Pet Emergency Preparedness

[Teallaura]

This was sent to me by a supplier I get email updates from. Not a bad idea - especially for those who live in evacuation prone areas.

http://www.catclaws.com/EmergencyReadiness.pdf

[Storico]

Oh goodness. Teal, it's a great idea, but I'd be happy if most people were as prepared for evacuating THEMSELVES! :wink: A friend of mine lives in FLA, though, and she's had to evacuate herself and her six cats on several occasions during hurricane season, so I'll be forwarding that .pdf to her!

[Crow]

Max has a travel carrier. It's kinda like a big purse with mesh on the ends. Since it was sized to fit a large feline, to a six ounce possum it's like a vacation penthouse. I keep small containers of food, a waterer, and clean bedding in it, along with the spare poop box--yup, possums are easier to litter train that cats. In an emergency, I toss Max in the carrier and he's all set to go.

[Teallaura]

My logistics are a little more complicated. Only so many carriers will fit into a Toyota Corolla so occupants have to be on good terms with one another. Shavings are preferred to newspaper for long trips - gets everywhere but handles the smell until we reach a stopping point for crate cleaning (an adventure in and of itself since it's always the ones in the middle at the bottom...). A minimum of two gallons of water is required for any trip over eight hours. Food can wait for reaching destination but it takes four quarts dry a day. A twenty pound bag lasts about a week unless someone has worms.

A printout of flea and wormer charts is a must - otherwise I don't know who got what when. Sheba and Velcro need to have their fur clipped for easy identification (Sheba's body and Velcro's tail). Everybody gets their claws clipped and anyone overly fussy gets muzzled until we're all settled into the car. The special cage (which doesn't permit much movement) comes along - occasionally with a very irritable occupant. A collection of crocks, water bottles (Scramble doesn't get out of her crate ever), litter boxes, litter, scoops and anything else remotely useful gets crammed in as well.

Then we repeat the procedure for the dog who will be riding in the front passenger floorboard. Finally, whatever clothes of mine that will fit are poked in where ever they will go. A quick trip to the ATM while the window tellers gawk and we're on our way...

[Dee Dee Warren]

If one has a bird, one should always have a blood-stopper in case a wing feather is broken.

[Dee Dee Warren]

If one has a bird, one should always have a blood-stopper in case a wing feather is broken.