Handouts:

Handout 1Print Handout 1

What Will Happen to Your Pets If ,,, ?

Directions:  Read each imaginary event below.  In your group, decide what would be the best plan of action for taking care of your family pets.  Write your answers in complete sentences below.

What will happen to your pets if…?: 

1. You play on a traveling hockey team. Your team has made it to the regional championships.  The game will be played in a city that is 100 miles from your home. It will take about two hours to drive to the game.  All of your family members are coming along to watch.  Your dog and two cats are at home.  The family’s plan is to drive to the game and then to drive back home in the same day. Unfortunately a very big snow storm called a blizzard hits the town. You and your family are stranded and can’t get back home because the roads are closed due to the storm. Rescue people are able to get your family to a hotel, but you have to spend the night.  Your pets are home alone and need to be taken care of. What would you do?
   
   
   
   
   
    
2. Your home is located near a forest.  Every year your family hears about wildfires that burn close to your home, but they have always been contained before they got too close to your home.  This year the weather has been very dry and the wildfires are burning out of control very near your home.  The officials in your city have said that you must evacuate your home. What do you do with your pets?
   
   
   
   
   
    
3. You and your family are spending the evening watching TV together.  There have been thunderstorms in the area all day.  The local weather person breaks into the program and says that a Tornado Warning has been issued for your area and you should seek shelter immediately.  A tornado warning means that a tornado has actually touched down on the ground in your area.  What is your family’s plan?
   
   
   
   
   
    
4. Your family lives in a home very near a river. Sometimes when it rains very hard the river get very close to overflowing its banks. The river even ran out of the banks once and came almost up to the back of your house.This year has been a very rainy year and the river has risen above its banks.  The local authorities have said that the river will flood its banks in the next forty-eight hours and have told people living along the river to evacuate.  What plan does your family have for keeping your family and pets safe?
    

Handout 2Print Handout 2

Top Ten Emergency Pet Planning Tips

Information Guide

1. Take your pets with you or to a safe location. Pets left behind during a disaster may be injured, lost or killed.
   
    
2. Prepare a list of boarding facilities for your pet, or ask friends and relatives who don’t live in your neighborhood if they would be willing to take care of your pets in an emergency.
   
    
3. At the first sign of a disaster ask a parent or guardian to phone ahead to make arrangements for boarding your pet.
   
    
4. Don’t bring your pets to an evacuation shelter as they may not be allowed in.
   
    
5. Make sure animals wear collars with ID tags at all times, and dogs should be kept on a leash.
   
    
6. Keep a pet traveling kit and emergency supplies on hand.
   
    
7. Bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster.
   
    
8. If you have more than one pet, keep them in separate carriers or on different leashes. Pets may get frightened during a disaster and may act differently than usual with other animals.
   
    
9. It is smart to keep pets in a carrier during the emergency. This makes pets feel safer and more secure.
   
    
10. Finally make a detailed plan including all of the above tips, and keep it in a handy place.

Adapted from the ASPCA® Animaland pages
www.aspca.org

Handout 3Print Handout 3

Pet Emergency Check List

Directions:  Fill in the location of each item for your personal pets or pets of family members. If you don’t have a pet, you may write about any pets that you can think of.
Type of Pet _________________ (Dog, Cat, bird, etc.)

Handout 4Print Handout 4

Being Prepared

Being Prepared
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=pets_emergency

Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to permanent evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe. The best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared.

Step 1   Get a Rescue Alert Sticker
This easy-to-use sticker will let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers, and that it includes:

1. the types and number of pets in your household;
2. the name of your veterinarian; and
3. your veterinarian's phone number. If you must evacuate with your pets, and if time allows, write "EVACUATED" across the stickers.
   To get an emergency pet alert sticker for your home, please fill out our online order form; please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Your local pet supply store may also sell similar stickers.

