PET DISASTER PLAN

Common Household Items that are Poisonous to Dogs

Just as you house-proof your home before the new baby begins to walk, you have to consider that a new dog will go after just about anything in the home. Here are some common household items that are poisonous to dogs.

• Medications: Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, aspirin, cough and cold syrups, and prescription drugs should all be kept out of the reach of dogs.
  Indoor Plants: These can be very dangerous for dogs and should only be kept on a counter high enough so a dog cannot reach for it. If you have a large dog, you may want to get rid of these plants altogether. They include: Tulip bulbs, poinsettias, philodendrons, daffodils, lily of the valley, and azaleas.
• Foods: Dogs have a way of getting into cabinets where the “good stuff” is stored. These foods are dangerous for dogs: chocolate, yeast, grapes, onions, and raisins.
• Insecticides: These should not be kept in the home, but kept in a locked cabinet or on a high shelf in the garage: rat poison, flea and tick products, and other insecticides.
• Cleaners: These are sometimes kept under the kitchen sink. Dog-proof the cabinet so that these items cannot be taken out by your dog: bleach, detergent, furniture polish, soap, and disinfectants.
• Chemicals: These include lighter fluid, turpentine, antifreeze, gasoline, glue, paint, solvents, and any type of acids.
• Tobacco: Try to avoid leaving out a pack of cigarettes that can easily be eaten by a dog.
• Household Hazards: Ensure that there are all the electrical outlets in your home are covered; no extension cords are within sight or available for a dog to chew on; all electrical appliances are turned off or unplugged, and small collectable items you have showcased in your home are transferred to the top of an open bookshelf or an enclosed glass closet.
  Ensure that no bathroom items are left out on the sink or counter. If you have a cabinet under the bathroom sink, ensure it has a safety lock as well.

Dogs are a curious animal and they are inherently prone to forage for food or other items they consider chewable toys. Think of your dog as another child; as dedicated as you are to child-proofing your home, consider dog-proofing as well. In this way, there is no chance of an accident occurring when you are not home or when you are fast asleep.

For puppies, it’s a good recommendation to keep them in a kennel during the night so that they can sleep peacefully and not roam around the home. For older dogs, no doubt they will be trained not to attempt to eat something they are not supposed to, or grab something out of a cabinet.

Always err on the side of caution, however. A simple test would be to get down on your hands and knees and go through your entire home. This test has been used by those who wish to child-proof their home; looking at it from a child’s perspective. It is a sound idea.

Pet Disaster Plan: How to Protect Your Pet in a Flood

All too often when planning for our families in the case of a flood, we forget to have a plan for our pets. Unfortunately, if we don’t plan ahead for our pets, they may get left behind in case of a flood evacuation. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when putting together your pet disaster plan.

Having a suitable carrier on hand is one of the most basic, yet most important, steps you can take for protecting your pet in case of a flood. Often, families are forced to leave their pets behind because they do not have a carrier to transport them in. A carrier can be picked up at almost any pet supply store, as well as large retailers like WalMart or Target. They are relatively affordable and an incredibly important part of any pet disaster plan.

In addition to a pet carrier, have a pet care kit ready if you think a flood evacuation may take place. Be sure to include a bowl, pet food and extra water, as well as any medications your pet may be dependent on. If necessary, have a leash and collar on hand as well. Keep in mind pets that may not normally run away could react differently under the stress and may need to be leashed.

If water rises quickly, keep in mind flood safety tips. Flood water that is shallow enough for an adult to walk in may carry away children and pets. It is not safe to drive a car through deep water. If your area floods, get to higher ground as quickly as possible and try to get in touch with a local rescue service. Depending on the area you live in, there may be a pet rescue service that can help keep your pet safe. Additionally, there are stickers you can put near the entrance of your home to inform rescue workers of how many and what types of pets you have. If for some reason you and your family are forced to leave your pets behind, something like this could help save their lives.

