Pet Evacuation Plan
When the earth shakes, the wind blows or the home is filled with the
smell of smoke, most people automatically shift into the
self-preservation mode and scramble to preserve their lives and the
lives of others in the family. Those who plan ahead and develop
contingencies for such emergency situations generally fare better than
those who do not. Professionals in the emergency disaster relief field
promote emergency evacuation plans for people, because they work.
But
what about an emergency plan for our pets? They are family members too.
Shouldn’t our plans for emergency evacuation include them as well?
Thousands of trusting, devoted pets are lost each year due to natural
disasters such as hurricanes, floods and fires, simply because their
people did not have an emergency plan that included them.
With
proper planning, many losses and much heartache can be avoided. Having
an emergency evacuation plan in place that includes the family pet does
not require a lot of effort. It is a task that is very easy to
accomplish. The following information and tips are provided to help you
develop such a plan.
• Never leave your pet behind unless
circumstances absolutely prevent you from taking them. For instance, if
the house is crumbling beneath your feet during an earthquake and you
can’t find the cat, you probably should get yourself and your family to
safety first and then, if safe, return to find the cat later. The
chances are that a cat or dog will manage to exit the house on their
own accord in such a situation, because they don’t want to be there
either.
In a situation where there is time to plan your
evacuation however, such as an approaching fire-line or hurricane, pets
should not be left behind. Their lives are as vulnerable to these
threats as humans and they need to be protected. Even if they manage to
survive, the chance of them running off and not being found is
extremely high. If they are found, it will probably be animal control
and in the aftermath of a natural disaster, efforts for reuniting pets
with their people are not high on the agenda.
• Do not book your
pet into a local kennel or temporary shelter unless local authorities
determine the shelter will withstand the impending danger. If the
facility is in the path of destruction, boarding your pet there will
not remove the danger to them. You will probably find that local
shelters and kennels will be closed and not accepting business anyway.
Additionally, kennels in neighboring towns that are not in harm’s way
will probably run out of vacancies very quickly.
The best idea
is to check with your local shelter or chapter of the SPCA long before
the need arises. They may already have all the information you need.
In
the absence of having such information, it is suggested that you keep
your pet(s) with you. Recently there has been a awakening in the
motel/hotel industry to the importance of pets to potential customers
and more and more establishments are making provisions for animals. It
should be relatively easy to find a motel that will accept your pet for
very little additional expense.
Pet Evacuation Plan
• Ensure that your pet’s vaccines are up to date and have that
paperwork in a place where you can find it quickly if the need to
evacuate arises. If your evacuation occurs during the time the disaster
is taking place (i.e. the beginning of a hurricane, etc.) make sure
your pet has a collar and that the required tags are attached. Without
meaning any disrespect, it might be a good time to treat your pet like
a piece of luggage by adding an information tag to the collar with your
contact information and an alternate family member’s (outside the
endangered zone) contact information. In the event you are separated
from your pet, this could be the one factor that ensures you are
reunited.
• Some organizations give advice for situations where
you have no choice but to leave your pet(s) at home. Except in those
where circumstances prevent you from locating your pet and you must
leave immediately (i.e. flood waters rising, etc.) such advice does not
resonate with this writer. As a member of the family, they have an
expectation of being important too. They depend upon you and you can’t
let them down.
Just a little effort today may save you a lot of heartache tomorrow. Take the time and draft a plan for pet evacuation.
By Gary Kurz
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The author is a retired Coast Guard Officer with over 32 years of
service. He is also a Baptist Preacher and Bible Teacher. He helps
those grieving the loss of a pet to understand the Biblical evidence
that proves they live on. His most popular book, "Cold Noses at the
Pearly Gates" delivers hope and comfort to the reader in a very gentle,
yet convincing way. Visit at http://www.coldnosesbook.com for more information and tips.
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