Step 2   Arrange a Safe Haven
Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND. Remember, if it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pets. They may become trapped or escape and be exposed to numerous life-threatening hazards. Note that Red Cross disaster shelters will not accept pets because of health and safety regulations, so it is imperative that you have determined where you will bring your pets ahead of time:

• Contact your veterinarian for a list of preferred boarding kennels and facilities.
• Ask your local animal shelter if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
• Identify hotels or motels outside of your immediate area that accept pets.
• Ask friends and relatives outside your immediate area if they would be willing to take in your pet.

Step 3   Emergency Supplies and Traveling Kits
Keep an Evac-Pack and supplies handy for your pets. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is. This kit should be clearly labeled and easy to carry. Items to consider keeping in or near your pack include:

• Pet first-aid kit and guide book (ask your vet what to include, or visit the ASPCA Store to buy one online)
• 3-7 days' worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food (be sure to rotate every two months)
• Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
• Litter or paper toweling
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
• Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
• Pet feeding dishes
• Extra harness and leash (Note: harnesses are recommended for safety and security)
• Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires (Remember, food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit—otherwise they may go bad or become useless.)
• Bottled water, at least 7 days' worth for each person and pet (store in a cool, dry place and replace every two months)
• A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
• Flashlight
• Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
• Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)
• Especially for cats: Pillowcase or EvackSack, toys, scoopable litter
• Especially for dogs: Long leash and yard stake, toys and chew toys, a week's worth of cage liner.

You should also have an emergency kit for the human members of the family. Items to include: batteries, duct tape, flashlight, radio, multi-tool, tarp, rope, permanent marker, spray paint, baby wipes, protective clothing and footwear, extra cash, rescue whistle, important phone numbers, extra medication and copies of medical and insurance information.

Step 4   Choose “Designated Caregivers”
This step will take considerable time and thought. When choosing a temporary caregiver, consider someone who lives close to your residence. He or she should be someone who is generally home during the day while you are at work or has easy access to your home. A set of keys should be given to this trusted individual. This may work well with neighbors who have pets of their own—you may even swap responsibilities, depending upon who has accessibility.

When selecting a permanent caregiver, you’ll need to consider other criteria. This is a person to whom you are entrusting the care of your pet in the event that something should happen to you. When selecting this "foster parent," consider people who have met your pet and have successfully cared for animals in the past. Be sure to discuss your expectations at length with a permanent caregiver, so he or she understands the responsibility of caring for your pet.  For information about pet trusts go to
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=donate_planned_pettrusts.

Step 5  Evacuation Preparation
If you must evacuate your home in a crisis, plan for the worst-case scenario. If you think you may be gone for only a day, assume that you may not be allowed to return for several weeks. When recommendations for evacuation have been announced, follow the instructions of local and state officials. To minimize evacuation time, take these simple steps:

• Store an emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible.
• Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Your pet's ID tag should contain his name, telephone number, and any urgent medical needs. Be sure to write your pet's name, your name and contact information on your pet's carrier.
• The ASPCA recommends microchipping your pet as a more permanent form of identification. A microchip is implanted in the animal's shoulder area, and can be read by scanner at most animal shelters.
• Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and wander away from home during a crisis.
  Consider your evacuation route and call ahead to make arrangements for boarding your pet outside of the danger zone at the first sign of disaster.

Step 6   Geographic and Climatic Considerations
Do you live in an area that is prone to certain natural catastrophes, such as tornadoes, earthquakes or floods? If so, you should plan accordingly.

• Determine well in advance which rooms offer safe havens. These rooms should be clear of hazards such as windows, flying debris, etc.
• Choose easy-to-clean areas such as utility rooms, bathrooms, and basements as safe zones.
• Access to a supply of fresh water is particularly important. In areas that may lose electricity, fill up bathtubs and sinks ahead of time to ensure that you have access to water during a power outage or other crises.
• In the event of flooding, go to the highest location in your home, or a room that has access to counters or high shelves where your animals can take shelter.

If emergency officials recommend that you stay in your home, it's crucial that you keep your pets with you. Keep your Evac-Pack and supplies close at hand. Your pets may become stressed during the in-house confinement, so you may consider crating them for safety and comfort.

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