Not your usual end-of-year appeal

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• First, please care for animals who still
  need and deserve homes for the holidays and beyond.
• Be alert to cats and dogs who need rescue and
  love, as well as the warmth a home would offer. You might check your area animal shelter and
  ask around: does anyone know of a needy homeless pet during this season of
  giving?  
• Second, assemble a pet disaster kit.    

Yes, this winter-holiday hubbub will die down, and yes,
you’ll get past all the shopping, wrapping, visiting and
festivating.  Then, before the next extreme
event of any kind can happen — and you know one of them is bound to affect
you, me and us at some time! — this appeal: 
please make time to assure your pets’ safety before disaster strikes. 

 Tips to keep companion animals safe in time of
disaster

Never Leave Your Pet Home
Alone
The safest place for your pet
is with you, so if you must evacuate, take your animals along.
Check Boarding Place
Make sure it’s not in a flood
plain and will be attended throughout a storm. Ask if crates are available for
transport and if they have an evacuation plan – and get their emergency contact
number.
Ask For Help
If you live in a high-risk
area, arrange ahead of time for you and your pet to ride out the storm with
friends in safe zones. Or check with hotels in safe areas to see if they will
permit you to stay there with your pet.
Have Carriers Ready
Make sure travel carriers are
safe, the right size, and easily available. And make your pet’s carrier a fun
and safe place throughout the year by adding treats, toys and meals on a
routine basis.
Have Medication Plan Ready
Talk to your veterinarian about
medication options if your pet is fearful of thunder or travel.
Prepare a Travel Kit
Include food, water, bedding,
towels, medical supplies, bathing supplies, flea/tick control and leashes – and
have enough of everything to last two weeks.
Provide Plenty of ID
Do not assume your owner tag
will immediately reunite you with your pet. If your neighborhood is evacuated
and phone lines are down, or your pet is lost during travel, it may be months
before you are contacted. Include several forms of ID on your pet’s collar,
including a temporary tag with the phone number of a friend or relative outside
your immediate area.
Microchip Your Pet
Make sure your chip is
registered and that the contact information is updated. Keep current photos.
Always have current photos of your pet with you – they can greatly aid in reuniting
you with a lost pet. Report a loss immediately. If you become separated from
your pet during a storm or evacuation, report it immediately to area humane
societies, law enforcement and animal control agencies.
Volunteer
If you are untouched by a
natural disaster, your volunteer time may be invaluable in helping those less
fortunate.                          
                                                 ………. ASPCApro.org  ……….

 ·    Third, and most important if the two earlier appeals are to
happen: please take good care of yourself, to take better care of animals!

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