Disaster Planning Tips

Fairy Dogmother Pet Concierge, LLC

Before Disaster Strikes

·  Keep your pet properly fitted with a collar and current ID and rabies tag at all times. Local phone lines are often out     of service during a disaster, so consider adding a tag with an out-of-area phone number. Tag all carriers and cages,     too.  Purchase a leash and a portable pet carrier for each pet. The carrier should be large enough for your pet to          stand up and turn around comfortably.

·  In case you and your pet are separated during a disaster, make sure you have proof of ownership, such as a health     certificate and photos of your pet.

·  List friends and relatives who could care for your pet for an extended period of time if you lose your home.

·  Create a list of boarding facilities within a 100-mile radius of your home. Identify nearby hotels that accept pets.

·  Ask your local animal shelter if they have an evacuation plan for animals, and if they would be able to care for your      specific type of pet (guinea pigs, birds, reptiles, etc.) during an emergency.

·  Keep your pet's vaccinations up-to-date and a copy of their health certificate on hand in case you have to board          your pet or leave the state.

·  Create a list of neighbors or organizations within a 100-mile radius of your home that would be willing to board your     livestock if you need to evacuate. Make sure you have access to horse and livestock trailers to transport your             animals.

·  Have an evacuation plan in place involving family members and neighbors to help animals in barns and outlying           buildings.

·  Have a supply of feed at a separate location that could be dropped by air if the animals become stranded.

·  Make up a kit with leads, halters, equine and bovine first aid kits, and quieting hoods for easy transport.

Threat of a Disaster

·  Purchase a week's worth of emergency supplies – food, bottled water, cat litter, bedding materials, or medication   your pet takes.

·  Difficult or dangerous animals, such as snakes or reptiles, should be kept in special cages to reduce the possibility    of them getting loose. Keep a hot water bottle or some type of non-electrical heating element ready to keep reptiles    warm.

·  If you are not asked to evacuate, survey your home for the best location to place your pets during an emergency.        Keep them away from windows. Basements are often not good locations in areas where flooding can occur.

·  If you have to evacuate, take your pet with you. If the area is unsafe for you to remain, then it is unsafe for your pet      as well.

After a Disaster

·  If you are looking for your animal after a disaster, contact the local shelter to see what emergency procedures are       in effect.

·  If your pet was left behind, let your local shelter know so that rescue arrangements can be made. Be prepared to        provide a photo ID of the pet, so that animal rescuers can be on the lookout for him.

·  Offer to help others if you can. If your home is not affected by the disaster, and you have the room, you could offer t     to help the local shelter by fostering a few animals in your home until they can be reunited with their owners.

The American Humane Association's Animal Emergency Services

The American Humane Association's Animal Emergency Services cares for animals during disasters and reunites them with their families, often working in collaboration with local animal welfare agencies; local, state, and national emergency response teams; and national relief organizations. Volunteer Animal Emergency Services responders are specially trained to provide for animal needs in crisis situations like wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and blizzards, as well as human-caused catastrophes, such as terrorist attacks. In recent years, the American Humane Association's Animal Emergency Services has helped thousands of animals during devastating wildfires in California, Colorado, Arizona, and the Florida hurricanes.

About American Humane Association

Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the nation's only organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal welfare and protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops policies, legislation, curriculum, and trainings to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The nonprofit membership organization, headquartered in Denver, raises awareness about The Link® between animal abuse and other forms of violence, as well as the benefits derived from the human and animal bond. American Humane's regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the "No Animals Were Harmed..."® End Credit Disclaimer on TV and film productions, and American Humane's office in Washington, DC, is an advocate for child- and animal-friendly legislation at the state and federal levels. Visit www.americanhumane.org to learn more.

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