What happens if there is a disaster and you cannot get to your pet to provide care?
Don’t wait until an emergency arises; it’s best to prepare now!
Pet identification is key.
Dogs and cats should wear collars with their license tag (both dogs and cats must be licensed in the City of Alexandria) and a tag containing ID information, including your name and phone. However, collars may be removed or fall off, so we suggest getting your pet microchipped. It is critical that you register this microchip to include your information and an emergency contact and keep this information up to date. We also recommend having your veterinarian scan your pet at each visit to ensure that the microchip has not fallen out or migrated. Finally, register your pet’s microchip at www.petmicrochiplookup.org; this is the site many veterinarians and shelters use to get the information connected to a microchip.
Prepare a pet care kit.
It is an excellent idea to prepare a “care kit” for your pet that is easily accessible. You can grab this kit if you need to evacuate your home quickly or with short notice. This kit can be used by you or another caregiver to provide for your animal for a period of time if something happens to you.
Access to your home.
Who can get into your home and care for your pets if there is a disaster or if something happens to you? You may want to consider talking with one or more of your neighbors about what to do if a disaster strikes and you cannot return home. This caregiver should be able to access your home and know where your pet’s care kit is located.
Notifying emergency personnel about your pets.
Consider keeping an emergency card in your wallet that informs emergency personnel that you have pet(s) at home who need You should include the contact information of your pet’s emergency caregiver so they can ensure your pets can receive care if something happens to you. You should also consider placing an emergency sticker on the door of your house to inform emergency responders about the presence of animals inside.
