They make us laugh. They are usually waiting for us when we get home from work and school. They give us unconditional love. They are often our best friends. And they depend on us for everything: food, water, healthcare. They are our pets and part of the family.

Our pets also depend on us when emergency strikes. Are you ready with your pet preparedness plan?

Your Pet Preparedness Plan — Prepare Ahead for Your Pet’s Needs

When it comes to planning for emergencies, pet owners should consider their pets too. With some simple preparations now, you can make sure your pet will be protected, safe and healthy, during and after any emergency. In the middle of a disaster, or when you know one is imminent, you may not be able to prepare for the specific needs of your pet. Now is the time for pet preparedness planning, and here are some tips.

• Stock at least a 1-week supply of food and fresh water on hand for your pet, as well as a 1-week supply of medication, if your pet takes medication.
• Include copies of your pet’s vaccination records and other medical records in your pet preparedness kit. Include information about your pet’s insurance policy, if you have one.
• Experts suggest that you also include photos of your pet to help others identify them in case you and your pet become separated.

How to Weather Emergencies With your Pet and How to Evacuate Safely if Necessary

If you experience an emergency like a hurricane or flood, bring your pet indoors as soon as local authorities say a storm is coming. Stay indoors, preferably in a room with few or no windows, until you know it’s safe. Take your emergency kit and disaster supplies with you if you move from room to room.

If you need to evacuate your home, it is important to bring your pet with you. You can find out from your local emergency management agency which emergency shelters allow pets.

If you cannot take your pet when you evacuate and must leave them in your home, put a Rescue Alert Sticker on your door to let people know there is a pet inside.

Pet Preparedness for Large Pets and Smaller Pets, Like Fish

Having larger and smaller pets during an emergency can pose additional challenges. While dogs and cats are relatively easy to transport and evacuate to a shelter, what do you do with your horse, or fish that are in an aquarium or pond?

If you have large animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats or pigs on your property, make sure they all have some form of identification. Map out primary and secondary evacuation routes in advance and identify the vehicles or trailers that would be needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal. If you need to evacuate with larger animals, make sure that your emergency destination has food and water, as well as access to veterinary care and handling equipment. If you need to evacuate and cannot take your larger animals, you will need to decide how and where to move them to shelter or if it’s better to turn them outside.

There are some basic guidelines for dealing with fish in aquariums or ponds during a power outage. Experts recommend you do not feed your fish during a power outage. Most fish can survive days or even weeks without food. During the winter, if you lose power, you can insulate your aquarium with something like a blanket or newspapers. An alternate power source, like a generator, can run the heater, pump, and filter. If you must move your fish, you can use a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag and fill the bag with one-third water and two-thirds air. Alternatively, you can use a bucket, tub, or large jar. It is important that you NOT release your pet fish into local waterways. Introducing non-native fish species is harmful to local waterways. If you cannot keep your fish because of an impending emergency, experts recommend taking them to a pet store.

Helping Your Pet Adjust After an Emergency

You and your pet have made it through the emergency, but your pet doesn’t seem normal and is displaying unexpected behaviors. Well-behaved pets may become aggressive or defensive after a major disruption in their lives, and it may take several weeks for them to return to normal. Keep an eye on your pet and give him or her plenty of time to rest; however, if your pet remains extremely anxious or has other behavioral or health problems afterward, contact your veterinarian.

Your pets are an important member of your family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan. To prepare for the unexpected follow these tips with your pets in mind:

1. Make a plan.
2. Build an emergency kit.
3. Stay informed.

Make a Plan

If you have a plan in place for you and your pets, you will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and worry when you need to make a decision during an emergency. If local officials ask you to evacuate, that means your pet should evacuate too. If you leave your pets behind, they may end up lost, injured or worse.

Things to include in your plan:

• Have an evacuation plan for your pet. Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside. Know a safe place where you can take your pets before disasters and emergencies happen.
• Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
• Have your pet microchipped. Make sure to keep your address and phone number up-to-date and include contact information for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area.
• Contact your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office to get additional advice and information if you’re unsure how to care for your pet in case of an emergency.

Build a Kit for Your Pet

Just as you do with your family’s emergency supply kit, think first about the basics for survival, such as food and water. Have two kits, one larger kit if you are sheltering in place and one lightweight version for if you need to evacuate. Review your kits regularly to ensure that their contents, especially foods and medicines, are fresh.

