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As thousands of families struggled with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many of them were also missing pets. Many people have plans to deal with emergencies for themselves, but fail to make arrangements for the animal members of their family. Whether it’s a small emergency such as a house fire, or a large emergency like a tornado, hurricane, flood or manmade disaster, advanced planning always gives the best chance of keeping all of your family members safe.

Preparation

Start by talking with your family about what you will do in various situations. Responses to localized emergencies like fires, small storms and power outages will likely differ from emergency plans for large scale emergencies such as hurricanes, tornadoes and manmade attacks. Plan evacuation routes to designated meeting points.

These will vary based on the situation. If dealing with flooding, you’ll want to take refuge in the highest room location in your home. For a tornado, you’ll want to take family and pets to the lowest level of your home. If dealing with a chemical or airborne emergency, the Red Cross advises families to go to an interior room without windows that is above ground level (in the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed).

All pets should have collars and tags with easily visible identification. ID tags should have your pet’s name, your phone number and important medical information. If possible, list a mobile phone number. If you’re not at home when danger strikes, calls may not reach you at a home phone.

For local emergencies, it is important to display an animal rescue sign or sticker so that responders know that there are pets in your home. Your rescue sign should contain the types and names of pets in your house, as well as veterinarian name and contact information. Use your best judgment about placing additional contact information on the sign. While you want to give emergency officials enough information to safely rescue you pets, you must be cautious not to expose information which might be abused by solicitors or passers by.

Finally, make copies of contact, evacuation route and emergency plan information for all members of your family. Store them in Ziploc style waterproof bags so that they will stay dry in case of flooding or water damage.

Where to Go

After you take care of basic preparation, you should agree on two meeting places: one near your home for emergencies such as fires, and another outside of your immediate neighborhood if you must evacuate your home. Similarly, it’s wise to designate two emergency contacts. The first should be in your neighborhood, the second should be out of town. During large scale disasters it can often be easier to reach people who are not in your immediate area. Make sure all of your family members memorize both phone numbers.

If it is necessary to leave your home, you may not be able to bring your pet to rescue facilities with your family. To prevent permanent separation, identify a boarding kennel or shelter in your immediate area that provides emergency care or foster care for pets. Outside of your area, have the name and number of hotels, friends or relatives that will accept your pets. By having these numbers and arrangements in place, you will be able to reunite with your pets even if you are not able to return to your home.

Making an Emergency Pack

It’s easy to prepare an emergency pack for you and your pet. Each pack should contain 3 days worth of supplies. Supplies should be stored in a backpack as close to an exit as possible.

For each member of your family, your pack should include:

*Batteries

*Battery powered flashlight

*Battery powered radio

*Blanket

*3-5 days worth of water

*Energy bars, canned nutrition shakes or other food which does not require cooking or refrigeration

*Baby wipes

*Breathing mask

*Plastic sheeting

*Duct tape

*First Aid Kit and guide book

*Light stick

*Spray paint

*Whistle or air horn

*3-5 day supply of Tylenol or Aspirin, as well as any prescription medication

*Recent photos if family members become separated

Your pet’s supply kit should include:

*Easy open canned or dry food. If packing dry food, you may wish to store it in large Ziploc style plastic bags. For birds, a small, tupperware container is recommended

*Bottled water supply for your pet

*Disposable litter trays

*Pet feeding dishes *Extra leash

*Photocopies of medical records

*3-5 day supply of any medicine your pet requires

*Litter or paper toweling

*A traveling bag or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet *Recent photos of your pets if you become separated

Remember to change food, water and medicine every three to six months to maintain freshness and effectiveness.

Disasters, whether small, large, natural or manmade can be terrifying. By having a solid plan in place, emergency contacts and disaster packs ready to go, you can give your entire family the best chance of surviving together.

For most pet owners, pets hold a special place in the household. They are much more than merely animals that live with the family; they are actual members the family. So where their well-being is concerned, we should be very aware of what elements in or around the home either are or could become threats to them.

When considering your pets’safety, you should bear in mind that pets have absolutely no notion of danger and care should be taken so as to prevent a fun moment from becoming a nightmare. Though potential dangers could be many, here are some of the most common.

Electrocution

One of the biggest dangers for many pets are electrical cords. They are attracted to them and are often tempted to chew on them. A good solution to this is CritterCord™ ,which is a cord cover that acts as protective tubing and is infused with a citrus scent. It is specifically designed to help protect your pets from the dangers of chewing on electrical cords.

Poisoning

Poisonous household plants like the azalea, dieffenbachia (dumb cane), lilies, mistletoe, and philodendron, among others, are extremely dangerous to pets. Insect control products, such as insecticides should also be carefully considered. Also, human medications can be toxic to animals. Keep medication containers and tubes of ointments and creams away from pets who could chew through them, and be vigilant about finding and disposing of any dropped pills.

Pets can develop allergies, the same way a human being can, so beware of spiders, scorpions, bees, and other insects.

Choking

Toys with removable parts—like squeaky toys or stuffed animals with plastic eyes—can pose a choking hazard to animals. Take the same precautions with pets as you would with a small child. Also, plastic bags must be considered potentially hazardous. Leashes must be removed if the dog is not being walked, since there is always danger of strangulation. Rawhide doggie chews should be offered to a pet only with supervision, as they can pose a choking hazard as well. They may also be contaminated with Salmonella, which can infect pets and humans who come in contact with them.

You should also be equally cautious outside the home.

• Swimming pools must be monitored carefully. An Above-Ground Pool Eye Alarm is great for this. This easy-to-install safety system alerts you with a loud siren if your pet or child accidentally falls into the pool.

• Cars, too. Leaving your pet inside your car is not always a good idea. A HotDog can come in handy here. The Hotdog detects and reacts to deadly temperature changes within your vehicle. Also BreezeGuard™ Screens are a great solution to let your dog enjoy the fresh air keeping safety in mind. They are mobile pet window extensions custom made to your vehicle.

Check out these and other fantastic Pet Gadgets to keep your pet safe and out of harm?s way.

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