Don’t forget to prepare for your pets!

Dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses, even livestock need advance thought for what would happen if a disaster struck you or your area. Don’t forget that this can include small things. What if, without warning, you can’t make it home one night. You have a dog that needs to be walked, fed, and possibly needs medicine. Some people would say, oh well, there will be a mess to take care of, but I’ll do that tomorrow. Don’t ignore your animals! Cats, birds and other animals need care and attention too. Even if you think the cat doesn’t pay any attention to you, that same cat knows that you are not home filling the food and water bowl.

Sometimes that is a small need, where you can’t make it home for a night or two. Other times, it is more urgent. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other natural disasters have an effect on pets as well as people. Too many pets are left stranded after a natural disaster. Pet shelters step in to fill the need, but good planning is even more helpful. Having a safety plan for yourself and your pets is necessary.