Here are some items you may want to include in an emergency kit for your pet:

• Food. Keep several days’ supply of food in an airtight, waterproof container.
• Water. Store a water bowl and several days’ supply of water.
• Medicine. Keep an extra supply of the medicine your pet takes on a regular basis in a waterproof container.
• First aid kit. Talk to your veterinarian about what is most appropriate for your pet’s emergency medical needs.
• Collar with ID tag and a harness or leash. Include a backup leash, collar and ID tag. Have copies of your pet’s registration information and other relevant documents in a waterproof container and available electronically.

• Traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet.

• Grooming items. Pet shampoo, conditioner and other items, in case your pet needs some cleaning up.

• Sanitation needs. Include pet litter and litter box (if appropriate), newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach to provide for your pet’s sanitation needs.

• A picture of you and your pet together. If you become separated from your pet during an emergency, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you in identifying your pet.

• Familiar items. Put favorite toys, treats or bedding in your kit. Familiar items can help reduce stress for your pet.

Tips for Large Animals

If you have pets such as horses, goats or pigs on your property, be sure to prepare before a disaster.

In addition to the tips above:

• Ensure all animals have some form of identification.
• Evacuate animals earlier, whenever possible. Map out primary and secondary routes in advance.
• Make available vehicles and trailers needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal. Also make available experienced handlers and drivers.
• Ensure destinations have food, water, veterinary care and handling equipment.
• If evacuation is not possible, animal owners must decide whether to move large animals to a barn or turn them loose outside.

Stay Informed

Being prepared and staying informed of current conditions. Here are some ways you can stay informed:

• Pay attention to wireless emergency alerts for local alerts and warnings sent by state and local public safety officials.

• Listen to local officials when told to evacuate or shelter in place.

• Download the FEMA app and get weather alerts from the National Weather Service, for up to five different locations anywhere in the United States.

• Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster.

Prepare a disaster kit for your pet(s) with these items. Ask your veterinarian for help putting it together.

Documents

• Photocopied veterinary records
  • Rabies certificate
  • Vaccinations
  • Medical summary
  • Prescriptions for medications
  • Most recent heartworm test result (dogs)
  • Most recent FeLV/FIV test result (cats)
• Photocopied registration information (ex: proof of ownership or adoption records)
• Pet description(s) (ex: breed, sex, color, weight)
• Recent photographs of each of your pets
• Waterproof container for documents
• Microchip information (ex: microchip number, name and number of the microchip company)
• Your contact information (phone numbers and addresses for your family and friends or relatives you may be staying with)

Water, Food, Medications

• 2-week supply of food for each animal stored in waterproof containers
• 2-week supply of water for each animal
• Non-spill food and water dishes
• Manual can opener
• Feeding instructions for each animal
• 2-week supply of any medications (if applicable)
• Medication instructions (if applicable)
• 1-month supply of flea, tick, and heartworm preventative

Other Supplies

• Leash, collar with ID, and harness
• Litter and litterbox (cats)
• Toys
• Appropriate-sized pet carrier with bedding, blanket, or towel
• Pet first aid book and first aid kit
• Cleaning supplies for accidents (paper towels, plastic bags, disinfectant)

To get started, familiarize yourself with the types of disasters that could affect your area and consider your options for providing care for your pet(s).

Disasters can happen without warning, so be prepared:

• Make sure your pet(s) wear collars and tags with up-to-date contact information and other identification.
• Microchip your pet(s) – this is one of the best ways to ensure that you and your pet are reunited if you are separated. Always be sure to register the microchip with the manufacturer and keep your contact information up to date with the microchip company.
• Keep a leash and/or carrier near the exit.
• Make sure you have proper equipment for pets to ride in the car (carriers, harnesses, pet seatbelts).
• Prepare a Pet Disaster Kit so evacuation will go smoothly for your entire family. Ask your veterinarian for help in putting together your pet’s veterinary records.

