Be Prepared

 

The United States suffers more than 150,000 household fires; 10,000 violent thunderstorms; 5,000 floods; 800 tornadoes; and numerous forest fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes affecting two to three million people each year. You can not prevent a disaster from happening however, you can drastically increase the safety of your family and pets by preparing for a disaster before it occurs. Our clients safety is very important to us and we encourage all responsible pet owners to develope a disaster plan and kit for their entire family and pets.

 

The United States suffers more than 150,000 household fires; 10,000 violent thunderstorms; 5,000 floods; 800 tornadoes; and numerous forest fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes affecting two to three million people each year. You can not prevent a disaster from happening however, you can drastically increase the safety of your family and pets by preparing for a disaster before it occurs. Our clients safety is very important to us and we encourage all responsible pet owners to develope a disaster plan and kit for their entire family and pets.

 If You Evacuate

Take your pets with you. Animals left behind can be easily injured, lost or killed. Animals left in a house can escape through broken windows or storm-damaged areas and if turned loose are left to fend for themselves which could be fatal. Be prepared. Find your pet relocation options in advance.

Take your pets with you. Animals left behind can be easily injured, lost or killed. Animals left in a house can escape through broken windows or storm-damaged areas and if turned loose are left to fend for themselves which could be fatal. Be prepared. Find your pet relocation options in advance.

 If You Don't Evacuate

Identify a safe area in your home. Keep all dogs on leashes and cats in carriers to ensure their location. Also make sure they have on ID tags and have your pet disaster kit with them. Let your emergency contacts know you will be in your home and let them know where your safe room is.

Identify a safe area in your home. Keep all dogs on leashes and cats in carriers to ensure their location. Also make sure they have on ID tags and have your pet disaster kit with them. Let your emergency contacts know you will be in your home and let them know where your safe room is.

 Disaster Preparedness Quiz

Imagine a police officer knocks at your door and tells you that you have to evacuate and that you only have 30 minutes. Are you prepared?

  1. Do you have carriers for all your pets?
  2. Can you gather all your pets and put them into carriers in time?
  3. Are all your pets wearing collars with ID tags as well as rabies tags?
  4. Do you have a photo of each pet in case they become lost?
  5. Do you know where your emergency shelters are?
  6. Do you have your veterinarians information?
  7. Do you have a copy of your pets vaccinations?
  8. Do you have a 3 week supply of food, water, medications and sedatives?
  9. Do you have disposable litter boxes, litter and cleaning supplies?
  10. Have you alerted friends and family where you are going if evacuated?

Imagine a police officer knocks at your door and tells you that you have to evacuate and that you only have 30 minutes. Are you prepared?

  1. Do you have carriers for all your pets?
  2. Can you gather all your pets and put them into carriers in time?
  3. Are all your pets wearing collars with ID tags as well as rabies tags?
  4. Do you have a photo of each pet in case they become lost?
  5. Do you know where your emergency shelters are?
  6. Do you have your veterinarians information?
  7. Do you have a copy of your pets vaccinations?
  8. Do you have a 3 week supply of food, water, medications and sedatives?
  9. Do you have disposable litter boxes, litter and cleaning supplies?
  10. Have you alerted friends and family where you are going if evacuated?
 Disaster Guide For Pet Owners
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 Preparing For Disaster
 Disaster Supply Kit

Prepare a kit for each pet. Kits should be easily retrieved and kept in a water tight container. Rotate all foods into use and replace with fresh items every two months. Kits should include:

  1. Crate or carrier large enough for pet to turn around in and cat carriers large enough for a small litter box.
  2. Collar and leash for all pets (including cats) with ID and rabies tags on all collars.
  3. Vaccination records and current picture of each pet.
  4. 3 week supply of each pets medications.
  5. Sedatives for pets that frighten easily.
  6. Disposable litter boxes and extra cat litter
  7. 3 week supply of food and plenty of drinking water for each pet
  8. Plastic bags, paper towels and cleaning supplies
  9. Manual can opener
  10. Food and water bowls for each pet
  11. Toys and blankets your pet will find familiar
  12. Towels
  13. Grooming items
  14. Detailed instructions for animal care and rescue workers
  15. Copy of emergency numbers and family evacuation plan
  16. Copy of veterinarians information
  17. Flashlight and batteries
  18. Pet first aid kit. Include bandaging material, antiseptic ointment, alcohol, gloves, tweezers, muzzle and gauze.

