If you evacuate, take your companion animals
The single most important thing you can do to protect your companion animals is to take them with you when you evacuate. Animals left behind in a disaster can easily be injured, lost or killed. If they are left inside your home, they can escape through storm-damaged areas such as broken windows, or be injured by falling debris or other hazards. If turned loose to fend for themselves, they are likely to become victims of exposure, starvation, predators, contaminated food or water, or accidents. Leaving dogs tied or chained outside can be a death sentence. .
If you leave, even if you think you may be gone for only a few hours, take your animals. Once you leave, you have no way of knowing how long you'll be kept out of the area, and you may not be able to go back for your companion animals.
Do not leave your companion animal alone, with strangers, or without a leash, at any time. During an emergency your companion animal may panic, behave in a distressed manner (even become aggressive), or even run away and end up lost. REMEMBER... during an emergency you are still responsible for your companion animal.
Leave early - don't wait for a mandatory evacuation order. An unnecessary trip is far better than waiting too long to leave safely with your companion animals. If you wait to be evacuated by emergency officials, you may even be told to leave your companion animals behind, and you cannot argue then.
| Don't forget ID Your companion animals should be wearing up-to-date identification at all times, and if possible, microchipped. It's a good idea to include the phone number of a friend or relative outside your immediate area - if your companion animal is lost, you'll want to provide a number on the tag that will be answered even if you're out of your home. |
During the Disaster
Be sure to stay with your companion animals and console them and hug them. They will feel better and so will you. Be with them all the time they have a harness on.
If your cat is not in a harness but is wearing a regular collar/leash, be sure to stay with him at all times as he can choke himself on the leash.
Feed your companion animals as near to their usual mealtimes as possible. Feed them only half the usual amount of canned food and make up the difference with dry food, so as to reduce the danger of diarrhoea and therefore dehydration caused by stress.
If you cannot be with your companion animals and they are at a shelter, give them a piece of your clothing; the smell of you will calm them. Keep in regular touch to let the shelter staff know how soon you can take them home again.