RIVERSIDE COUNTY – According to the Humane Society, make preparations before a disaster strikes and ID your pet as soon as possible. Make sure that your cat or dog is wearing a collar and identification that is up to date and visible at all times. You’ll increase your chances of being reunited with a lost pet by having him or her micro-chipped. Make sure registration information has been transferred to you put your cell phone number on your pet’s tag.

Put together your disaster kit.

Every member of your family should know what he or she needs to take when you evacuate. You’ll also need supplies for your pet. Stock up on non-perishable items. Keep everything accessible and stored in sturdy containers (duffel bags, covered trash containers, etc.) that can be carried easily. Any dry pet food should be stored in air-tight containers and refreshed every six months.

A basic disaster kit:

Pack food and water for at least five days for each pet, bowls, and a manual can opener if you are packing canned pet food. Medications and medical records should be stored in a waterproof container and a first aid kit. A pet first aid book is also a good idea. Cat litter box, litter, litter scoop, and garbage bags to collect all pets’ waste should also be included. Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets can’t escape along with current photos of you with your pets and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated and to prove that they are yours once you’re reunited are recommended.

If you evacuate, take your pet.

Rule number one: If it isn’t safe for you, it isn’t safe for your pets. Even if you think you will only be gone for a few hours, take your pets. You have no way of knowing how long you’ll be kept out of the area, and you may not be able, or allowed, to go back for your pets.

Rule number two: Evacuate early. Don’t wait for a mandatory evacuation order. Some people who have waited to be evacuated by emergency officials have been told to leave their pets behind. The smell of smoke, high winds or lightning may make your pet more fearful and difficult to load into a crate or carrier. Evacuating before conditions become severe will keep everyone safer and make the process less stressful.

Take care after a disaster.

Your home may be a very different place after the emergency is over, and it may be hard for your pets to adjust. Don’t allow your pets Advertisement

[ Carrington Home Loans ] to roam loose. Familiar landmarks and smells might be gone and your pet will probably be disoriented. Pets can easily get lost in such situations.

While you assess the damage, keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers inside the house. If your house is damaged, your pets could escape.

Be patient with your pets after a disaster.

Try to get them back into their normal routines as soon as possible. Be ready for behavioral problems caused by the stress of the situation. If these problems persist, or if your pet seems to be having any health problems, talk to your veterinarian. If your community has been flooded, search your home and yard for wild animals who may have sought refuge there. Stressed wildlife can pose a threat to you and your pet.

In case of a heat wave:

High temperatures don’t just make your pets uncomfortable, they can be dangerous. Never leave your pets in a parked car. Watch the humidity.

Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association says, "Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels very quickly."

Don’t rely on a fan. They don’t cool off pets as effectively as they do people.

Provide lots of shade and water. Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat, in fact, it makes it worse.

Limit exercise on hot days to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets who, because of their short noses, typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible.

If the electricity goes out:

Keep your pets with you. If you’re forced to leave your home because you’ve lost electricity, take your pets. If it’s summer, even just an hour or two in the sweltering heat, whether outdoors in a yard or inside an apartment, mobile home, or house, can be dangerous. Find a pet friendly hotel. If it’s winter, don’t be fooled by your pets’ fur coats; it isn’t safe to leave them in an un-heated house. If you stay at home during a summer power outage, ask your local emergency management office if there are pet-friendly cooling centers in the area.

Go to www.humanesociety.org for more tips on pet care.