Plan For Bugging Out With Your Pets

Our pets are loyal and give us unconditional love. It’s only right that we return the favor. Prepping with pets is not impossible, and the fact is they can be good to have around when SHTF. Read on to learn how to develop a SHTF plan that will keep your whole family–including your furry friends–safe.

A SHTF Plan For Your PetsIf you’re a prepper, the thing at the forefront of your mind is keeping yourself and your family safe. You’ve crafted a foolproof SHTF plan, you know where you’ll go and what you’ll take with you.

But does that plan include your pets?

You can be a prepper and a pet lover. There ware ways to help your pet stay alive in emergency situations (and worse), and pets can be as useful in a crisis as they are at home. Dogs especially can make great SHTF companions. They can warn and protect you and your family from attackers, whether it is a human or a dangerous animal. Some dogs can also hunt and track. And of course, dogs and other pets provide great emotional support.

Take a look at the original article here and get started on your pet’s SHTF plan.

How To Prepare a Pet Emergency Kit

"You probably all ready have a family emergency kit put together with all of the essentials that you and your family would need in case of a emergency. But did you include your pets? Animals have become such a important part of our lives. While your spouse can help you add things to the kit that you may have forgotten your pet can not help you build their kit. They depend on us to care for them. As a direct result of the catastrophes that took place during the evacuation of New Orleans that involved animals President George Bush signed into act PETS (Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act). It is now public law therefore, cities have to be sure to include all pets in their evacuation plans. Now that you are allowed to take your pet, you better make sure that your pet has everything that it needs to survive.

Here is a list of items that you should have in your pet emergency kit:

• Food: Make sure that you have at least enough food for one week. Most agencies suggest three days but, as we discovered with Hurricane Katrina, three days is not enough. Bring the food they are use to eating and keep it in a waterproof container. Don’t forget a bowl to feed them in and a manual can opener.
• Water: Be sure to have extra water on hand for your pet. Again, don’t forget a bowl.
• Medicines: Remember to pack up any medications that your pet may need to survive. Always have extra medication in the emergency kit so you don’t forget. Be aware of any medication that may need refrigeration such as insulin and have a plan in place to keep it cool.
• Medical Records: Be sure to always keep your pets medical records together and with the emergency kit. Records such as proof of ownership, pictures of you and your pet together, vaccinations, and rabies tags are vital especially if you have to cross state lines.
• First Aid Kit: Have a separate medical kit for your pets with basic medical supplies. Some of the items that should be in your pet’s medical kit are: bandages, tape, cotton, scissors, flea and tick prevention, antibiotic ointment, latex gloves, saline solution, alcohol, comb, brush and a pet first aid book.
• Pet Carrier or Crate: Make sure that you have a carrier for each of your pets. Be sure that the carrier or crate is big enough to comfortable fit your pet with room to stand and lie down.
• Sanitation Needs: Don’t forget about the other essentials that your pet needs such as: litter box, litter, paper towels, wipes, plastic bags and newspapers. Also include bleach and other disinfectant products.
• Familiar Items: Emergencies and disaster are not only stressful on humans but on your pet as well. Make sure to make plans to include their favorite toys, blankets, and treats."