Pets can feel stress every bit as much as a human being can, and this is no different when talking of natural disasters. When dealing with the "before", "during", and "after" of disaster, don't make a mistake of leaving your pets out of the equation! While we advocate building an emergency kit for disasters, families can often neglect to consider the needs of their pets. Your pet is a member of your family and should be considered so when making decisions regarding family safety.
Before
According to the Humane Society of the United States (http://www.hsus.org) people with pets absolutely need to plan ahead. A quick glance at this article will show that the bulk of it concerns what to do "before" a disaster. Remember that most emergency shelters won't take pets, so you need to plan ahead on where to go with your pets that will welcome them. In most disasters, lost pets are a sad reality, and it's a fate no pet owner wants to face. Don't stress out over it, just be responsible. The United States is a very pet-friendly place, so while I hope I scare you into making plans to protect your pet, know that there are many places that do welcome your animals. You will need to the work to find out where they are.
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Even pets with normally gentle dispositions can become aggressive during stressful times. It is important, especially in the case of dogs, to keep him or her near you as your presence has a calming effect. Dogs after all, are pack animals, and you are the leader of the pack. A harness and short leash will permit easier control over a pet, which, while not ideal, may become necessary should you find yourself in confined spaces during an emergency. A muzzle might otherwise be a good idea, even if your dog doesn't normally wear one. In the event of an evacuation, you could find yourself around strangers to the dog, and the undue stress could cause your dog to "act out." Also, you may find yourself in an environment that may not be ideally pet-friendly. People in these places outside of your family may feel more comfortable near your pet if he or she is muzzled. If strangers around your dog are calmer, then the dog is likely to get less nervous.
It's really important to have an emergency pet kit. One great thing to have is a dry shampoo that doesn't require water (or a space to hose down your pet). This also prepares you to remove things from fur that he or she may come into contact with. Dry flea powder and a brush are important as well. Your dog's pet blanket, bed or other familiar bedding will help make your pet feel safe and calm as well.
I'm from the "cover all bases" school of disaster prevention. While my father would call me a worry-wart, I'd advocate having a ziplock bag with your pet's medication, medical records, and most importantly, a photograph and description of your pet. This photograph should be a photo of you (and ideally your family) with your pet. This will allow you to prove ownership without any fuss should you become separated .
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While so far I've mostly been talking dogs, other pets have special needs as well. For cats, I strongly recommend a plastic litter box with a lid. This makes it easy to transport. I'd also advise having a few interactive cat toys on hand. By interactive, I mean the sort of toys that require a human being to wiggle about. These toys, plus a scratching post or toy is a good idea, especially for cats who are used to being outside and may feel extra stress from being cooped up indoors and forced to do "something secret" in a litter box. I had an indoor/outdoor cat once that spent most of his time outside and never liked the quarantine that was forced on him during a few severe weather events. He knew what a litter box was, and would use it if he had no other choice, but man...I still have awful memories of the dirty looks he'd throw at us during what was understandably, a very private moment under normal circumstances. We also had a fancy carpeted scratching post for him that he never used, and nearly threw away, but we were glad we didn't. During those few days trapped indoors, he'd go at it, and I'm sure spared needless damage to our furniture and upholstery.
For birds, you'll need the cage (obviously) and even if they are not used to it, a thin sheet. Soft light (not darkness mind you) will help the bird feel calm. Extra toys or treats will also help your bird feel better about the stress of being moved. In my experience with birds, the smarter they are (African Grey parrots, I'm looking at you), the easier they scare, and that can be an acoustic nightmare for anyone forced into close proximity with a frightened bird. Don't rely on covering the cage with a heavy cloth. Imagine if you have to live in permanent midnight. You'd go crazy too. Try talking to your bird and calming him down. The sight and sound of familiar people can go a long way.
When creating an evacuation plan, as we describe in our article, Creating An Evacuation Plan, you should have safe spots to go to in case of an evacuation of your home. Often, these may likely be a hotel or motel. When planning on where to go that certain chains are much friendlier than others when it comes to pets. Most lodging in the Hilton chain are pet-friendly, as well as nearly all Best Western, Motel 6 and Super 8 motels. A kennel might be a good alternative, but if you are considering that route, remember that many kennels require a current proof of vaccination. It would be good to talk to your local veterinarian or dog kennel in order to devise evacuation plans that are as pet-friendly as possible. If you haven't already added your verinarian and and local boarding kennel numbers to your emergency contact list, now is as good a time as any to do.
I come from a family of volunteer firefighters, so first aid skills are certainly not wanting in perilous times. A fact you may not know, however, is that that certain chapters of the Red Cross offer first aid classes for treating pets! Pet CPR is taught and oxygen masks are offered. Talk to your local fire department as well, as they may supply first aid equipment for animals.
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During
During a disaster you might be tempted to leave your pet at home if you have to leave. Trust me, if it's dangerous enough for you, it's dangerous enough for your pet. Pets aren't likely to make it on their own, and could cause a real complication for rescue workers. A barking dog is often a clue that a home may need aid from rescue worker, and finding an abandoned animal is problematic for many reasons. For one, the animal may not react too well to strangers, and for another, rescue workers are often not equipped to handle the needs of animals when they are engaged in the search for survivors in a disaster.
Do your pets a favor, and make every arrangement BEFORE disaster strikes to make sure they are part of your overall plan. Even if you are waiting out a disaster event in your home, bring them indoors, even animals that are typically outdoor pets. Animals can get edgy enough from the weather change and it helps if you are there to keep an eye on them. It's also good to separate pets from each other. Again, pets have elevated levels of anxiety as much as everyone else, and unlike children, you can't explain to them what is going on and expect them to adapt to change as well. I'm not sure how good of a primary source this is, but should you have doubts on this one, try watching old episodes of Tom & Jerry or Sylvester & Tweety Bird.
In all seriousness, this can prevent a lot of really stressful problems, so be proactive in managing your pet's social interaction if you can!
After (and Conclusion)
Pets still need your attention after disaster has come and gone. Stay in close contact, and if you take your dog outdoors, absolutely use a leash, even for pets that normally don't need one. The heightened stress could cause your pooch to run away. Cats should be kept inside. Outdoor cats will probably stress out considerably more, but as I described earlier, having the right things on hand will minimize the trauma for your feline.
Even if little has changed, this may not be true for your pet. Pets, like children, have stresses due to their inability to always understand what has happened. In the case of dogs, cats, and birds, they have increased sensitivities to changes that have taken place and may not react normally when put back in their old environment. you'll need to give them time to readjust.
If you have a pet, your emergency planning will have to include him or her in any contingency. You do not want your pet to end up like the thousands of pets that end up lost, injured or killed every year in the United States due to people that abandon their pets during a crisis. Putting together your emergency pet kit will likely steer you toward additional ideas that will make the time less stressful for you and your pet. Please be responsible with your pets and think ahead to provide for their needs.
