8 Steps that Will Ensure Your Dog's Safety if a Hurricane Strikes
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Aside from depending on us for critical necessities such as food and water, love and attention, and health care, our dogs (as well as other animals and pets) also rely on us to keep them safe in the face of disaster. It is our responsibility to protect them in every way and know what steps to take should a disaster strike. There is a wide array of "natural" disasters that we are exposed to and certain ones are more prevalent than others in specific areas of the country compared to others.
Natural disasters include blizzards, earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. However, since 2001 a "man-made" disaster has also become a cause for concern - specifically, terrorist attacks. Suffice it to say, preparedness is the key issue here, so proper planning is paramount regardless of whether the disaster is man-made or natural. But for the purposes of this content we are going to focus on that natural disaster that plagues the Atlantic and Gulf states of the US - hurricanes.
Unfortunately, even prior to the onset of Katrina, there were no laws in place mandating the protection of animals from this venue. Additionally, there were no types of services in existence that handled issues such as evacuation, rescuing, and sheltering when a state of emergency had been declared. When New Orleans was devastated by Katrina, it was estimated that over 600,000 animals were abandoned, left behind, and deserted. Even worse, hundreds died from drowning, illness, and starvation.
Katrina's wake of destruction and devastation forced many local governments to either create new policies or upgrade current ones for the sake of these animals and pets. Local animal rescue operations as well as a variety of specific agencies have collaborated with federal, state, and local governments in order to protect our four-legged loved ones in the face of disasters and emergencies.
The key is to implement a viable plan of action in the home in order to protect your animals as well as your family and yourself. Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing what results when households and communities are ill-prepared for these situations. The following is a list of the 8 steps that you should take to ensure the safety of your dog and other household pets.
1. If you have more than one pet, your neighbor's assistance may be required, so don't hesitate to ask them for help.
2. If you are away from home when disaster strikes, make sure that your plan includes having someone to rescue your pets.
3. Until it is safe for you to return home, make sure you have a place in mind where you can take your pet so that they remain unharmed
4. "Crate-train" your dog so that they are evacuated without any difficulties.
5. Never wait until the last minute - if there has been sufficient notice given of an impending disaster, head for safety immediately
6. Whether or not the disaster actually strikes is not as important as playing it safe and using common sense - evacuate until you are guaranteed that the coast is clear.
7. Just as you would provide for you and your family, make sure that you have assembled a disaster preparedness kit for your dog. Include the following items in that kit:
* can opener * crate * first aid kit * harnesses and leashes * newspaper or potty pads * three-day supply of food and water for each pet
8. Above all else, make sure that your dog is wearing a proper ID tag identifying their name, address, and a contact number (preferably a cell phone number).
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