Caring for Pets during an Emergency

Contact your boarding kennel, hotel, veterinarian, friends and relatives to see if they would accept your pet during an emergency. You may be required to show proof of current vaccinations, so keep your pets' records with or near your emergency kit. Pets are not allowed inside emergency public shelters due to public health and safety reasons. A special pet shelter may be set up at the North Charleston Coliseum. Or when making your own travel arrangements, pick a Pet Friendly Hotel.

If you do not evacuate or have no options but to leave your pets in the house, pre-determine the safe locations. Consider easy to clean areas and rooms with easy access to drinking water. In case of flooding, the location should have access to high counters that allow pets to escape the rising water.

Purchase a pet carrier so that your pet is easily transported. Train your pet to become comfortable with the carrier.

If your pet is on medications or requires a special diet, try to keep an extra supply on hand during hurricane season.

Make sure your pet has some form of identification, to include your name, address, telephone number and rabies tag.

Emergency supplies should include extra food and water for your pet, kitty litter, leashes, cleaning supplies to properly handle pet waste and first aid supplies.

TIME OF DISASTER

• If you leave your pet home alone, leave a three to seven day supply of dry food, even if that is not the pet's usual food. Leave water in a sturdy, no spill container or in a bathtub.
• If necessary, use anti-anxiety medications provided by your veterinarian to relieve your pet of the stress of an emergency situation.
• Never leave any pet outdoors or tied up during a hurricane.

AFTER THE DISASTER

• Be careful in allowing your pet outdoors: familiar scents and landmarks may be altered, and your pet could easily become confused and lost. Downed power lines and reptiles (snakes) brought in with high water can present real dangers to your pet.