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P.O. Box 1015 Waldorf, MD 20604-1015
Phone: 301 645-8181

5/26/2001. From the American Humane Association
Your Pets Need You Even More When Disaster Strikes

When disaster strikes, you're still in charge of your pet

When disaster strikes a community, phone lines can go down, public facilities can become overwhelmed, and essential services- like water- can be unavailable. So what can you do to ensure your pet is cared for during and , especially , after a disaster?

First, don't leave your pet behind if you leave or evacuate! If its unsafe for you, its certainly unsafe for your pet. But evacuation shelters rarely accept animals, so plan now. Gather the addresses and phone numbers of hotels, friends, pet sitters, kennels, and veterinary offices- outside of your area or where a disaster is likely to strike- that could take your pet in case of an emergency.

Second, make sure your pet wears a current ID tag, in case you are separated. You might even put an out of state contact on the other side of the tag, since you may not be at your home after a disaster.

Third, keep a copy of your pet's vaccinations handy, so you can board your pet or leave the state and have the records with you.

And finally, keep essential pet supplies- food, water, medications, leash and pet carrier- on hand.

If you wait until disaster strikes to consider these things, you're likely to overlook something essential or may not have the resources or time to solve the dilemma (like who can care for your pet). Please, plan now.