Make a Plan

• Plan where you and your pet will stay in case you need to evacuate your home. Pets may not be allowed in local shelters, unless they are service animals. Many disaster evacuation centers (such as Red Cross evacuation centers) do not accept pets and other animals.
  • Identify shelters or out-of-town friends or relatives where your pets and other animals can stay.
  • Locate boarding facilities or animal hospitals near your evacuation shelter and in the case you are unable to return home right away.
• Create a buddy system in case you’re not home during an emergency. Ask a trusted neighbor who can check on your animals and can evacuate your animals if necessary.
• Find a veterinarian or animal hospital in the area where you may be seeking temporary shelter and add the veterinarian’s contact information to your emergency kit.

Create an emergency kit for your pet

Prepare an emergency kit for your pet ahead of time. Kits should include:

• A pet carrier for each of your pets (write your pet’s name, your name, and contact information on each carrier).
• Food and water for at least 2 weeks for each pet
• For cats: litter box and litter
• For dogs: plastic bags for poop
• Medications for at least 2 weeks
• Medical records, including record of vaccination for rabies and other diseases, prescription medications, and medical history.
• Sturdy leashes or harnesses
• Microchip number
• Contact information (cell phone, work phone, home phone) of owner and close relatives or friends

Practice evacuating your pet

• Train your pets to get in and stay in their carriers by making it a comfortable place.
• Practice transporting your pet by taking them for rides in a car similar to one you would be evacuating in. If you do not have a car, make arrangements with neighbors, family, and friends. You can also contact your local government to learn about transportation options during a disaster.
• Know where your pet might hide when stressed or scared. Practice catching your pet, if needed.
• For cats, you can practice removing your cat from its  hiding spot and using your cat’s carrier, a pillowcase, or a sturdy box — anything to get your cat quickly out of harm’s way.
• Have your entire family practice evacuating with your pets so everyone knows what to take, where to find the pets, and where to meet.

Sheltering during an evacuation

• Remember, during a disaster, what is good for you is good for your pet. If you leave your pets behind, they may be lost, injured – or worse. Never leave a pet chained outdoors.
• Contact your local emergency management office and ask if they offer accommodations for owners and their pets. If accommodations are needed for your pet(s):
  • Contact local veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, local animal shelters, family or friends outside the evacuation area, or a pet-friendly hotel, particularly along evacuation routes.
  • Visit the Humane Society to find a shelter in your area.
• Remember to take your pet’s emergency kit with you.

Sheltering in place

When sheltering at home with your pet, make sure the room chosen is pet-friendly:

• Select a safe room, preferably an interior room with no (or few) windows.
• Remove any toxic chemicals or plants.
• Close off small areas where frightened cats could get stuck in (such as vents or beneath heavy furniture).

Diseases that can spread between pets and people during a natural disaster

Natural disasters can contribute to the spread of some diseases. Exposure to bad weather conditions, stagnant water, wildlife or unfamiliar animals, and overcrowding in shelters can put your pet at risk for getting sick. Some of these illnesses can be spread between pets and people (also known as zoonotic diseases). Some common disaster-related diseases that pets can pass to people are the following: rabies, leptospirosis, and diseases spread by mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks.

• Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system in both animals and people. Rabies is transmitted through bites from rabid animals or through contact with their saliva. To protect you and your pet: Report any bite wounds to medical personnel immediately. Practice safe handling of pets in a stressful situation. Keep your pet in a carrier or on a leash. Do not allow your pet to interact with other animals
• Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease found in the urine of infected animals that can cause kidney damage and affect other organs. It is transmitted through contact with infected urine or contaminated water, soil, and food. Wash your hands after coming in contact with urine. Avoid stagnant water, especially after flooding occurring after natural disasters. Don’t allow pets to play in or drink contaminated water.
• Diseases spread by mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks: Mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks are common pests of stray animals and can be a problem immediately after a disaster. Their bites irritate the skin and can also spread a variety of diseases (Lyme disease, West Nile virus) harmful to both people and animals. To help prevent illnesses associated with mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, keep your pet away from wildlife and stray animals. Talk to your veterinarian about regular preventive treatment for fleas, ticks, and parasites for your pet.

