If A Simple Emergency Happened Will Your Pet Be Prepared

As people, we hope that we will know what to do in an emergency, but my question to you is, does your pet know what to do?

Have You Practiced The Family Emergency Plan with Your Pet

When an emergency is unfolding is not the time to hope that your pet will follow along while you are trying to make quick decisions. Chances are your pet will take it cues from you, sense the urgency, and get overly stimulated. Practicing what to do with your pet is a good idea.

The American Kennel Club offered some good ideas for training your dog. I would also suggest that you make a plan and then run some drills with your pets. If you have to leave the house fast or stay in a certain room, you will want to have practiced that before you actually need to do it.

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Accuweather shared a video that is important for pet owners to see. It is sort of humorous and at the same time a good reminder that if the dog in the video were doing the same behavior in a real emergency, it wouldn't be so lighthearted.

One of the comments under this video was a man stating that he had tried to take is dog into the bathroom of his house during a tornado warning and the dog wouldn't go in because he thought he was going to get a bath.

Make an Emergency Plan That Includes Your Pets

Make a plan for your dogs, cats, birds, and any other type of pet you have. Practice getting out quickly if there were a fire. My husband and I had one plan that would have had him and my dog going out the bedroom window. I will admit we never practiced that one.

But know where your leases are. Keep them and a harness handy. If you need transport containers, keep them accessible too. And if you need to crate your animal for transportation during an emergency, be sure to practice putting them in the crate and then maybe even take them for a ride in the car so they get used to the idea of traveling.

The American Red Cross also has important information about pet safety during disasters and emergencies. Take a moment and go through the list and see what you may need to brush up on.