Evacuating with Animals:

Planning Ahead for a Smooth Exit

By Teri Silver

Life is rarely an ocean of smooth sailing. At some point and at any time, potential tragedies can happen — especially when you’re not prepared for emergencies. If evacuating your home becomes necessary, pet owners must always be ready for a smooth exit.

Plan ahead for any possibility: fire, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, strong storms ... even terrorism.

Animal Reactions

To us pet owners, our furry (or non-furry) friends are just as important as our human family members. Caring for animals in an emergency is vital, because most likely, they will be very scared. Loud noise, fast movement, harsh voices — animals are very sensitive to these changes.
Frightened animals tend to hide during tense moments and it may be a challenge to transport them to a safe place. Don’t be surprised if cats and dogs growl and show their teeth. Pet parents should plan and practice ways to get fur babies safely out of harm’s way.

Identity Tags

If dogs and cats “escape” from the home, those who wear collars and identity tags have a better chance of being returned to their owners. Microchipping is the process of placing a tiny electronic chip under the animal’s skin; it contains the owner’s identification information — but it is not a GPS (and will NOT track a lost pet’s location).

Pet Disaster Kit

If you ever have to evacuate your home quickly, having a pre-packed “Fido” bag (for dogs, cats, and all other pets) will help cut down on the stress of your exit. Keep a leash (or harness) and pet carrier near the door. Stow a carrier in the trunk of your car. Add a can opener (manual), cleaning supplies (plastic bags, paper towels, disinfectant wipes), litter and litterbox (for cats), leash, collar, ID tags, pet carrier(s), and toys.

Food, Water, Medicine

Include these items in a disaster pet safety emergency kit:

  • 2 weeks supply of dry food - per animal
  • 2 weeks supply of water - per animal
  • Food and water dishes
  • Feeding instructions
  • 2 weeks supply of medicine (if needed) and instructions
  • 1 month supply of tick, heartworm, and flea prevention meds


    Documents

    If you must seek medical attention for pets but cannot see your regular veterinarian, have copies of these documents available. Place paper documents in a waterproof container.

  • Rabies certificate
  • Medical summary
  • Vaccinations
  • Prescriptions (if applicable)
  • FeLV/FIV test results (cats)
  • Heartworm test results (dogs and cats)
  • Pet descriptions (sex, weight, color, breed, etc.)
  • Recent photographs
  • Proof of ownership/adoption records

    Birds and Small Critters

    Birds, rodents, reptiles, and other small animals get stressed out, too, when their “calm” is threatened. When transporting birds, place them in a cage covered with a towel or blanket (especially in cold weather). Recent photos and attached leg bands help with identification if the bird gets loose. Birds must eat daily. Feeding pet birds on a consistent schedule is important for their well-being. When life is in turmoil and you’re busy with other things, timed feeders will keep Polly’s food schedule on track. Place the carrier in a quiet area. Keep a catch net, perches, cage liners, and a cover in your “bird evacuation kit.”

    Have turtles or snakes? Forget shoeboxes — they aren’t secure. Snakes can be transported in pillowcases but they’ll need secure housing. Bring a large, sturdy bowl to fill with water for reptile bathing.

    Pet rodents — gerbil, hamsters, guinea pigs, and mice — travel well in carriers with nesting materials and food/water bowls.


    Temporary (Re-) Locations

    Unpredictability is common during emergency evacuations, but knowing where to go during the evacuation process helps you focus on what’s ahead, and not what’s behind. With pets, it’s important to consider where you can take them. If you’re going to a friend or family member’s home, note whether anyone in the residence has cat or dog allergies, which can be very harmful. Something else to consider: Yard grass treated with fertilizer is bad for dogs.

    Caregivers

    Evacuations and emergency decisions may not always go as planned. Having a backup care person for your pets lets you breathe a little easier in case you have to leave before getting the animals out of the house.

    For long-term displacements, choosing a “foster parent” for your pet involves a bit of research on your part. People who know and have interacted with Fido would most likely be accepted by the one who matters most. Being yanked out of a comfortable home is as traumatic for pets as it is for people.

    Planning Now Will Pay Off Later

    Planning for what could happen is a sure-fire way for nothing bad to happen at all. But if you don’t plan for that possible emergency, your fur babies may suffer because ... you never know.
    author

    Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on 5 acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall when home-grown veggies are on the dinner table.

    • Back to main page