Does your emergency plan take your pet into account?
If not, the Ontario SPCA and our local fire chiefs say now’s your chance to fix that as Emergency Preparedness Week continues into the weekend.
That means including food, water, and medication for both you and them when putting together a kit to last the first 72 hours of an emergency. The kit should be checked at least twice a year and updated as necessary.
Have an evacuation plan in place that includes your animals, too. Check to ensure evacuation destinations accept pets.
You should also make sure your dog or cat is wearing a collar with an identification tag, ideally with your phone number, and getting them microchipped will increase your chances of being reunited if separated during an emergency.
The SPCA suggests keeping a current photo of your pet with you, including their name, address, and a brief description, in case you need to claim a lost pet during a stressful situation.
Lastly, putting up an emergency decal on your front door will let first responders know there are pets in the house, giving them a chance to save them should something go wrong while you’re away.
Carol Boudreau, the interim manager of the SPCA’s Renfrew County Animal Centre, says having a plan in place puts you in a better position to help the ones you love, including your pets.
(written by Kasey Egan)
