PSA - Hurricanes and Pets

[jwhtewolfd]

For those of us along the coasts, we are acutely aware that hurricane season began June 1st. We posted this at work today and I thought I would share these pet preparedness tips. I hope we won't need it, but if we do, I hope someone finds it helpful.

Hurricane season is June 1 - November 30.
Use these tips to help you prepare:

- Be sure your pet is current on vaccinations. Have proof of vaccination for your records.

- If your pet requires medications, keep a list of current medications and doses. Refill prescriptions before your supply runs low.

- Keep food, especially prescription diets, well stocked.

- If your pet will require medication to travel, request to have it on hand before you need to travel.

- Provide your pet with a sturdy, secure and roomy carrier suitable for extended periods of travel.

- Have your pet micro chipped as a means of permanent identification.

- Make arrangements early for pet-friendly travel and accommodations. Do not leave your pet behind.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

bump

 

[Carys]

Thanks for this thread, always so important to keep pet safety in mind - we need to plan for all family members, including furry and feathered ones.

In addition to your tips, remember to keep animals indoors when it hits; secure those cat/dog doors. If possible, take the dog house into your garage; if there's flooding you never know what that water has in it and you don't want the floor of the doghouse absorbing sewage and stray chemicals. When calculating how much emergency water you need to store, remember to include your animals' needs too.

We have a tropical storm/cat 1 typhoon (depending on which weather site you look at) heading this way (in asia) by the end of the weekend so the season is well and truly upon us!

 

[HighClass]

Good info

Having lived in a Hurricane prone area most of my life i can tell you one thing=many people stay put and don't evacuate because of their pets.

Few hotels take pets
No shelters take pets
A LOT of pets ARE "left behind" because the owners have no choice

 

[Gina]

Great tips!

Just wanted to add that, at least down here, the shelters do take pets now. You can bring a max of two, you must have all their shot records, and all pets must be in sturdy carriers. (They will be sheltered separately from you.) And don't forget to bring food and food/water dishes for them.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Good info

Having lived in a Hurricane prone area most of my life i can tell you one thing=many people stay put and don't evacuate because of their pets.

Few hotels take pets
No shelters take pets
A LOT of pets ARE "left behind" because the owners have no choice

I don't have to worry about hurricanes but if we lived in that area we would sleep in our car with our pets before ever leaving them behind. I noticed when they evacuated Houston last year (or yr before) they allowed pets.

after the Katrina aftermath...it really made people realize how important pets really are.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Yes, since Katrina, more places are accepting pets. Too many lives were lost because people wouldn't leave without their pets. There was also heavy backlash from rescuers telling people someone would come back for their pets and no one ever did. You still need to do your research and be prepared though. When we evacuated for Gustav, several hotels I called said they would take them, but they were not allowed in the guest rooms, and had to stay in one area/room with all the other animals. I was not comfortable with that situation at all.

 

[John VN]

Very good PSA.

Our Persian is a Hurricane Charlie cat. His owners lost their house and we took him in until they found a new place. They decided not to take him back so he took over our house. As far as a hurricane being an issue with us, we have a motor home and if storm comes close we are out of here along with His Royal Highness.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Very good PSA.

Our Persian is a Hurricane Charlie cat. His owners lost their house and we took him in until they found a new place. They decided not to take him back so he took over our house. As far as a hurricane being an issue with us, we have a motor home and if storm comes close we are out of here along with His Royal Highness.

This part made me smile because I know how true it is. Jezzie (the grey tabby in my sig) is a Katrina cat. One of our clients found her in St. Bernard (where the eye passed over and had 20 feet of water in the streets! ) a few weeks after the water went down. I'm still stumped trying to figure out how she survived. She was not spayed when she was brought in, so we're pretty sure she was a stray and not a left-behind-pet. She lived at the hospital for 3 months and then when I was able to find an apartment, she came to live with me. She is Queen of the Castle, and I merely her humble servant.

 

[nephthys43]

don't forget to have a pet-friendly first aid kit!!!

 

[jwhtewolfd]

don't forget to have a pet-friendly first aid kit!!!

Also a good idea. I usually end up using my cats' medicines for myself, rather than vice versa. As a vet tech, I always have a good supply of their triple antibiotic ointment, but I can never seem to put my hands on a tube of Neosporin at my house.

 

[Planogirl]

FYI: All La Quintas take pets and they are not high cost.

I think that these precautions are also wise for those who live in any area prone to violent weather. Thanks for posting these!

 

[denisem]

Thanks for the PSA!

On a lighter note - I was amazed to discover more pet friendly hotels than I'd imagined! While looking into Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando for an overnight stay was surprised to see they're pet friendly (even have their own room service menu.)

There's NO WAY we could evacuate without our two beasts...the quiet one is always at our heels, and the loud-mouth pretty much dictates her needs every minute of the day. (Right now, she's screaming to be let out on the lanai.)

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Thanks for posting these!

Thanks for the PSA!

You are most welcome. If it helps just one family or pet, it is worth it. When the call came to leave for Gustav, we were inundated. It seems that people forget these things when preparing and it catches them by surprise. Then they are left desparately rushing around when they (and our staff) should be on the road on the way to safety.

And I really can't stress how important it is to refill prescriptions BEFORE running low. Even in a normal situation, if you wait until you give your last pill before calling, there's not much I can do for you. Especially in an evacuation situation, if I run out of a prescription, I can NOT get any more sent in.

Again, hopefully we won't need this, but better to be prepared than to be scrambling around during an already stressful time.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

friendly bump for anyone owned by furperson who may have missed this

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Thank you...I'm getting my puppy this week!

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Thank you...I'm getting my puppy this week!

Don't forget pictures!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Don't forget pictures!

Here's my dog...gettin' her "game plan" together .

(And yes, I took it from her and gave her a better toy...I had it on the floor to check on her during the night...)

She's small...that is a key chain flashlight. I think we are gonna call her Anabelle.

 

[dennis99ss]

You have "royal highness" we have "King Arthur". Bwahahaha. bought him at an auction that had a medievil theme, so the name was appropriate.

We boogie when the winds start to blow anything that looks like it is over cat 1. KA comes with us, although his crate takes up the back of the suburban. we have a safety net, in laws living inland, but they don't care for KA. He likes to dig, and Pop inlaw hates it.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Friendly bump as we move into August and closer to peak season. Keeping our fingers crossed for a mild season.