I was born, raised and spent most of my life living in California. Fires and earthquakes are the natural disasters we see most often. I remember, as a child, having earthquake drills in school. I am sure, wherever you live you can translate that to hurricanes, tornadoes and more. For two years I lived in Miami Beach and worked at a local hospital. During orientation, they said, “During a hurricane team A works for the duration of the hurricane. Team B arrives as soon as possible after it ends.” Never the shy student, I raised my hand and asked, “So is Team A whoever is on shift when it hits?”. The instructor kindly asked, “Where are you from?” I answered, “California”. They responded, “Oh, that makes sense. We have warnings about hurricanes, unlike your earthquakes.” This Cali girl was schooled.

Natural disasters whether they are sudden or there is warning are devastating. Just in 2017 we saw, South Texas’ hurricane Harvey, Ventura California’s Thomas Fire, Northern California’s four major fires including Nuns, Tubbs, Atlas, and Redwood Valley and March 1st, 2017 the Weather channel reported we were off to the “deadliest start of tornado season in 9 years”.

Being prepared for disaster is imperative and includes the furry family members as well. May 12, 2018, is this year’s National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day (NADPD). In honor of today and the many who have lost family, both human and furry, to a devastating disaster, I am going to show you how to prepare your dog for disaster. I also have a DIY at the end to create your own pet rescue decal for your front door or window. I did not leave out other furry family members as I have included free PDFs for Dog(s), Cat(s), Rabbit(s), and Guinea Pigs/Hampsters/Mice. If your household has a feathered friend and you would like a PDF only for them just let me know in the comments.

[bctt tweet=”Being prepared for a disaster means including your furry and feathered family members too. DenisesDogDish.com is dishing how to prepare your dog for a disaster. Including free printables with a DIY windown pet rescue decal.” username=”denisegruzensk”]

California Wildfires-Fireman Saves Kitten

Hurricane Harvey-Rescuing Pets

Planning ahead. Cambridge online dictionary defines it as, “to think carefully about what might happen in the future.” Ready.gov is a terrific site dedicated to preparing your family for natural disasters. So let’s get to it. How do we prepare our dog for a disaster?

First-Plan Ahead

 

• Know what disasters might affect your area.
• Put a pet rescue decal on your window (DIY decal how to with free printable(s) below)
• Make a plan.
  • Many shelters do not take pets. Have a list of places you can go: friends/family outside of your immediate area, pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation route, boarding facilities, vet offices and animal shelters willing to accept family pets.
• Develop a buddy system.
  • Plan with your neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure someone can help if you are not able.
• Talk with your dog’s vet about emergency planning.
• Know where your dog likes to hide when they are afraid.
• Gather contact information for emergency animal treatment.
• Create a dog emergency kit.
• Be prepared. Know what you need to pack and be able to pack quickly. Reading our post Traveling with Your Dog can help. There is also a FREE checklist if you click the button at the end of this post.

A Note About our Dog Health Binder

I mentioned our binders and an upcoming post in “How to Choose a Dog Food” (so I better get it done soon) but I promise I will have a post about putting together a health binder for your dog (pet). It has saved us on many an emergency vet visit when we are traveling and should be a MUST have for ALL pet parents. Include health records, medication lists, registration records, the emergency vet list, list of lodging options and your family photo.

During an Emergency

• Keep your dog close. Running away and/or hiding is common when your dog is frightened.
• Call as soon as possible to make reservations at your predetermined lodging outside of your danger area.
• Keep your and your dog’s emergency kits close.
• Turn your window rescue decal (see below) to face inside the house. This ensures rescue workers are not looking for a dog you have taken with you.

Hill’s Disaster Relief Network

Sometimes best-laid plans are still not enough and Hills has found a way to help. They developed a disaster relief network. The first network of its kind and established by Hills in 2013. Hill’s Hills Pet Disaster Support delivers free food in response to disasters. To date, that includes 280,000 pounds to nearly 300 disaster relief organizations.

DIY Pet Rescue Window Decal

What you will need:

 

• Card Stock (Yellow, Red, or Orange preferred)
• Self-Sealing Laminating Pouch
• A Single Hole Hand Punch
• Scissors or if you are type A like me about straight edges a Paper Trimmer
• Clear Suction Cup Hook

Step 1

Print the PDF download of your choice onto card stock paper. Click the link below each photo to download the decal(s) of your choice.

Rescue-Dog-Window-Decal

Rescue-Cat-Window-Decal

Rescue-Rabbit-Window-Decal

Rescue-Mouse-Hampster-Guinea Pig-Window-Decal

Rescue-Multi pet-Window-Decal

Step 2

Write the number of pet(s) you have in your home in the box.

Step 3

Laminate the printed decal. Of note, make sure your top and side front edges are in the sticky area otherwise you will need to find another way to keep the front side attached (as it only is sticky around the edges).

Step 4

Cut the edges using scissors or paper cutter.

Step 5

Use the single hole punch in the center or your laminated decal.

Step 6

Choose a prominent window at the front of the house and place the clear suction hook on the inside of the window. (Update-if you have toddlers in your home, place this hook MUCH higher!)

Step 7

Hang your decal on the hook. Of note, when you are away from your home and your pets are with you, please make sure to switch the decal so the blank side is facing out. This ensures rescue workers are not risking their lives to save a pet that is no longer present in your home.

 

Update

My childhood hometown, where I lived from 18 months old until 21, on and off again until my husband and I relocated in 2015 and my family still lived until November 8, 2018, is Paradise California. You may have heard of the Camp Fire. Just in case, Wikipedia describes it this way: “The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history to date. My family and their pets survived, their homes did not (see photos of two of the three homes I lived in and Hillpark Lane was where my parents still lived at the time of the fire. Numerous friends pets, as well as people, were not as fortunate. The fire moved so quickly it was difficult for humans to escape but a window decal gives your pets a fighting chance. They can let the firefighters know to at least release the animal even it is going to have to fend for itself and find their own way out. My heart breaks for the lives, both furry and human, lost. Going home, well it no longer exists.

What is your favorite tip to prepare for an emergency?