented or lost after an earthquake or in cases where the owner cannot return home after the disaster. Therefore, making sure your pet’s have up-to-date identification is a measure that should be taken with every pet. (even in the absence of earthquakes). This goes for pets that are in rural locations and those kept indoors only. Pet identification can take on two common forms. The most common form is identification via pet tags. It is important that these are kept up to date with the pet’s current address and your current contact details. If your pet is on medication for a long-term condition, it is advisable to include this information on their tag as well.
Another means of pet identification is having you pet microchipped. A microchip can be administered by your veterinarian at their regular check-up. Placement of the microchip is done the same way a vaccination is given, but instead of conferring immune protection this needle will allow placement of a small microchip under your pet’s skin to allow identification by microchip readers. This method can be advantageous as it eliminates the risk of pet’s losing their identification when their collar is removed or falls off. Still, it is critical that owner information be kept current with the microchip company. Often the microchip is either not registered at all or the address is not a current one. And despite the best intentions, animal rescuers are unable to get the animal back home.
Pet Earthquake Kit: If you grew up in California, you will be familiar with the ‘earthquake kit.’ This was a food package composed of long shelf life food that our parents put together every school year. These bags would then be stored in our classroom for the year, in case of a major earthquake. Consider making a similar pack for your pet. Aim to keep enough food in the house to make sure you can continue to feed your pet for a few additional weeks. This can either be a larger cache of what you are currently feeding or this could be long-life stock piled cans of wet food. While both wet and dry food can be suitable for this, wet food will provide an additional water source for the pet, and decrease their water requirement. Despite lowering their water requirement, do make sure to have an ample supply of clean water for your pet as well.
Further items that can be included in your pet’s earthquake kit may include toys, blackest, leads and if on medication, extra medication for the pet.
Contingency Plans:Disaster can strike at any time, day or night. So, there is a good chance that you might be away from home when an earthquake occurs. Therefore, when it comes to managing the safety and well being of your pets, that you have a “plan B.” There is a wide spectrum of ways to make sure your pets will be helped in your absence.
The most straight forward and direct way to making sure that someone is able to get to your pets when you cannot is to enlist the help of your neighbours. If you have an elderly or retired member of the community in your neighbourhood, perhaps they can be trusted with a key to your house. Therefore, if you are unable to return to your house because of an earthquake, someone who is likely to still be in the area can make sure your pets are safe, secure and looked after.
If this isn’t an option, it is worth considering choosing a way to inform people that pets are present in your home. This can be accomplished with something as simple as a Pet Alert Pet Decal (http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Safety-Alert-Window-Decal/dp/B00079YTTC). Ideally placed at the window closest to the front door, these decals can be used to let any would-be rescuers know how many and what kind of pets are present. This will allow emergency help realize there are animals home alone that might need help.
If window decals are not an option, or perhaps you don’t wish for the outside world to know what type of pets you have, you can even leave a similar decal or note on your refrigerator or any other highly visible area. While this won’t be seen by passers-by, it may help to guide rescuers should they enter your house post disaster.
The key is to be prepared. If you are able to implement these tips, you are well on your way to making sure your animal is safe, cared for, and won’t be forever lost to your family post earthquake.