CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Preparation is crucial when it comes to hurricane season. While you’re packing your emergency supplies and making your plan, don’t forget about prepping for your pets' needs, too.
The most important thing is to know where your pets would go if you had to leave your home quickly.
Director of disaster response for the ASPCA Susan Anderson said to arrange a safe haven since many shelters don’t take animals. And once you have that plan in place, don’t forget to share that plan with others.
This step is important so, if you’re not home when your animals need to be evacuated, you have people to rely on and people your pets know to get them safely to their destination.
Some examples of a safe haven include:
- Boarding kennels and facilities
- Local animal shelter (sometimes they provide emergency shelter or foster care)
- Hotels or motels that accept pets
- Friends or relatives outside of your immediate area
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Once you know where to go, make sure your pet has everything they need.
This could mean:
- Collars and tags with up-to-date information (owner’s name/phone number and pet’s medical needs)
- Microchip with updated information
- Crate or carrier
- Emergency kit with lease, 7-10 days of food, disposable litter trays, litter, soap and/or disinfectant, food/water bowls, extra collar/harness, copies of medical records and medication
- Seven days worth of water for you and your pet
- Flashlight
- Blanket
- Pillowcases, toys, and treats
- Proof of ownership
- Recent photos of your pet
Anderson said the photos are especially helpful if you are separated from your pet during a disaster. Also, it’s a good idea to label all their items with your contact information, too.
According to the ASPCA, there are special considerations for some differently sized animals, birds and reptiles:
Special considerations for horses
- Keep a clean and tidy stable and pasture. Remove hazardous and flammable materials, debris and machinery from around the barn’s walkways, entrances and exits. Regularly maintain and inspect barn floors and septic tanks. Inspect your grounds regularly and remove dangerous debris in the pasture.
- Prevent fires by instituting a no-smoking policy around your barn. Avoid using or leaving on appliances in the barn, even seemingly-harmless appliances like box fans, heaters and power tools can overheat. Exposed wiring can also lead to electrical fires in the barn, as can a simple nudge from an animal who accidentally knocks over a machine.
- Get your horse used to wearing a halter, and get him used to trailering. Periodically, you should practice quickly getting your horse on a trailer for the same reason that schools have fire drills—asking a group of unpracticed children to exit a burning building in a calm fashion is a little unrealistic, as is requesting a new and strange behavior of your horse.
- If you own a trailer, please inspect it regularly. Also, make sure your towing vehicle is appropriate for the size and weight of the trailer and horse. Always make sure the trailer is hitched properly—the hitch locked on the ball, safety chains or cables attached, and emergency brake battery charged and linked to the towing vehicle. Proper tire pressure (as shown on the tire wall) is also very important.
- Get your horse well-socialized and used to being handled by all kinds of strangers. If possible, invite emergency responders and/or members of your local fire service to interact with your horse. It will be mutually beneficial for them to become acquainted. Firefighter’s turnout gear may smell like smoke and look unusual, which many horses find frightening—so ask them to wear their usual response gear to get your horse used to the look and smell.
- Set up a phone tree/buddy system with other nearby horse owners and local farms. This could prove invaluable should you—or they—need to evacuate animals or share resources like trailers, pastures or extra hands!
- Keep equine veterinary records in a safe place where they can quickly be reached. Be sure to post emergency phone numbers by phone. Include your 24-hour veterinarian, emergency services and friends. You should also keep a copy for emergency services personnel in the barn that includes phone numbers for you, your emergency contact, your 24-hour veterinarian and several friends.
Special considerations for birds
- Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier.
- In cold weather, make certain you have a blanket over your pet’s cage. This may also help reduce the stress of traveling.
- In warm weather, carry a spray bottle to periodically moisten your bird’s feathers.
- Have recent photos available, and keep your bird’s leg bands on for identification.
- If the carrier does not have a perch, line it for paper towels that you can change frequently.
- Keep the carrier in as quiet an area as possible.
- It is particularly imperative that birds eat on a daily basis, so purchase a timed feeder. If you need to leave your bird unexpectedly, the feeder will ensure his daily feeding schedule.
- Items to keep on hand: Catch net, heavy towel, blanket or sheet to cover cage, cage liner.
Special considerations for reptiles
- A snake may be transported in a pillowcase, but you should have permanent and secure housing for him when you reach a safe place.
- Take a sturdy bowl that is large for your pet to soak in. It’s also a good idea to bring along a heating pad or other warming device, such as a hot water bottle.
- Lizards can be transported like birds (see above).
Special considerations for small animals
- Small animals, such as hamsters, gerbils, mice and guinea pigs, should be transported in secure carriers with bedding materials, food and food bowls.
- Items to keep on hand: Salt lick, extra water bottle, small hidebox or tube, a week’s worth of bedding.
Contact Brittany Van Voorhees at bvanvoorhe@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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