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Pets and Disaster: Be Prepared
The following information has been prepared by the Humane Society
of the United States in cooperation with the American Red Cross.
Our pets enrich our lives in more ways than we can count. In turn,
they depend on us for their safety and well-being. Here's how you
can be prepared to protect your pets when disaster strikes.
Be Prepared with a Disaster Plan
The best way to protect your family from the effects of a disaster
is to have a disaster plan. If you are a pet owner, that plan must
include your pets. Being prepared can save their lives.Different
disasters require different responses. But whether the disaster is
a hurricane or a hazardous spill, you may have to evacuate your
home.
In the event of a disaster, if you must evacuate, the most
important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate
them, too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe
place for them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost,
or worse. So prepare now for the day when you and your pets may
have to leave your home.
Have a Safe Place To Take Your Pets
Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of states'
health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service
animals who assist people with disabilities are the only animals
allowed in Red Cross shelters. It may be difficult, if not
impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a
disaster, so plan ahead. Do not wait until disaster strikes to do
your research.
Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check
policies on accepting pets and restrictions on number, size, and
species. Ask if "no pet" policies could be waived in an
emergency. Keep a list of "pet friendly" places,
including phone numbers, with other disaster information and
supplies. If you have notice of an impending disaster, call ahead
for reservations.
Ask friends, relatives, or others outside the affected area
whether they could shelter your animals. If you have more than one
pet, they may be more comfortable if kept together, but be
prepared to house them separately.
Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could
shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers.
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.
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