AKC Reunite Reminds Owners to Include Their Pets in Their Disaster Plans on National Animal Preparedness Day

May 8 is National Animal Preparedness Day and AKC Reunite wants to remind you to include your pets in your disaster preparedness plans. Storms, flooding and wildfires across the country have been heartbreaking for owners and their pets. But it is prior to disasters like these that the need for emergency preparedness is evident. It’s important for pet owners to ensure they are prepared with the supplies they need should they have to evacuate their homes.

To celebrate National Animal Preparedness Day and raise awareness about disaster preparedness for animals, AKC Reunite suggests the following tips:

• NEVER leave your pet behind and stranded in a hazardous situation!
• Always make sure your pet’s microchipping records are up to date.
• Add an Alternate Contact (who is out-of-state) to your pet’s record in the event you and your pet are separated, and you become unable to be reached because phone lines are down.
• Pack a “Go-Bag” for you and your pet so you can immediately follow all emergency management directives.
• Follow all local Emergency Management directions.
• Refer to the AKC Reunite Emergency Planning Guide for more information and guidance on how to keep your pet safe.

AKC Reunite has donated funds to support the work of rescues and shelter organizations that save and reunite pets with their owners during natural disasters and has donated 111 trailers nationwide to assist communities in caring for pets during these difficult times. The AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer is stocked with essential supplies to house at least 65 pets the critical first few days after a disaster is declared. A generator is on the trailer as well as crates, pet carriers, bowls, collars and leashes, microchips, a microchip scanner, fans, cleaning supplies, maintenance equipment, administrative supplies, training materials and much more to allow emergency personnel to put together co-location or lost-and-found pet shelters.

For more information on pet preparedness during national disasters, click here.

To learn more about AKC Reunite or AKC Pet Disaster Relief, click here.