Tips for emergency pet care

If anything can galvanize me into action, it’s something that involves a friend, and a friend’s pets.

My friend Diane from western Pennsylvania drove to Ohio to visit her daughter. While there, doing some sightseeing and shopping, they were involved in an auto accident. My friend sustained two broken ankles, a concussion, and numerous other injuries. Once her condition had stabilized, her daughter thought to call the police department in Diane’s hometown and asked them to check the house and keep an eye on things.

The officer who checked could hear a dog barking, so he made entrance. Having no recourse, and thinking it best, he took the dog to the closest boarding kennel. The boarding kennel owner refused to house the dog because the officer did not have a required document for the dog - proof of rabies vaccination - required for boarded animals by state law.

Having no other idea of what to do, the police took the dog to an animal shelter, where it remained for only about half a day - until the panicked dog sitter that Diane had hired to care for the dog called the police to report the dog stolen. Sadly enough, Diane had adopted the dog from that same shelter; the dog had to have felt re-abandoned.

There is some basic paperwork, easily accomplished, you need to get into writing to cover and explain the care needed for your pets, should something happen to you. This should be accomplished ASAP. And it’s also important that you make copies of these documents and share them, with neighbors, family and friends.

STEP ONE – Prepare Animal Cards. The card will include information about the animals, such as what breed they are, descriptions, where and how they are housed, their names, care instructions and who to contact to get access to the animals. These cards should be kept in your wallet or purse, in the glove compartment of your vehicle, in your desk at work, with neighbors – any place people might look. With the animal card, emergency personnel will immediately know that there is a pet which relies on people for care.

STEP TWO – Prepare an Animal Document. This document will have the same information as the Animal Card but expands that information to include the contact information for who cares for the dog in the event of an emergency (include alternates), veterinarian and boarding kennel or pet sitter, and more: names, ages and descriptions of pets, with pictures; care instructions for feeding and walking (location of leashes); medical history including copy of rabies shot and other vaccination records; comments on personalities and behaviors. For example, you might include information such as “may jump a fence” or “not good with cats” or “doesn’t like small children.” As with the Animal Card, there should be several copies, including one kept in a place where it is easily found, such as where the dog food is kept or in a folder on top of a dog crate. Carry one with you in an envelope labeled, Animal Care Document for My Pet (s).

STEP THREE – Prepare a sign or decal, to be placed on doors at your house, that states that a pet or pets live inside. In the event of a fire or natural disaster, such as a hurricane, responders need to know that pets need care, and what to do with those pets if rescued. You can include a short notation such as “Care instructions located on top of crate” or “information about pet care on inside of door.” You can include your cell phone number or a friend’s (animal caretaker) phone number.