Prepare a kit for each pet. Kits should be easily retrieved and kept in a water tight container. Rotate all foods into use and replace with fresh items every two months. Kits should include:

  1. Crate or carrier large enough for pet to turn around in and cat carriers large enough for a small litter box.
  2. Collar and leash for all pets (including cats) with ID and rabies tags on all collars.
  3. Vaccination records and current picture of each pet.
  4. 3 week supply of each pets medications.
  5. Sedatives for pets that frighten easily.
  6. Disposable litter boxes and extra cat litter
  7. 3 week supply of food and plenty of drinking water for each pet
  8. Plastic bags, paper towels and cleaning supplies
  9. Manual can opener
  10. Food and water bowls for each pet
  11. Toys and blankets your pet will find familiar
  12. Towels
  13. Grooming items
  14. Detailed instructions for animal care and rescue workers
  15. Copy of emergency numbers and family evacuation plan
  16. Copy of veterinarians information
  17. Flashlight and batteries
  18. Pet first aid kit. Include bandaging material, antiseptic ointment, alcohol, gloves, tweezers, muzzle and gauze.
 Pet Friendly Emergency Shelters

A Message From Sarasota County:

Emergency Management in conjunction with the American Red Cross oversees emergency sheltering for impacted and displaced residents during times of emergency.

  • Shelter openings may vary with each emergency.
  • During the event stay tuned to local media or contact the Emergency Information Center for a listing of which shelters will be opened for an event.
  • Shelter openings will differ by size and intensity of a disaster.
  • Do not go to a shelter until you have verified that it is open.

    •  

Sarasota County Pet Friendly Shelter Locations:

Brookside Middle School, 3636 S. Shade Ave.

Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W. Price Blvd.

North Port High School, 6400 W. Price Blvd.

Pine View School, 501 Old Venice Road

A Message From Sarasota County:

Emergency Management in conjunction with the American Red Cross oversees emergency sheltering for impacted and displaced residents during times of emergency.

  • Shelter openings may vary with each emergency.
  • During the event stay tuned to local media or contact the Emergency Information Center for a listing of which shelters will be opened for an event.
  • Shelter openings will differ by size and intensity of a disaster.
  • Do not go to a shelter until you have verified that it is open.

    •  

Sarasota County Pet Friendly Shelter Locations:

Brookside Middle School, 3636 S. Shade Ave.

Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W. Price Blvd.

North Port High School, 6400 W. Price Blvd.

Pine View School, 501 Old Venice Road
 Microchips

Make Sure Your Pet Gets Home!

While dogs and cats wear collars, they can be easily broken or removed. A microchip is a permanent device that can identify your pet in the event that the pet becomes lost or stolen. A microchip is a rice-sized capsule encoded with a unique number. The microchip is painlessly injected (much like a vaccination) between the shoulder blades. Most pets do not react at all when the chip is inserted. The chip remains inactive until read with a handheld scanner. The scanner reads the microchip to identify the lost pet by sending a low frequency radio signal to the chip that then transmits a code to the scanner. The microchip distributor is then contacted with the identification number encoded on the microchip which is linked to your personal information. The cost of the microchip differs from brand to brand but usually runs around $30.00 which is well worth the security of your pet and your piece of mind.

Make Sure Your Pet Gets Home!

While dogs and cats wear collars, they can be easily broken or removed. A microchip is a permanent device that can identify your pet in the event that the pet becomes lost or stolen. A microchip is a rice-sized capsule encoded with a unique number. The microchip is painlessly injected (much like a vaccination) between the shoulder blades. Most pets do not react at all when the chip is inserted. The chip remains inactive until read with a handheld scanner. The scanner reads the microchip to identify the lost pet by sending a low frequency radio signal to the chip that then transmits a code to the scanner. The microchip distributor is then contacted with the identification number encoded on the microchip which is linked to your personal information. The cost of the microchip differs from brand to brand but usually runs around $30.00 which is well worth the security of your pet and your piece of mind.