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If you have cats, dogs, or other pets in your family, don’t forget to make emergency preparations for them. You wouldn’t want to leave your pets home alone during an evacuation! You can create a 72-hour kit for each pet or add a few items to your own pack for them, depending on your needs.
Important: The Red Cross and most emergency shelters will not accommodate pets unless they are documented service animals. That means you’ll need to search out pet-friendly hotels or make arrangements with trusted friends or relatives when evacuating.
Food and Water
At the most basic level, you’ll need to pack enough food and water for each of your pets to last three days. A collapsible water and food bowl will save space in your pack.
Dry food is easy to pack and it has a long shelf life. Water is a little more complicated…
Add a few pouches of emergency water to your pet’s 72-hour kit. Then, plan a way to collect and purify water from alternate sources. This is important because a 3-day supply of water would weigh too much to carry. A water filter straw won’t work, either, because your pet won’t be able to suck out of it. It’s best to have some pet-friendly water purification tablets on hand.
Also pack any necessary medication your pet needs and a supply of treats.
Pet Gear
Pets don’t need much…
Pack a leash, harness, carrier, or whatever works best to keep your pet secure and unable to escape. Consider packing a muzzle if stress makes your pet prone to bite.
You’ll also need a plan for picking up after your pet. Bring some waste bags if you have a dog or a portable litter box if you have a cat.
Other Items to Pack:
- A blanket to make your pet more comfortable for sleeping
- A first-aid kit in case of injury
- A toy or two to pass the time
Paperwork
Ensure all your pets have some form of identification. This includes having a copy of your pet’s registration information, immunization records, and microchip information in your 72-hour kit. We recommend also packing a backup collar and ID tag.
In addition to registration information, put a photo of you with your pet in your 72-hour kit. This will help you prove that your pet belongs to you if you ever get separated. It’s also useful if your pet gets lost and you want others to assist you in searching for him/her.
Once you’ve created a pet emergency kit, it’s important to keep it up to date. Be sure to follow the same rotation system you follow for your own 72-hour kit. Food needs to be rotated out every six months and documents need to be updated.