How to Keep Yourself and Your Pets Healthy During a Disaster

• Wash your hands after handling your pet, its food, or its waste (poop and pee).
• Do not let your pet lick your face or hands.
• Keep your pet up to date on all vaccinations and heartworm, flea, and tick preventives.
• Practice safe handling of your pet because your pet may behave differently during a stressful situation.
• Keep your pet in a carrier or on a leash.
• Do not allow your pet to interact with other animals, especially wildlife and stray animals.
• Report any bite wounds to medical personnel immediately.
• Properly clean and disinfect cages and litterboxes. Wash your pet’s bedding regularly.
• Avoid stagnant water, especially after flooding occurring after natural disasters.
• Don’t allow pets to play in or drink contaminated water.

After an emergency, familiar scents and landmarks may have changed. Pets can become confused and lost, so it’s important to keep pets on leash or in a carrier when they’re being transported or when you go outside. Some hazards for pets and people include snakes and other wildlife, especially after flooding, and downed power lines.

Returning home

• Check your home for sharp objects, spilled chemicals, and exposed wiring to protect your family and your pets from injury.
• The behavior of animals may change dramatically after a flood, flash flood, thunderstorm, or hurricane. Normally quiet and friendly animals may become irritable.
• Monitor animals closely and only release them in a safe and secure environment.
• Contact a veterinarian if you notice any signs of stress, discomfort, or illness in your pets.

Finding a lost pet

• Make sure that your family is in a safe location before you begin your search.
• If you are in a shelter that houses pets, inform one of the pet caretakers. Give the pet caretaker a missing pet flyer.
• Many shelters and organizations will house pets lost during disasters. Contact your local humane society, animal welfare organization, or county or state animal response team to find the shelters or organizations near you.
• In addition to shelters and rescue organizations, you can contact local animal control about your lost pet and post missing pet flyers in the area once conditions are safe.
• If your pet has a microchip, call the microchip company to let them know your pet is missing and make sure all the information about your pet is updated and current.

Pet first aid

• Emergency treatment and first aid for pets should never be used as a substitute for veterinary care. But, it may save your pet’s life before you can get your pet to a veterinarian.
• The American Veterinary Medical Association offers specific advice for basic first aid in the case of poisoning, seizures, fractures, external and internal bleeding, burns, choking, heatstroke, and what to do if your pet has no heartbeat or is not breathing.

Tips for handling injured pets

• Even the gentlest pet can bite or scratch if injured.
• Pain and fear can make animals unpredictable or even dangerous.
• Don’t attempt to hug an injured pet, and always keep your face away from its mouth, which might scare the animal more or cause them pain.
• Perform any contact with your pet slowly and gently.
• Stop if your animal becomes more agitated or stressed.
• Try to get your pet to a veterinarian as quickly as possible without risking injury or illness to yourself or your family.

During a disaster, people as well as their pets are often displaced from their homes into evacuation shelters. Evacuation shelters try to provide a safe and healthy environment for anyone who is displaced during a disaster. Although pets can provide comfort during the stress of an emergency, it’s important to know the potential health and safety risks of housing animals and people together in an evacuation center.

Unfortunately, many evacuation centers (such as Red Cross evacuation centers) do not allow pets and other animals. It’s important to make plans that include your pets before an emergency so you can identify shelters that will accept animals or alternatives such as family members, local relief organizations, or rescue groups.

Potential health risks

Any time animals and people are in close contact, there is a risk for illness and injury. Animals in evacuation centers may be scared or stressed, making them more likely to bite or scratch their owners, other people, or other pets. Crowded conditions make it more likely certain germs will spread between animals and people, and it can be difficult to provide proper sanitation (such as disposal of urine and feces) for pets in evacuation centers. In addition, some people may be allergic to pets with fur or feathers, and allergies can be more serious when people do not have access to their usual allergy medications.

How to stay healthy in an evacuation center

Keep pets healthy

• Owners of dogs, cats, and ferrets should provide proof of vaccination against rabies when entering the shelter.
• Treat dogs and cats for intestinal parasites while at the shelter. This is especially important for pets under 6 months old.
• Treat dogs and cats with medicines to kill fleas and ticks as you normally would while at the shelter. Make sure the medicine used is right for the type of animal being treated.
• If you think your pet might be sick, talk to a veterinarian.

