Pet Essentials – What You Need to Pack in Case of Evacuation

Articles on Pets | Topics: pets, pet

by Delvine Kirk

If you are a pet owner, you know how close the family pet can be to your heart. When an evacuation is necessary and you and your family must flee your home, it is necessary to take your pets along. Pets who are left behind rarely survive. So, be sure to prepare for your pet to come anytime you must leave your home due to disaster. Use this list of supplies you will need to pack in case of evacuation. These important pet essentials will help you and your pet have a safe and calm evacuation. You can always have a little bag prepared to "grab and go" with these items in it.

Food & Water

Obviously the most important things for your family and your pets are food and water. These are essential to survival and should always be brought along when you evacuate. You can keep a little bowl in your pet evacuation bag. You can add a bottle of water and a small bag of food in the sack as well. This will keep you from running around trying to collect food and water when you are told to evacuate.

Can Opener

If your pet can eat dry food you should rely mostly on it to get through. Dry food travels much better than wet food. However, if you must bring along wet food, don't forget to bring a can opener as well. Your pet will be a hungry one if you forget to bring the utensils needed to open the food!

Leash or Harness

As always, when you bring your pet along during an evacuation, you will need to bring along a leash or a harness. Most dog owners have these items very handy, but cat owners may not think about needing one. However, if you want your pet to be as safe as possible, you should be sure all animals have a proper leash. Even if you plan on holding the pet while traveling, a leash would give extra protection if the pet tries to escape.

Medications

With today's pets being on more medications than ever, it is likely you have a pet that takes daily meds. If your pet does need medication, don't forget to bring it along. This will help your pet stay on his or her normal routine and will prevent any pet medical emergencies from occurring. Think about putting a few in the "grab and go" bag so that you will at least have a few handy if you forget the entire bottle. You can always call a local vet in the area in which you are staying for more.

Quote of the Day

...men give us most rarely that which we really want, not favor, but—Justice. Nothing is easier than to coax them to pet us like children, nothing more difficult than to persuade them to treat us like responsible human beings.

—Frances Power Cobbe (1822–1904)

Bedding

Making sure your pet is as comfortable as possible is part of your responsibility. This being true, you should make sure to bring proper bedding for your pet. If your pet has a special blanket they love to snuggle up on, try to remember to bring it along. The more like home you can make their trip, the better they will behave. In turn, the better they behave, the easier your trip will be.

Litter

If you are a cat owner, then you certainly don't want to forget a stash of litter and a small litter pan. Cats are particular about where they use the "potty", so you will need to bring these things along. They will not like to be "walked" on leashes at rest areas, much like dogs may.

List of Important Contact Numbers

To make your trip a little easier, prepare a list in advance of important pet numbers you may need. Make notes of which hotels in your state will allow pets and list their numbers. This way you can call while on the road to get reservations. Having a handy list with all of this information will save you time.

If you remember to bring along these pet essentials during an evacuation, your experience will go smoothly. Your pet will value you and appreciate that you remembered to be a responsible owner and take him or her along. Your family will also be calmer, because they will have their family pet along with them. By planning ahead, bringing a pet along is no more trouble than picking him or her up and loading him or her in the car!

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Pet Essentials – What You Need to Pack in Case of Evacuation" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by DogsPetsCats.com.

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