September is National Preparedness Month, held annually to promote family and community disaster planning. Many will argue that the past year and a half have been an ongoing disaster. But planning is helping to get us out of the pandemic. Without research and planning based on prior pandemics and existing diseases, we would not have been able to rapidly produce safe and effective vaccines. Planning clearly works, so now it’s time to plan for other types of disasters to protect your family and your pet.

Severe Summer Weather and Pets

Depending on where you live, summer may bring tornados, hurricanes, or extreme heat. Here are some tips on preparing your pet for those weather-related disasters. Heatstroke can be a potentially fatal disaster for dogs. Do everything you can to minimize the risk of this preventable condition in your dog.

Evacuating Pets

For those with cars, evacuation means knowing the safe route, throwing the go bags in the car, and leaving everything else behind. New York City is different than most places during an emergency evacuation. Many of us rely on public transportation, which can be disrupted during a disaster. Pets are always allowed on NYC public transportation if they are in a carrier. Exceptions are made for pets too large to fit in a carrier during emergency evacuations, but the NYC Office of Emergency Management requires those pets to be leashed and muzzled. In preparing for this possibility, you might want to review a prior blog on muzzles. Need suggestion on what else to put in your pet’s go-bag? Download our helpful checklist.

Pets and Fire 

Wildfires can force an evacuation, but a fire in your home can happen any time of the year. Pets can be both the cause and the victim of house fires. Pet-proof your home and get some fire safety decals for your doors and windows to alert first responders of the number of pets in your home. Your local fire department is a good place to start your hunt for these decals. 

More on Disaster Planning from AMC and NYC

On September 9th from 10AM-3PM, a team from the Animal Medical Center will be part of the NYC Office of Emergency Management’s annual pets and service animal preparedness fair at Union Square Park. This is an annual event to promote emergency preparedness for pets and service animals. Please stop by and pick up some materials to help prepare your family for the possibility of a disaster.