Practice good hygiene

• Wash hands regularly and always after touching pets, pet food, or pet supplies, and after cleaning up their waste. Help children to wash their hands after interacting with any animal.
• Keep pets away from areas where food and drink are prepared, served, consumed, or stored.
• Walk dogs regularly on a leash outside the shelter in designated areas, and always clean up after pets.
• Clean cat litter boxes at least once every 24 hours. Pregnant women should avoid touching or cleaning cat litter boxes, if possible. If no one else can perform the task, pregnant women should wear disposable gloves and wash their hands with soap and water afterwards.
• Do not allow children younger than 5 years old to handle reptiles, amphibians, or poultry.
• Pregnant women should not handle pet rodents such as hamsters, gerbils, rats, and guinea pigs.
• Do not share food with pets.
• Do not allow pets to lick your face.
• Keep pets with fur or feathers separate from people with allergies or asthma triggered by fur, feathers, or dander.

Avoid bites and scratches

• Keep pets caged or on a leash for their own safety as well as that of people and other animals.
• Take care to avoid bites and scratches. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, clean the wound with soap and water immediately and then talk to a healthcare provider.
• Always supervise young children around animals, even trusted family pets.

Diseases spread between animals and people

Although the risk is usually small, physical stress, crowded conditions, exposure to floodwaters, and contaminated food and water can increase the risk of certain diseases spreading between animals and people in an evacuation center. Just a few examples include:

• Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease found in the urine of infected animals that can cause kidney damage in people and affect other organs. It is spread through contact with infected urine or water, soil, and food that has been contaminated with the urine of infected animals.
• Psittacosis is a bacterial infection that causes pneumonia and can spread through exposure to infected birds. It is often best to also house pet birds, especially parakeets, parrots, love birds, and canaries away from the general shelter population.
• Ringworm is a skin infection caused by fungi that can spread by touching an infected animal or person, or surfaces that they have touched. Ringworm can cause a ring-like rash and itching in both pets and people.
• Salmonella infection is caused by bacteria that live in the intestinal tract of many animals. Reptiles, amphibians, backyard poultry, and small rodents such as guinea pigs commonly shed Salmonella germs in their feces. In people, Salmonella infection can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps.
• Toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite sometimes found in cat feces, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a virus that can be spread by some pet rodents, can both cause birth defects if a pregnant woman becomes infected.
• Diseases spread by fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can spread when animals are in close contact with people. Bites from fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can irritate the skin and also spread diseases that are harmful to both people and animals.

Bites and scratches

Animal bites and scratches can cause not only pain, injury, and nerve damage, but also infections. Serious bite wounds require medical attention and sometimes surgery. If a bite leads to an infection, the person may need to be treated with antibiotics, a tetanus booster, or receive other medical care.

Dogs, cats, and ferrets can become infected with rabies—a deadly disease that affects the nervous system—and spread it to people or other animals through bites. If you are bitten by a dog, cat, or ferret in an evacuation center, see a doctor immediately to determine if you need a rabies vaccination.

Natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and fires can be scary for you, your family, and your pets. You might have a plan for keeping your family safe during a natural disaster, but do you have one for your pets too? Leaving pets out of your plans can put pets, pet owners, and first responders in danger.

Before an emergency

• Make sure your pet wears a collar and tags.
• Microchip your pet and make sure your contact information is up to date.
• Practice using a pet carrier so that your pet becomes familiar with riding in the car.
• Make a plan for where your pet will stay if you need to evacuate. Many evacuation centers do not allow pets.
• Create an emergency kit for your pet that includes 2-weeks’ worth of supplies, including leashes, harnesses, medications, and medical records for each pet.
• Practice evacuating and sheltering in place with your pet.

During an emergency

Remember that diseases like rabies, leptospirosis, and those spread by mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks can spread between pets and people during and after a natural disaster. Avoid wildlife and stray animals, contaminated food, and stagnant water.

• Wash your hands after handling your pet, its food, or its waste.
• Do not let your pet lick your face or hands.
• Keep your pet up to date on all vaccinations and heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives.
• Practice safe handling of your pet, because your pet may behave differently during a stressful situation.
• Keep your pet in a carrier or on a leash.

After an emergency

• If returning home after a disaster, check your home for sharp objects, spilled chemicals, and exposed wiring.
• If you are separated from your pet after a disaster, contact local shelters, animal organizations or animal control to get assistance with locating your pet.
• If your pet was injured, try to get your pet to a veterinarian as quickly as possible without risking injury or illness to yourself or your family.