Photos: 14 essential tips to keep your pets safe during...

Metro Atlanta

Photos: 14 essential tips to keep your pets safe during hurricane season

Pet owners can prepare for hurricane season by following these simple but important tips.

Hurricanes are frightening for both pets and people. By taking steps to protect your pets before a hurricane strikes, you can increase their survival rate and reduce the stress that natural disasters can cause pets. If your pets live outdoors, bring them in at the very first sign of an approaching hurricane. Create a safe space indoors, ideally with a crate where the pet can retreat if it is frightened.

While it is strongly discouraged, in the event that you have to leave your pets behind during a hurricane, make sure to have a window decal that alerts emergency authorities to how many pets are inside the home. The ASPCA offers such a decal free of charge.

Keep in mind that not all emergency shelters will accept animals. You may need to board your animal as a hurricane approaches. Start with your veterinary clinic, and see if they offer boarding options in disaster situations. If not, they should be able to recommend reputable boarding facilities that are far enough inland to offer a safe haven for your pet.

If you do need to board your animal during a hurricane, keep in mind that most facilities will require up-to-date vaccinations. Don’t wait until just before the storm strikes; vaccinations can take up to two weeks to be effective.

Just as with the human members of your family, pets need a first aid kit when preparing for a hurricane. Stock the kit with medical records, bandaging material, gloves, tweezers, antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment.

Don’t forget your pet’s medications. It may be difficult to access a veterinary clinic or pharmacy during a hurricane. When you get to your safe location, make note of the nearest animal clinic in case of a medical emergency. Ask for medications like antibiotics in pill form, which offers a longer shelf life than other medication forms.

The ASPCA recommends bringing along up to a week’s worth of pet food in the case of a hurricane evacuation. If you plan a hurricane preparation kit for your pets well in advance, check dates to make sure food has not expired.

Pack enough fresh drinking water for the human and animal members of your family. Contaminated water is dangerous for pets just as it is for humans. Buy enough bottled water for up to two weeks, or plan on purifying water, either by boiling it or using a decontamination solution.

In the event that your pet becomes separated from you during a hurricane, having an ID tag or being microchipped can make all of the difference in you and your pet having a happy reunion after the storm.

Pets should have a crate that they can safely be transported in and that can be used as a sleeping spot in temporary living quarters. Place familiar items from home in the crate to help your pet adjust. If you are staying at a shelter that allows pets, a crate for cats should be big enough to fit a litterbox as well as food and water dishes.

Cats may become stressed out during a hurricane evacuation situation. They may run and hide in difficult places to reach, like a basement or attic. Consider having a safety net if all other forms of retrieving your animal fail. Use the net to secure the pet, then deposit it into a crate for safekeeping.

Pets are sensitive creatures that may become stressed in the midst of a natural disaster like a hurricane and a sudden change in environment. Bring a favorite pet blanket or bed that will soothe your pet with the scent of home. Include a favorite toy to remind your pet of home and help reduce stress.

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Hurricanes are frightening for both pets and people. By taking steps to protect your pets before a hurricane strikes, you can increase their survival rate and reduce the stress that natural disasters can cause pets. If your pets live outdoors, bring them in at the very first sign of an approaching hurricane. Create a safe space indoors, ideally with a crate where the pet can retreat if it is frightened.

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