Disaster kits for pets

What about your four-legged family?  There are numerous websites that provide helpful lists of what should be in your pet’s emergency kit, but as a dog trainer, I would like to discuss some additional considerations in preparing your dog for the emergency as well as some suggestions about the items your choose for your kit. 

Here is what is in my kit, which is assembled in a gym bag and ready to go. 

 

3 Day Supply of Emergency Pet Food:

Most people think they will just grab some of their pet’s food as they go out the door, but in an emergency situation, will you have time to do that?  Will your food travel well? Grabbing what is left in a 30 pound bag of dog food may not be convenient or practical.  I keep freeze dried beef in my kit.  The brand I use has 5 patties in a bag and weighs under a pound.  This is actually enough to feed my dog for 5 days.  For my cat, I keep freeze dried salmon, which comes in a container that weighs less than 2 ounces and can feed my cat for about three days. 

 

It’s a good idea to introduce your emergency food to your pet BEFORE an emergency.  I suggest using the freeze dried products every week or so as a treat.  This will alert you to any food allergies and gets your pets accustomed to the food.  Additionally, doing so will enable you to rotate the supply in your disaster kit so that you always have fresh food in the kit.

 

Pet First Aid Kit:

Most of the pet first aid kits available for sale are adequate.  The important thing to consider is:  Do I know how to use the items in the kit?  Make sure your first aid kit has a guide book or that you receive some basic training in pet first aid.

 

Leash and Harness:

It is important to have an extra leash and harness in your kit for each of your animals.  I prefer a harness in an emergency because if you must pull your animal out of danger it is easier and safer to do with a harness than a collar.  Your pets must be familiar with the harness prior to an emergency.  Put the harness on your pets from time to time so they become accustomed to it.  Reward them for wearing it.  

Muzzle:

Many pet emergency kit lists do not mention a muzzle, but I think it is one of the most important items to have for your dog.  In an emergency situation, you and your pet may be frightened or under duress, and it is difficult to predict an animal’s behavior under such circumstances.  For example, your pet may perceive a rescue worker trying to help you as someone trying to harm you.  Having a muzzle will help diffuse this situation.  It will also put others at ease.  In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many pets were left behind by rescue workers because of limited resources and concern for the safety of others.  Having your pet muzzled might save precious time in a rescue situation when rescue workers can quickly assess that your dog can not bite them. 

                                       

I recommend a nylon muzzle that has been properly fitted for your pet.  This style allows your dog to drink, eat, and even bark, but prevents the mouth from opening enough to place a bite.  Like the harness, the muzzle must be introduced to your pet prior to an emergency.  Train your dog with the muzzle on, and reward him for wearing it.  Prior practice throughout the year will avoid extra problems should you need to use it. 

 

Litter pan and litter:

I recommend an aluminum cooking pan for an emergency litter box.  These are available at a minimal cost from discount or party supply stores. You should have enough litter bagged up to provide about one inch of coverage in the pan.  Scoopable litter is best because you can keep it clean without having to dump the whole pan.

 

Crate:

You need to have a crate for each animal.  I like the foldable travel crates because they are easy to grab and do not take up much space.  Like the rest of the items on my list, you need to train with that crate.  Use it every once in a while to ensure that your dog or cat does not get panicked from it.  Feed your pets in it a few times a year so the crate is a positive place. If it’s been years since you used a crate, placing your dog back into one in an

emergency could cause the dog to become stressed.  Once again, practice will make this much easier on everyone involved!

 

If you have multiple animals, you need multiple crates.  Do not put two animals in one crate.   The perception that animals who live together could do fine sharing a crate is not necessarily accurate.  In your house, they have a way to get a way from each other; in a crate they do not.  Also, in a true emergency, your pets may be stressed or scared and problems could develop that would not in any other circumstance.

 

Here are some other items that should be in your kit:

 

Current photos of your pets

Medical records

Disposable trash bags for clean ups

Towels (drying of pets, covering crates, grabbing panicked animals)

Medications that your pets may be on (rotated to ensure current medication)

Disinfectant

Bottled water

Food