NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, August 31, 2015, 8:59 PM
Monika Wisniewska/iStockPhoto
September is National Preparedness Month – the time of year that FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security remind us that although nobody wishes a disaster to happen, occasionally they do, and it’s important to be prepared. Along with organizing yourself and your family for the event that an unfortunate disaster takes place in your region, you need to also include your pet in your preparation process.
Planning is vital! Here are some ways you can get organized for pet preparedness.
ID Collar
Make sure your pet is easily identifiable. A small disc on their collar with their name and your phone number, preferably your cell number, will make it much easier to get your precious pet back in the event he or she is separated from the family during a disaster.
Microchip
Ensure your pet is micro-chipped. HomeAgain.com, the microchip registration organization, says of lost animals that “without proper ID, 90% of pets never return home”. This is a huge number, which can be greatly reduced by having your pet micro-chipped. But this will only be effective if you keep the information updated. If you move or change your phone number, then along with all the other people you notify on your moving list, the microchip register should be included. Don’t forget to ask your vet to check that the chip is working during your annual visit. If you have misplaced the details, they can give you the number, which will determine where the chip is registered.
Pet Rescue Decal
In the event that first responders need to enter your home, it is useful to have a sticker on the door or window that alerts them of an animal on the premises. SafetySign.com has a range of pet rescue stickers that are designed to alert first responders about your pets.
Where Does Your Pet Hide?
Pets tend to have a hiding spot when things get scary, like thunder or fireworks, or they just don’t feel like going out. Watch where they go and make sure you know where their safe place is, so in the event that disaster does hit and everything and everyone is frantic, you will know exactly where to find your pet.
To-Go-Pet-Kit
Prepare a “Pet Emergency Go-Kit” of pet supplies that is readily accessible in an emergency. Here is what your Pet Go-Kit can include:
Food: a good supply of your pet’s food – at least three days.
Bottled water: at least one bottle to get you through the initial stage.
Pet carrier: consider taking a pet carrier or crate.
First aid supplies: any medicines and medical records.
Veterinarian details and any other pet organization numbers.
Information: your pet’s feeding routine and any behavioral issues.
Pet waste bags and anything else you use on a daily basis like wipes.
A safety harness and leash: when pets are stressed they can run off.
Comfort articles: toys blankets, etc., to reduce their anxiety levels.
Picture: carry a picture or make sure you have one in your wallet or phone.
Where To Take Your Pet:
HAVE A PLAN – Find out what your community offers. Identify a location to take your pet if you need to leave your immediate area. Keep in mind that disaster shelters for people may not be open to pets. Source out hotels and motels with pet-friendly policies and ask relatives or friends if they could house you and/or your pet. Check pet boarding facilities, and some vets may also take in animals in emergencies. Don’t rely on shelters. When disaster hits, the shelters are inundated with dislodged pets. It is your responsibility to get organized and set things in place in case you need to place your pet somewhere safe and with someone you feel confident will look after them. It is up to you to do the right thing by your pet. Get organized now and have the numbers on hand so you can easily access them if need be.
Where To Look If You And Your Pet Are Separated:
Be proactive!
Shelters are one of the first places to contact, as they will take in dislodged pets. How far a pet will wander will depend on the pet, so that will be a guide to how far out to look at shelters. If Internet service is available, some shelters will have images of the pets online. Otherwise, be prepared to go out and visit the shelters. How long the shelters hold animals is up to them – every shelter and every situation is different. If you find your pet in a shelter, but can’t get him or her straight away, it is important to stay in close contact while you are making arrangements. Remember, this is a frantic and high anxiety time and it is wise not to assume anything.
Vets are another place to check if your pet is lost.
Look at places nearby that your pet is familiar with. Check places where they may be able to find shelter. Keep in mind that when pets are stressed and anxious, they can just take off in any direction.
You know your pet the best – their personality and behavior patterns. Think through where you think they may go and what they could do.
File lost reports – include electronic photos and microchip number.
Prepare a lost sheet. Include the breed, color and size of your pet and give a physical description.
Check lost animals list.
Support Program:
When disaster does strike, Hill’s Pet Nutrition deploys its Disaster Relief Network to quickly respond with shipments of pet food. Hill’s established the first-of-its-kind network in 2013 as a way to coordinate with shelter partners to deliver food to communities impacted by disaster. Since the program began, the Hill’s network has delivered over $ 280 million worth of food, and helped more than eight million pets find a new home – pretty impressive.
Here are some of the shelters they work with through both the Disaster Relief Network and their Food, Shelter & Love program, in the New York City Tri-State area.
New York: Animal Care & Control – 11 Park Place, #805, New York, NY. Ph: 212 788 400
New Jersey: Monmouth County SCPA – 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, NJ. Ph: 732 542 0040. Tricia LeBaron Tilly – Development & Events Coordinator. Tricia@monmouthcountyspca.org
Connecticut: Connecticut Humane Society – 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT. Ph: 860 590 4500. Theresa Geary – Director of Operations. TGeary@cthumane.org
How Can You Help?
You Can Help! There are ways for you to get trained and be listed as a volunteer, but it takes planning. Here are just a few ways you can get organized to be a volunteer.
SHELTERS: In the event of a disaster, shelters have a resource list. Check with your local shelter and see how you can be part of that list. Shelters can bring in hundreds of animals per day. They need a lot of crates and a lot of volunteers. If you can’t physically volunteer, think about donating crates, or making a monetary donation.
FEMA: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a disaster preparation training course, which allows you to be registered to provide help if a disaster occurs.
SART: State Animal and Agricultural Response Teams have a training and credential verification course which will allow you to be listed as a volunteer.
LOCAL COMMUNITY: Check around your local community and see if there are ways you can offer assistance.
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