Hurricane Sandy Preparation: Register Your Pet at Your Local Shelter

When natural disasters and emergencies the likes of Hurricane Sandy come along, it’s important to plan on ways to keep your family, including your pets, safe. We know you would want to take your pet with you, but for many families headed to shelters where pets aren’t welcome, it simply isn’t an option.

Luckily, in places such as Pinellas County, FL, you can  pre-register, giving your pet a spot at an animal shelter. The trick is doing it before trouble hits, when the farthest thing from your mind is a storm.

Pinellas County has also arranged for a few of their schools to be transformed into a safe haven for pets if an event like this were to occur.  People who live in motor homes or unstable homes have first priority, but this too requires pre-registration.

Wondering if your town does anything similar? Contact your vet for suggestions on storm preparedness and shelters you can call for pre-registration options. If you don’t have a local shelter that provides services like the ones in Pinellas County, talk to relatives or friends that would be willing take in your pet for a short period. This is especially important for people who have pets other than cats and dogs because some emergency shelters that allow pets only allow those two species. 

Whether you can keep your pet with you or have to take him elsewhere, it’s important to have an emergency bag (including a flash light, canned foods, blankets, etc) stashed. Include items for your pet too, such as food, water, favorite toys, and medical records.

And even if you live in an area where hurricanes like Sandy are unheard of, it is still not a bad idea to be prepared, especially for those who can’t prepare for themselves.

For more information, watch our video on preparing for natural disasters and emergencies.