This morning on KSEE Sunrise Brittnee Maxfield from the Valley Animal Shelter explained how to keep our pets safe during a disaster.
The Valley Animal Center will present a workshop for pet owners to teach them what they need to do to keep their pet safe during a disaster. “Saving the Whole Family: Disaster Preparedness for Pet Guardians” will be held on Thursday, November 20th at 6 p.m. the Valley Animal Center, 3934 N. Hayston (near Cedar and Dakota) in Fresno. The workshop is free of charge.
The workshop will be conducted by Naomi Flam of the Community Emergency Response Team, an organization that educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills and Beth Caffrey, Humane Education Administrator of the Central California SPCA.
“When a disaster hits or a warning has been issued it is not the time to be thinking about what you will be doing with your pets,” said Jessica Handly, Humane Education Coordinator for the Valley Animal Center. “Responsible pet owners should have a plan on how their pets will be cared for in a time of emergency.”
Space for the workshop is limited. To register for the workshop or for more information please contact Jessica Handly at (559) 233-8690 or email her at valleyanimal@sbcglobal.net.
CREATING EMERGENCY KITS
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR YOUR PETS
by: Naomi E. Flam & Jan Anderson, CERT Instructors
Emergency Kit For Dogs
Emergency contact list
Crate or other pet carrier for each pet (collapsible & FAA approved)
Photos of you and your dogs together!
Minimum of 7 days of food and water -- Feeding instructions
No-spill food and water bowls
A manual can opener & spoons
Extra collar or harness with ID tag
Extra leashes
Muzzles
Vaccination & medical records
Provide a pre-signed vet medical treatment authorization with evacuation kit
Extra supply of medications with instructions
First-aid supplies
Sanitation: doggy bags, plastic trash bags, paper towels, newspapers, etc.
Favorite toys, treats, blankets
Stakes and tie-outsb;
Wire cutters (if your dog is in a dog run – may need to cut the wiring/fencing)
Emergency Kit For Cats (In addition to the above)
Photos of you and your cat together!
Sanitation: litter box, litter, litter scoop, plastic bags, deodorizer
Cat Carrier - non-cardboard carrier
Towel for restraint if necessary
Emergency Kit For Pocket Pets (guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, rabbits)
Have a secure carrier/cage with cover
Extra bedding materials
Appropriate exercise equipment
Necessary dietary supplements
Emergency Kit For Birds
A secure cage with cover & perch
Extra materials to line cage
Plant mister
Hot water bottle
Toys
Emergency Kit For Reptiles
A secure carrier, pillowcase or cloth sack
Week supply of cage liners
Water bowl for soaking
Spray bottle for misting
Heating pad
Necessary dietary supplements
Extra bags or newspapers
Emergency Kit For Fish
A bucket to transport fish / fish net
Water conditioner to dechlorinate water
Small water test kit and chemicals
Supply of sea salt
Electrical extension cords
Small immersible heater with thermostat
Small water pump / pump cleaner or strainer to clean bottom gravel
Emergency Kit for Horses
7-10 day supply of feed & water
Salt lick
Batteries
Proof of ownership
Blankets
Fly spray
Grooming brushes
Hoof knife, nippers, pick, rasp
Leg wraps or leg quilts
Non-nylon halters & leads (leather/cotton); tie-out ropes
Fence panels to create small enclosures
Rope or lariat
Wire cutters
Manure fork
Emergency Kit For Livestock
7-10 day supply of feed & water
Batteries
Proof of ownership
Cotton halter
Heavy gloves
Portable livestock panels
Rope or lariat
Shovel
Water buckets (or clean large garbage bags that can hold water)
Wire cutters
EVACUATING WITH YOUR PETS – Plan on it!
Plan on evacuating with your pets!!
Make sure pets have some form of ID besides collar & tags – preferably microchip
Practice evacuation of family and pets – make sure everyone fits into your vehicle
Create pet emergency supply kits
Plan which family members may take your pets if necessary
Contact pet-friendly facilities for housing
Get your vet involved!
WHAT IF YOU ARE NOT HOME?
Develop a “buddy” system
- Provide contact information
- Provide evacuation plans
- Show location of pet emergency kit
- Instructions how to care for pets
Post alert signs on doors
Indicate favorite hiding places
SHELTER-IN-PLACE (Staying at Home)
Identify safe area in home
Put emergency supplies in safe room
Keep pets under your direct control
Keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers
Close off all openings to outside
EVACUATING WITHOUT PETS – The LAST Resort!
Leave them inside of home
Do not leave tied up outside
Don’t leave unfamiliar foods or treats
Provide water in a heavy bowl
Rescue Alert Stickers (www.aspca.org)
Let’s rescue workers know that pets are inside your home.
Information should include
Types and number of pets
Your contact information
Veterinarian contact information
EVACUATING HORSES (Reference: Humane Society of the US)
Develop a buddy system
Make arrangements in advance to have your horse trailered in case of an emergency. If you do not have your own trailer or do not have enough trailer space for all of your horses, be sure you have several people on standby to help evacuate your horses.
Know where you can take your horses in an emergency evacuation. Locate and prearrange an evacuation site outside of your immediate area
Fairgrounds -Pastures
Stables -Race Tracks
Livestock corrals -Stockyard or auction facilities
Boarding facilities
Make arrangements with a friend or another horse owner to stable your horses if needed. Contact your local animal care and control agency, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management authorities for information about shelters in your area.
Inform friends and neighbors of your evacuation plans. Post detailed instructions in several places—including the barn office or tack room, the horse trailer, and barn entrances—to ensure they are accessible to emergency workers in case you are not able to evacuate your horses yourself.
Place your horses' Coggins tests, veterinary papers, identification photographs, and vital information—such as medical history, allergies, and emergency telephone numbers (veterinarian, family members, etc.)—in a watertight envelope. Store the envelope with your other important papers in a safe place that can be quickly reached.
Keep halters ready for your horses. Each halter should include the following information: the horse's name, your name, your telephone number, and another emergency telephone number where someone can be reached.
Prepare a basic first aid kit that is portable and easily accessible.
Be sure to have on hand a supply of water, hay, feed, and medications for several days for each horse you are evacuating.
EVACUATING HORSES (Continued)
It is important that your horses are comfortable being loaded onto a trailer. If your horses are unaccustomed to being loaded onto a trailer, practice the procedure so they become used to it.
There may be times when taking your horses with you is impossible during an emergency. So you must consider different types of disasters and whether your horses would be better off in a barn or loose in a field. Your local humane organization, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management agency may be able to provide you with information about your community's disaster response plans.
Additional Training For Disaster Preparedness
Fresno Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
American Red Cross
Additional Resources for Disaster Preparedness For Animals
American Veterinary Medical Association
Humane Society of the USA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
United Animal Nations
Code 3 Associates
American Humane
References: American Veterinary Medical Association – Saving The Whole Family, Humane Society of the US; ASPCA
