Animals can be especially skittish and hard to control during violent weather. Of course, this will depend on your pet. My first dog my family had as a kid didn’t blink at tornado sirens. The most recent dog my mom and dad had would get very close to us on the couch at the first sign of thunder. Knowing your pet and how they will react will help your family best plan what to do with the animal in the event of a natural disaster.
One of the first things you should do is invest in a carrying cage for the pet. Make the pet comfortable with the cage, so that they go in often during good times and won’t be alarmed if you have to put them in a cage to transport them to a basement or leave an area due to a natural disaster. For cats, this can be tricky. I’ve had two and neither have willingly spent time in a carrying cage. The best bet is to buy the cage and leave it in an accessible place in the house for the cat to explore. Entice the cat by leaving the door open with some toys, treats, or catnip inside the cage.
Always make sure that your pet has proper information on it. If the pet becomes loose, having a collar and/or microchip with contact information will help someone who finds your pet return it home. Collars should have the pet’s name, address and your current phone number.
If you have to evacuate the area, take your pet. Leaving pets behind almost guarantees you will never see them again. Try to include pet-friendly hotels in your disaster preparedness kit. In times of disasters some hotels will lift their ban on animals, however don’t count on it as a guarantee. Instead research places you can go where you can safely bring your pet. AirBnB and Vrbo can be a resource and may be easier to find pet-friendly homes you can rent. You can also ask friends and family that live out of harm’s way to take the pet (if not the whole family) until it’s safe for you to return home.
After a disaster don’t let your pet roam freely. While you are surveying the damage to your property, be aware that your pet may be shaken and could run at the first instance. Slowly calm your pet by exposing the animal to the outdoors again while leashed. Try to get them back into normal routines as much as possible to calm their nerves. Keep in mind wildlife can be a threat to your pet, so indoors is the best place for them.
These are just a few tips to include in your disaster preparedness kits. Make sure the whole family knows these tips and how to handle the animal in a stressful situation. For more pet safety tips follow us on Twitter!
