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12-30-02
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In case of an emergency, it's important to
make sure your pets are taken care of.
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Emergency Pet Preparedness:
What To Do
(NAPSA)-The American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has launched a campaign featuring Kim Cattrall,
who stars on the HBO series "Sex and the City," to educate Americans
about the importance of emergency pet preparedness. Emergencies come in
many different forms, and there are a number of ways to ensure that pets
are taken care of:
- Rescue Alert Card: This easy-to-fill-out card will alert people that
pets are inside your home in the event there is an emergency. It contains
types and names of pets in your household, contact number for an alternate
caretaker and other information, such as urgent medical needs. Contact
the ASPCA at beprepared@aspca.org for an emergency pet sticker for your
home.
- Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation: Do
not leave your pets behind. If you do so, they may be at risk for injury
or even worse. Red Cross disaster shelters will not accept pets, so
it is imperative that you have researched where to bring your pets ahead
of time.
- Emergency Supplies and Travel Kit: Keep an emergency kit handy for
your pets. Your emergency kit should contain a pet first aid kit and
book, pop-top food cans or dry food, disposable litter trays, litter
or paper toweling, pet feeding dishes, extra leash, photocopies of medical
records and a two-week supply of any medicine your pet needs in a waterproof
container, bottled water, a pet traveling bag or sturdy carrier, flashlight,
blanket and photos of your pets.
- Choose "designated caregivers": This step is something that
should take considerable time and thought. You should make plans for
a temporary home for your pets, until you can reach them in the event
of an unexpected disaster. Also be sure to arrange for a permanent home
for them if you are no longer able to care for them.
- Evacuation Preparation: Time is of the essence if it is necessary
to evacuate your home. It is important to: store an emergency kit and
leashes as close to a door as possible, make sure all pets are collared
with up-to-date identification, always bring pets indoors at the first
sign or warning of a storm or disaster, consider your evacuation route
and call ahead to make arrangements for boarding your pet outside of
the danger zone at the first sign of disaster.
- Geographical/Climatic Considerations: You may live in an area that's
prone to certain natural, catastrophic phenomena, such as tornadoes,
earthquakes or floods. If this is so, then you should plan accordingly.
A step-by-step guide for emergency pet preparedness
can be found on the ASPCA Web site at www.aspca.org.
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