Just as you want your family to be ready in the event of a disaster, you need to make sure your pets are included in your emergency plans. But being prepared goes beyond just having the emergency contact information of a veterinarian near you. Since September is National Disaster Awareness Month, the staff at Clover Vet wants to share these tips on how to best prepare your pet for a disaster:
- Never leave your pets behind or alone – Never leave your pet behind in an emergency evacuation. Should you not be able to take your pet with you if evacuation orders are given, make sure you leave them with a trusted friend or family member or find an organization that’s offering shelter to pets. If you aren’t safe where you are, neither is your pet. Get them a safe place to stay, too.
- Get rescue stickers – Sometimes a disaster strikes quickly without giving you much time to prepare. In some cases, your pet may be scared and run off or you may not have time to grab your pet before you have to flee, such as with a tornado or a fire. Here’s where rescue stickers come in handy. After the danger subsides, people will be on the lookout for stranded pets. These stickers will alert them to search the area and find your pet.
- Have an emergency kit – Should your pet get injured in a disaster, you might need to use a first aid kit immediately since the injuries could be a matter of life and death. Make sure you have a kit ready to go and have a veterinarian near you as an emergency contact on your phone.
- Practice, practice, practice! – Formulate a exit or shelter-seeking plan and practice it with your entire family, including your pet. Pets can tell when you’re nervous or scared and they become stressed as a reaction. If you practice an emergency plan with them, they’ll be more calm in the event of serious emergency.
As we’ve seen with this month’s hurricanes, natural disasters can happen anywhere. In addition to providing York veterinary services, we also want to make sure you’re ready for anything. And in the future, if your pet is injured in a weather event, fire, or other emergency situation, call Clover Vet immediately. Our York vet clinic and animal hospital can guide you on what you need to do, determine how serious the injury is, and see if it needs immediate attention.