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home . pet health . pet health articles . hurricane pet plan

Hurricane!

In the event of a hurricane hitting Lee County, do you have a plan for your pet or pets? In Dade County, thousands of pets died or were lost or injured due to their owners being unprepared for Hurricane Andrew.

Preparedness means planning ahead. We will assume you know what to do for yourself and your family; these points are listed in the newspapers and on TV.

For your pets, identification is paramount. Rabies tags, county licenses, and nametags on collars are helpful, but can come off. More permanent forms of ID such as tattoos or microchips are recommended. Our clinic has both of these modes of identification available for your pet.

You should have at least a two-week supply of pet food and drinking water for each pet, and heartworm preventative and other medications if needed. It is important that your pet be current on all vaccinations, because of the increased likelihood of exposure to stray or wild animals.

If you evacuate, you must have a plan for your pets. You should have travel cages for all animals, with the possible exception of dogs. Kitty litter for cats and newspapers and other bedding for birds, reptiles, and pocket pets should be stockpiled.

If you plan to board your pets, realize that boarding facilities may be filled and plan accordingly. Some facilities may be inappropriate for boarding. For example, Coral Veterinary Clinic is in a flood zone and is an area under evacuation orders for Category 1 storms and up, so we do not recommend boarding your pet at the clinic in the event of a hurricane. Most motels and all hurricane shelters do not allow pets, so you should try to locate an inland haven where you can take pets ahead of time. Boarding kennels, sympathetic motels, friends, or relatives are possibilities.

If you elect to stay in your home during the storm, have your house prepared, of course. Have all pets, except possibly dogs, in cages in the interior of the house. Remove toys and cover cages with towels or sheets to protect from flying glass. If you are an aviculturist, herpetologist, or have a mini-zoo that you cannot evacuate, register with your local clubs or organizations and formulate a disaster plan that works for you.

For more detailed advice about hurricane guidelines for pet owner, ask for a free hurricane brochure at the clinic. The Caloosa Veterinary Society, Inc. has prepared an excellent, in-depth, 8-page brochure on animal hurricane preparedness, which should be necessary for all pet owners living in Florida.

Remember--your pets are your responsibility. Your stewardship must include getting them through disasters like hurricanes. BE PREPARED!!!