Include Your Pet in Your Emergency Plans – Disaster Preparedness Month

Blog: Include Your Pet in Your Emergency Plans – Disaster Preparedness Month

Published on: August 21, 2024
Author: Lauren Piandes
Category: Pet Health and Wellness, Pet Safety
Filed under: , , , , , , ,

September is Disaster Preparedness Month! As responsible pet parents, our pets depend on us to keep them safe, so we must remember to consider them when creating emergency plans in the event of a serious weather event, house fire, or other emergency situation. We’ve compiled some tips to help you build your own emergency kit and plan at home:

 

  1. Prepare an Emergency Kit that Includes Pet Supplies

When you’re planning an emergency kit for your family, make sure to pack one for your pets as well. Your pet emergency kit should include the following:

  • Portable food bowls and water bowls
  • Food & treats
  • Toys
  • Blankets
  • Portable litterbox with kitty litter (for cats)
  • Extra leashes, harnesses, collars, and collar tags
  • Medications and important health documents (more on this below)

You can explore our Emergency Kit Collection on the PetLink store to shop for pet items you may need. This includes reflective collars, harnesses and collar tags that can be personalized with your pet’s name and microchip number.

 

  1. Update Your Microchip Information in the PetLink database

Whenever you get a new phone number or move to a new home, you should always login to PetLink and update your contact information. A microchip can only do its job if you are able to be contacted should your pet get lost and be scanned by an animal professional.

A way to do your part and protect more pets: educate your pet-owning friends and family on the importance of microchipping their pets. Let them know that they can register any microchip into the PetLink database – it doesn’t have to be a PetLink microchip to be registered with us! If you or your loved ones have multiple pets in your family, you can register them all on PetLink, no problem!

 

  1. Ask Your Veterinarian for Copies of Important Health Documents

If your pet is on specialized medications, requires medicated food, or has specific behavioral issues, it is a great idea to ask your vet for copies of any documents you might need to hand to a veterinary service provider should there be an emergency. You can store these documents with your emergency kit in a waterproof bag or container with the rest of your family’s emergency documents.

Friendly reminder: during your pet’s next wellness visit, ask your vet if they can scan your pet’s microchip to ensure it is in working order. If you can’t get to a vet easily or want a more robust emergency kit, you may purchase your own PetLink F1 Personal Scanner from the PetLink Store. This personal scanner allows you to scan your pet’s chip at your own convenience before traveling or prior to an emergency event. It also allows you to help other pet owners by scanning their microchips to make sure they are working.

 

  1. Create an Emergency Plan for your Family that is Pet Inclusive

Coordinate with your family and friends on how you will handle a potential emergency, and who will oversee your pets are safe and cared for in those situations. Example: a family member is designated to put their pet on a leash or put them in their crate as soon as possible if something happens. Also it could be their responsibility to get your pets out and join the rest of the family as soon as possible.

Away from home? Have a neighbor or close friend designated to check on your pets and get them out of the house should an emergency occur.

 

We hope that these tips are helpful to you and your family to help you and your pets stay safe!