Since our pets can become such a special part of our families, having a pet disaster plan in place in case of a flood is important and can save your pet’s life. Always keep in mind the importance of keeping your family safe and complying with local authorities in any disaster situation.

Pet Rescue plan
In the event of a disaster where you need to evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND! Your pets cannot survive on their own. If for some odd reason your animals do survive a disaster, you may not be able to find them when you return. Plan for the worst case scenario and prepare a pet emergency action plan. Plan ahead, be prepared, and practice an evacuation to see how long it will take, and what you can do better.

Make a pet emergency response plan checklist. Your plan might include:

Identify An Emergency Shelter. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Find pet friendly motels and hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to, in advance of needing them. There are also a number of guides that list hotels/motels that permit pets and could serve as a starting point.

Emergency phone list. Include your local animal shelter’s number in your list of emergency numbers — they might be able to provide information concerning pets during a disaster. Don’t forget to add the local numbers for police and fire in your mobile phone.

Pet Supplies. Take enough pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, can opener, food dishes, first aid kit, enough for 3 to 5 days. Your pet rescue plan might include packing a “pet survival” kit well in advance. It’s much easier to grab your pet’s bug out bag than it is to search for everything under the pressure of an evacuation.

I.D. Your Pets. Are your pets identification tags are up to date and securely fastened to your their collar? Does is include an address or phone number of your evacuation site? In event your pet gets lost, this ID tag is one sure way to reunite. Make sure you have a current photo of your and your pet for identification purposes in your pet rescue plan.

Medical Records. Make copies of your pet’s medical records that include all up to date vaccinations. Place copies in your “pet survival kit”. An electronic copy (PDF) can be stored on your cell phone too.

Easy Transport. Your pet disaster plan should include a secure pet carrier (with contact information on it), and a leash or harness for your pet.

Take Your Pet To An Emergency Shelter. If you are unable to return home quickly, you may need to board your pet. Your pet emergency action plan will include pet boarding facilities outside your local area in case your local animal shelter is unavailable. Some animal shelters will provide temporary foster care for owned pets in times of disaster, however don’t count on this option in your pet rescue plan.

Taking your pets along is the most important thing individuals or families can do for their animals during a hurricane evacuation. Pets left behind can be injured, lost or killed during a storm, or in its aftermath. Pet owners should include their animals in their family hurricane planning, before a storm threatens.

When you go, they go!
Ordinarily, only service animals are allowed inside public mass care shelters, although some emergency shelters may be able to assist at these facilities with animal sheltering accommodations.

• Make plans ahead of time to take your pet to stay at relatives, friends or a kennel outside the affected area.
• Know the locations of pet-friendly hotels and motels.
• Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers.
• Consult with your local animal control officer and Emergency Management Office about possible temporary shelter facilities in your community.
• Ask local animal shelters if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets in a disaster. Animal shelters may be overburdened caring for the animals they already have, as well as those displaced by a disaster, so this should be your last resort.
• Prepare an emergency kit for your pets; include collars and leashes, a three- to five-day supply of food and water, a manual can opener, bowls, litter boxes, photographs (you with your pet), and a week’s supply of medications that your pet may be taking, including instructions (in case you and your pet are separated).
• Have copies of your pets’ vaccinations, medical records and prescriptions in a clean plastic bag or waterproof container.
• Make sure your pets wear collars with current license and rabies tags, and identification tags that include information on where you will be staying during the emergency.
• Use a pet carrier for each of your pets to make transportation easier.
• Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier. During warm weather, carry a plant mister to spray the birds’ feathers periodically.
• Provide a few slices of fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content.
• Have a photograph for identification and leg bands.
• If the carrier does not have a perch, line it with paper towels and change them frequently. Try to keep the carrier in a quiet area. Do not let the birds out of the cage or carrier.
• Exotic or dangerous pets are generally dealt with on a case-by-case basis, to ensure that they are handled, transported and cared for by trained personnel at appropriate facilities. To insure the safety of their animals, owners of this type of pet should have advanced planning preparations ready for their pet’s special needs.