DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Shopping For Your Pet

By Terri Crisp.
Taken from Dog Magazine. Used by permission.

Are you prepared to take care of your pet(s) when a disaster strikes? If not, NOW is the time to stock up on the things that you will need to take care of the pet(s) in your household. Listed below is a shopping list for you to use. Don't put off doing what you should do now - it may just make the difference between being able to save the life of your pet(s).

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Here are the supplies that you should have in your disaster kit for the dog(s) in your household.

Check-Off: Item: Notes:

1. Food

use the brand that your dog is used to
have both dry and canned (if that is what your dog normally eats) to last one week for each of the dogs in your household
buy cans small enough to be used at one feeding since you may not have a way to properly refrigerate a partially used can of food - if possible, buy pop top cans so you do not need a can opener (if not available, be sure to have a can opener in your supplies)
be sure to rotate the food so it remains fresh
include in your supplies a feeding dish, in case the one you usually use is destroyed or lost
include in your supplies a spoon to scoop/mix the food

2. Water

have enough water to last at least one week for each of the dogs in your household
be sure to rotate the water so it remains fresh
include in your supplies a water dish, in case the one you usually use is destroyed or lost

3. Sanitation

have a pooper scooper in your supplies for picking up after your dog
have some plastic bags in your supplies for disposing of your dog's waste

4. Cleaning Supplies

small container of dish soap for cleaning out your dogs dishes
paper towels for drying dishes and for other cleaning

5. Collar and Tag

a proper fitting collar tag should be kept on your dog at all times, but an extra one should be kept with your supplies should the permanent one get lost durring a disaster
have a spare temporary tag in your supplies that you can write on - if you are going to be living somewhere else for a period of time, put the temporary phone number and address on the tag
keep a proper fitting dog harness in your supplies to be used when you walk your dog - this is a stressful time for pets too and a frightened animal can slip out of a collar, but not a harness

6. Leash

you should keep in your supplies a leash for walking your dog - the expandable kind is good, especially if your dog is not used to being walked

7. Confining Your Dog

you may wish to purchase a plastic airline crate or a collapsible wire crate to transport your dog in should you have to evacuate and/or to keep it in following the disaster (remember that fences will likely be down in the aftermath of a disaster) - be sure the crate is large enough for your animal to lie down and allow room for food or a water dish
you may wish to purchase a metal stake that twists into the ground with a place to fasten a chain for your dog - be sure if you stake the dog out to provide protection from the hot sun, extreme cold, snow, or rain
when staking a dog out, be sure and use a chain and not a leash that the dog can chew through - also make sure the dog is not chained in a place that he can fall off something and hang himself (for example an elevated porch)

8. First Aid Kit

You should have in your supplies a basic first aid kit, along with a first aid book for dogs - here are some basic items to include in that kit:

conforming bandage (3" x 5")
absorbent gauze pads (4" x 4")
absorbent gauze roll (3" x 1 yard)
cotton tipped applicators (one box)
antiseptic wipes (one package)
emollient cream (one container)
tweezers and scissors
instant cold pack
latex disposable gloves (several pair)

Check-Off:	Item:	Notes:
	1. Food	use the brand that your dog is used to have both dry and canned (if that is what your dog normally eats) to last one week for each of the dogs in your household buy cans small enough to be used at one feeding since you may not have a way to properly refrigerate a partially used can of food - if possible, buy pop top cans so you do not need a can opener (if not available, be sure to have a can opener in your supplies) be sure to rotate the food so it remains fresh include in your supplies a feeding dish, in case the one you usually use is destroyed or lost include in your supplies a spoon to scoop/mix the food
	2. Water	have enough water to last at least one week for each of the dogs in your household be sure to rotate the water so it remains fresh include in your supplies a water dish, in case the one you usually use is destroyed or lost
	3. Sanitation	have a pooper scooper in your supplies for picking up after your dog have some plastic bags in your supplies for disposing of your dog's waste
	4. Cleaning Supplies	small container of dish soap for cleaning out your dogs dishes paper towels for drying dishes and for other cleaning
	5. Collar and Tag	a proper fitting collar tag should be kept on your dog at all times, but an extra one should be kept with your supplies should the permanent one get lost durring a disaster have a spare temporary tag in your supplies that you can write on - if you are going to be living somewhere else for a period of time, put the temporary phone number and address on the tag keep a proper fitting dog harness in your supplies to be used when you walk your dog - this is a stressful time for pets too and a frightened animal can slip out of a collar, but not a harness
	6. Leash	you should keep in your supplies a leash for walking your dog - the expandable kind is good, especially if your dog is not used to being walked
	7. Confining Your Dog	you may wish to purchase a plastic airline crate or a collapsible wire crate to transport your dog in should you have to evacuate and/or to keep it in following the disaster (remember that fences will likely be down in the aftermath of a disaster) - be sure the crate is large enough for your animal to lie down and allow room for food or a water dish you may wish to purchase a metal stake that twists into the ground with a place to fasten a chain for your dog - be sure if you stake the dog out to provide protection from the hot sun, extreme cold, snow, or rain when staking a dog out, be sure and use a chain and not a leash that the dog can chew through - also make sure the dog is not chained in a place that he can fall off something and hang himself (for example an elevated porch)
	8. First Aid Kit	You should have in your supplies a basic first aid kit, along with a first aid book for dogs - here are some basic items to include in that kit: conforming bandage (3" x 5") absorbent gauze pads (4" x 4") absorbent gauze roll (3" x 1 yard) cotton tipped applicators (one box) antiseptic wipes (one package) emollient cream (one container) tweezers and scissors instant cold pack latex disposable gloves (several pair)

If you would like more information about being prepared to take care of your pets durring a disaster, or becoming a trained disaster volunteer for animals, contact:

United Animal Nations, Emergency Animal Rescue Service Program, P.O. Box 188890, Sacramento, CA 95818 916/429-2457

Check out Terri Crisp's book "Out Of Harm's Way" published by Pocket Books. It can be found at any major book store. The last 63 pages of the book include detailed tips on how to prepare animals for disasters.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Shopping For Your Pet

By Terri Crisp. Taken from Dog Magazine. Used by permission.

--- DOGS ---

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Shopping For Your Pet

By Terri Crisp.
Taken from Dog Magazine. Used by permission.