Some of us may struggle with the new normal of working from home and low social interactions with friends, family and co-workers, but our fur-covered family members are thrilled with these new arrangements. They get more walks and cuddles than ever before, and many animal shelters have empty cages due to a surge in adoptions.
If you’re a seasoned pet owner who has always been surrounded by dogs and cats or you’re new to parenting a four-legged friend, you need to be prepared for unplanned emergencies. June is National #PetPreparedness Month, so it’s a perfect time to add your pets to your emergency plans.
• Build a separate emergency kit for your pets, include food and water for 3-5 days, medications, beds, litter for cats and a favorite toy.
• Keep digital records and pictures to identify your pet after a disaster in case you become separated.
• If you must evacuate, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Find pet friendly hotels along your evacuation route and keep a list in your pet’s emergency kit.
• Make sure your pet is microchipped; collars may come off.
• Provide an emergency contact with your vet in case you are unable to take your pet.
• If you have large animals, such as horses, you’ll need extra time to evacuate and find shelter.
For additional information and tips to protect your pet in all seasons, visit ready.gov/pets
In the meantime, enjoy the extra time you have with your best friends. If they could talk, you know they’d say, “thank you” a thousand times a day…and “more treats, please.”
#PetPreparedness