Dog Walkin Wellington
Pet Hurricane Evacuation Kit
By Mark Planco, Planco Veterinary Care
Preparing for hurricane season must include making preparations for your pets. Having a pet evacuation kit is an essential part of being prepared since hurricane season has arrived again. Waiting for a storm to threaten our coast may be too late.
The first step is to make sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations and lab tests. If you must evacuate to a shelter you must have these requirements or the shelter won’t allow your pet in. Boarding facilities have the same requirements. Obtaining the records at the last minute is easy and quick, getting in for the appointment may not be. If you have to evacuate, I probably do too (at Planco Veterinary Care).
For cats you should have an ample sized carrier for each individual. It should be large enough for food, water and a litter box. Bring a litter scooper and plastic bags for disposal. You should also have a collar or harness with identification on it and a leash so you always have control when he/she is out of her carrier.
For dogs you should have a collar or harness with ID and leashes. Small dogs that will fit comfortably in carriers should have one. You should also be prepared to clean up after your dog in case walking outside is unsafe.
All animals should have at least one favorite toy picked out to make the evacuation tolerable. Food and water should be packed in air tight containers enough for at least one week. Animals on continuous medications should keep ample quantity on hand in case a storm arises. Most can be provided quickly, but some meds may run out and need to be ordered, which may be too late. During the summer months refill meds before they completely run out. If your pet is on a medication that has a long expiration date, keep an extra week or two in your evacuation kit. We try to keep enough stock of all necessary meds but don’t miss out, stock up early.
Another very important part of preparing for a hurricane is to make sure your pet (including horses) has a microchip. If they get lost without their collar or lose their collar they can be found and returned to you through their microchip. If your pet is not microchipped you can learn more at this link: www.public.homeagain.com/index.html
For any additional ideas or comments, please email us at [email protected].