Every region in the United States has some sort of natural disaster associated with that specific area. To name a few, in the mid-west there are routine tornado warnings, on the east coast and off the Gulf of Mexico there are hurricanes, and Californians face wildfires and earthquakes. These warnings can incite fear in many people, who then scramble to make a solid game plan for when the impending disaster could take place. How do our pets factor in? When it comes to planning escape routes, and other plans of action, be sure you are considering your dog or cat’s well-being too. One of the best ways to do this is to prepare an evacuation kit for your pet, so that when doom’s day looms around the corner, you’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Here is a list of go-to items to fill in your pet care evacuation kits:
Kit Supplies
Provisions
- Travel-size pet food in a water-proof container (swap this out every 3-6 months to maintain freshness and avoid food poisoning.)
- At least 5 day’s bottled water supply, if not more. (Estimate using a quart of water per day.)
- Dog or cat treats
- A can opener (if storing canned food, which is a wise option.)
- Small reusable plastic dish to serve the food on.
Sanitation tools
- Disinfectant wipes/ointment
- Paper towels
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Small plastic bags (for waste management–If you have a cat, a small litter bag, pan and mini scooper could come in handy)
- Duct tape (to repair or wrap a bandage if necessary)
Care Items
- Blanket
- Chew toys
- Dental chews (cleaning supplies might be too much to bring)
- Nail clippers/brush
- Feliway spray (to reduce anxiety in cats, or a calming collar for a dog).
- Hot water bottle
- Flashlight and batteries
ID/Transportations
- Collar (with ID tags)
- Photo ID of you and your pet together in case you need to identify yourself as the owner.
- Light-up flashing collar
- Leash/Harness
- Pet life jacket (if you are in an area where there is frequent flooding/hurricanes)
Some people recommend also packing a cat or dog carrier, but depending on the size of the pet, this might not be realistic.
Contacts and Medical Records
Place all items in a waterproof plastic bag or container.
- Any medication the might require
- Medical needs or records
- Microchip information, etc.
- Contact information for his vet
- Vaccination certificates/Rabies shot certificate
- Pet insurance contact number and policy ID number (if you have it)