When Is National Pet Preparedness Month 2024? Safety Tips & Tricks
Updated on
Click to Skip Ahead
National Pet Preparedness Month is one of the more serious pet-related holidays out there, but it’s one of the most important for guaranteeing your fur family’s safety during catastrophic events like hurricanes and other natural disasters. Taking place every June, the holiday was created by a government-sponsored program called Ready in 2003 1, and it’s since been widely promoted by the American Red Cross 2, ASPCA 3, and even beer company Anheuser-Busch 4!
Â
About National Pet Preparedness Month
The purpose of this safety-related holiday is to spread awareness about how to prepare for unexpected events like natural disasters. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, FEMA spearheaded the largest animal rescue operation in history, saving the lives of 15,000 pets 5. With enough awareness, hopefully that number will swell in future disaster pet rescue efforts.
According to this study 6 from 2020, roughly half of American households don’t have an emergency plan for what they’ll do if their lives are upended by a hurricane or other tragedy. National Pet Preparedness Month is critical to not only keep your pets safe but also your family and yourself. To help spread awareness to others, tag your social media posts in June with the hashtag #PetAwareness.
In the spirit of that sentiment, we have some potentially life saving tips on how to create your own pet emergency plan and what exactly to put in your emergency kit and why. Let’s check out those details below so you can get started on your emergency plan ASAP so you can be prepared before disaster strikes your home.
Â
How to Create Your Own Pet Emergency Plan
If you don’t already have an emergency plan in place, what better way to celebrate National Pet Preparedness Month than to create one? Even if you have a regular old emergency plan in place, it could do with some updating, especially if you don’t have your pets included. Peruse some of the tips below and get started on your emergency plan today.
Tips for Creating an Emergency Plan:
- Always know exactly where you’re going to go if you need to evacuate your home and whether that location is pet friendly.
- To help your dog in the event you need to transport them, crate training is invaluable in soothing their anxieties in high-stress situations like evacuations.
- Put together a waterproof bag or bin with copies of all your dog’s documentation, including up-to-date vaccinations.
- It goes without saying, but always take your pets with you when you evacuate and never leave them in the projected disaster zone.
- Make sure your dog has a clearly labeled name tag with your contact information on it.
- Print out a recent photo of your dog for reference in case you’re separated.
- When you’re out of your home after a disaster, keep your dog on a leash or in their crate at all times.
- Consider microchipping your pets to help locate them if they run away or you get separated during a disaster.
- Consult with a neighbor, friend, or family member who can pick up your pet in the event that a disaster happens when you’re away from home and can’t get there ASAP.
What to Put in an Emergency Kit
An emergency kit is a portable bag or kit of essential survival supplies kept in case of, well, an emergency. Emergency kits may vary based on where you live and the types of natural disasters you may face, but there’s some stuff that’s universal for any emergency kit. Let’s check off the most important supplies to pack away in case of a dangerously rainy day.
Essential Pet Emergency Kit Supplies:
- A week of food, treats, and water for your dog. Cycle this out every so often so the food doesn’t go stale, or invest in canned/pouch dog food.
- A gallon of water per day per person in your family
- 1–2 weeks’ worth of non-perishable foods
- Extra collar, leash, and harness with ID
- Your pet’s documentation in a waterproof bag
- First aid kit
- Blankets or towels
- Flashlight
- Physical list with addresses of pet-friendly shelters, hotels, or other safe locations
Â
Conclusion
Every June is National Pet Preparedness Month, devoted to spreading awareness about the importance of having an emergency plan and kit in case disaster strikes near your home. Having an emergency plan and kit provide not only essential safety gear but peace of mind as well.
See also:Â
- National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: When It Is & What to Do
- Pet Appreciation Week: When It Is & What It Means
Featured Image credit: absolutimages, Shutterstock
