| Plan
for Animal Safety Before Crisis Hits
 In
order to ensure the safety of animals and to protect rescue crews,
Animal Protection of New Mexico is urging all New Mexicans to enact
a family evacuation plan that includes their animals before a crisis
happens. Before a fire threatens your community this
summer, we encourage you to consider the following suggestions,
and adapt them to your situation accordingly. Remember, your animals
depend on you.
When disaster strikes, always keep your animals with you. If
it is not safe for you to stay, it is not safe for your animals.
The single most important thing you can do to protect your pets,
horses, livestock and other animals is to take them with you when
you evacuate. Animals left behind in a disaster can easily be injured,
lost, or killed. Animals turned loose to fend for themselves
are likely to become victims of exposure, starvation, predators,
contaminated food or water, or accidents. Leaving dogs tied or chained
outside in a disaster is a death sentence. With an effective
emergency plan, you will be better prepared to move your animals
to safety.
* Arrange more than one foster home a safe distance away for
your family and animals so you have an animal friendly destination
to evacuate to. One way is through networking with people in other
communities to swap foster locations in case of an emergency.
* Prepare an action plan in case disaster strikes when you’re
not home. Make extra keys available to friends and neighbors
so they can move your animals to safety. Make sure they’re
familiar with all of your animals, and arrange more than one safe
meeting place.
* Keep an emergency kit
of food, water, portable confinement (leashes, cages, tie-outs)
and any medication animals may need. Trailers should be in
good working condition for large animals.
* Affix identification, including "away from home" contact
information, on all collars, harnesses, cages and tanks.
* Temporarily confine animals when threatening conditions are present
so they can be evacuated quickly. No animal should be
abandoned when you evacuate and under no circumstances should animals
be chained or locked in buildings or cages from which they cannot
escape.
In the event families
may not be allowed back into an area after an evacuation order,
preparations should be made to enlist the help of friends and neighbors
who can enter your property or home and remove animals for you.
Giving a key and a list of animals to a couple of friends or neighbors
can make the difference between life and death for your animals.
Additional tips and
ideas:
* If you evacuate, even if you think you may be gone only for
a few hours, take your animals. Once you leave, you have no way
of knowing how long you'll be kept out of the area, and you may
not be able to go back for your animals. If left behind, your
animals could be unattended for days without care, food, or water.
* Leave early — do not wait for a mandatory evacuation
order. An unnecessary trip is far better than waiting too long to
leave safely with your animals. If you wait to be evacuated by emergency
officials, you may be told to leave your animals behind.
* Do not Forget ID — your pets should be wearing up-to-date
identification at all times. It is also a good idea to include the
phone number of a friend or relative outside your immediate area
— if your pet is lost, you'll want to provide a number on the
tag that will be answered even if you're out of your home.
* Find a Safe Place Ahead of Time — because evacuation shelters
are generally unable to accept animals (except for service animals),
it is a good idea to check with friends, relatives, or others outside
your immediate area. Do not wait until disaster strikes to
do your research. Also, make a list of pet-friendly places and keep
it handy. If you have more than one pet, you may have to be prepared
to house them separately. Make a list of boarding facilities and
veterinary offices that might be able to shelter animals in emergencies;
include 24-hour telephone numbers.
* Have any medications and a supply of pet food and water inside
watertight containers, along with your other emergency supplies.
Some Ways to Prepare as the Disaster Approaches:
* Do not wait until the last minute to get ready. Bring pets into
the house and confine them so you can leave with them quickly if
necessary. Make sure each pet and pet carrier has up-to-date identification
and contact information. Include information about your temporary
shelter location. Make sure your disaster supplies are ready to
go, including your pet disaster kit.
In Case you are Not Home:
* An evacuation order may come, or a disaster may strike, when you're
at work or out of the house. Make arrangements well in advance for
a trusted neighbor to take your animals and meet you at a specified
location. Be sure the person is comfortable with your animals,
knows where they are likely to be, knows where your disaster supplies
are kept, and has a key to your home.
After the Disaster:
Planning and preparation will help you weather the disaster, but
your home may be a very different place afterward, whether you have
taken shelter at home or elsewhere.
* Do not allow your animals to roam loose. Familiar landmarks
and smells might be gone, and your pet will probably be disoriented.
Animals can easily get lost in such situations.
* For a few days, keep dogs on leashes and keep cats in carriers
inside the house. If your house is damaged, they could escape and
become lost.
* Be patient with your animals after a disaster. Try to get
them back into their normal routines as soon as possible, and be
ready for behavioral problems that may result from the stress of
the situation. If behavioral problems persist, or if your pet seems
to be having any health problems, talk to your veterinarian.
Disaster Supply Checklist for Animals:
Every member of your family should know what he or she needs to
take when you evacuate. You also need to prepare supplies for your
pet. Stock up on nonperishables well ahead of time, add perishable
items at the last minute, and have everything ready to go at a moment's
notice. Keep everything accessible, stored in sturdy containers
(duffel bags, covered trash containers, etc.) that can be carried
easily. In your disaster kit, you should include:
* Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container
and a first aid kit. A pet first aid book is also good to include.
* Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport animals
safely and to ensure that your animals can't escape. Carriers should
be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around,
and lie down. Your pet may have to stay in the carrier for hours
at a time while you have taken shelter away from home. Be sure to
have a secure cage with no loose objects inside it to accommodate
smaller animals. These may require blankets or towels for bedding
and warmth, and other special items.
* Current photos and descriptions of your animals to help others
identify them in case you and your animals become separated and
to prove that they are yours.
* Food and water for at least three days per pet, bowls, cat
litter and box, and a manual can opener.
* Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior
problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you
have to board your animals or place them in foster care.
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