Pet Preparedness Month: Make Your Pets, Livestock Part of Your Emergency Plans

It's important to include your pets or livestock in any emergency plans you make for your household. They are totally dependent on you for their safety and well-being. June is Pet Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross has steps you can follow to make an emergency plan for your animals.

CREATE A PET EMERGENCY PLAN

PET EMERGENCY KIT Place the following items in a sturdy, easy-to-carry container:

Pet owners can download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for more information on how to include pets in emergency preparedness plans. The app also features step-by-step instructions for first aid emergencies, a pet profile for storing tag ID, photo and medical information, early warning signs for when to contact a veterinarian and an animal hospital locator. Users can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross, texting GETPET to 90999 for a link to download the app or going to redcross.org/apps.

You can also take the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid online course so you’ll know what to do in an emergency until veterinary care is available. People can access the course on their desktop or tablet at redcross.org/catdogfirstaid and go through the content at their own pace.

HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN FOR YOUR LIVESTOCK

For large animals and livestock, make sure your plan includes a map of your farm indicating buildings and structures, access routes, blocked passages and barriers, locations of livestock and shelters, locations of hazardous substances (such as pesticides, fuel, etc.), and electrical shut-off locations.

Review your emergency plan with your employees and make sure they are aware of where all supplies and animals are always located. Always have identifying information for your animals or livestock and that animals have identification on them.

Keep a stockpile of supplies on hand such as:

Here are more steps you should take:

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.

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