Get Ready & Prepare

Animal Ready

Prepare your Pets for Disasters

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.

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, 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. The SPCA for Monterey County has a current list of local hotels and motels that will accommodate pets. Remember, practice makes perfect, so run through evacuation “drills” often. Don’t forget to train your pets to load into their evacuation carriers. This will ensure that any real evacuation will go as quickly and as smoothly as possible.
• 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. Print your own Emergency Pet Alert Card to carry in your wallet in case of an emergency.
• 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 the SPCA for Monterey County 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. Make sure to include items such as pet feeding dishes.
• Water: Store a water bowl and several days’ supply of water per pet.
• 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. Recommended items include but our not limited to, pet first-aid instructions, absorbent gauze pads, roll gauze, adhesive tape, cotton balls or swabs, hydrogen peroxide (3%), disposable gloves, tweezers, scissors, antibiotic ointment, towels, alcohol wipes, digital rectal thermometer, water-based sterile lubricant, saline eye solution, and artificial tear gel.
• Important Documents and Information: Bring important documents including, veterinary records, vaccinations, microchip and license information, medical records, etc. Make sure to also have the phone number, clinic name, and address of your veterinarian as well as local veterinary emergency clinics.
• 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, liquid dish soap, 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.

The SPCA has additional tips on how to create a kit that is best for your pet. What kind of pet do you have?

Additional Considerations 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.

Additional Resources

SPCA Monterey County Disaster Preparedness Packet

SPCA Monterey County

ASPCA Disaster Preparedness

Red Rover Pet Disaster Preparedness