Grab Your Pets ‘n Go!

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Grab Your Pets ‘n Go!
by Diana Gault

Thanks to the Canadian Disaster
Animal Response Team (CDART)
for the use of their Emergency
Preparedness for Pets material.

In exactly twenty minutes you must
evacuate your home; it is directly in
the path of a roiling torrent of filthy
water threatening to obliterate the
entire area. No time to debate the
wisdom of building on a hillside in the
first place, no time for anything but
rounding up the pets, the grab ‘n go
bags, and getting the heck out.
If you’re very lucky – or highly
organized – you already have a grab
‘n go bag for yourself. Maybe even
one for each human in the household.
But do you have a grab ’n go bag for
each pet?
What is a grab ‘n go bag? It’s an
easy-to-carry emergency kit
(backpacks are ideal) packed with
food, water and other necessities
sufficient for at least the first 72 hours
after a disaster. Ideally, each human
and each pet should have their own
bag, but even one bag for all your
pets would be better than nothing.
Depending on the scope and
nature of a disaster, reception centres
may or may not be opened to
assist evacuees. In your municipality
a reception centre may include pet
services; more likely it will not. And
even if pet services are up and
running, they will be located outside
the designated building – only humans
are allowed inside reception
centres. Which pretty much means
that planning ahead for your pets is
essential.

Overwhelmed? Don’t be. Start
developing your plan by asking
yourself these three basic questions:
1. How am I going to safely and
securely transport my pets during a
disaster?(Learn pets’ hiding places
and favourite spots, so you can find
them quickly in an emergency.)
2. Where can my pets stay while I
am an evacuee? You also need a
backup plan . . . just in case. . . so ask
yourself one extra question:
3. If I’m not home when a disaster
strikes, who could I entrust with a key
to go inside and rescue my pets? (If
that person has pets, offer to reciprocate.)
Answering these three questions –
and making the necessary arrangements
– is the hardest part.

Now you’re ready to begin putting together
the grab ‘n go kits. For each pet you
will need:

sufficient food and water for one
week (replace every 3 months)

can opener and plastic lid for
unused canned pet food

spoon and unbreakable dishes

scoopable litter, small litter pan and
plastic bags for waste

paper towels, dish soap, disinfectant
and disposable gloves

photo of pet and yourself together

written description of pet, including
name and contact information

2-week supply of pet’s medication

up-to-date copy of pet’s medical
records, including veterinarian
contact info

harness/extra collar and leash for
dogs and cats (accustom your cat to
a harness in advance)

extra ID tags for temporary identification

favourite toy

plastic/wire/cardboard crate with a
secure locking device to confine pets
who cannot be leashed

grooming supplies
first aid kit – including towel, bandages,
muzzle, sterile pads, small
scissors, antiseptic solution, etc.
Well done! You’ve planned ahead,
assembled your kits (experts suggest
adding one or two items each
week rather than trying to acquire
everything at once) and stored them
in an easily accessible spot.

Thanks to the Canadian Disaster
Animal Response Team (CDART)
for the use of their Emergency
Preparedness for Pets material.