Nine tips to protect your pets in a disaster

SAN DIEGO – San Diego County residents know the importance of being prepared for disasters after the firestorms of 2003 and 2007, but are their pets may not be included in those all important plans.

“It’s not a question of if another disaster will strike, but rather when a disaster will strike San Diego County,” said County Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson. “As part of National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, we strongly encourage people to have a plan in place that includes their pets.”

As the lead agency in any disaster, the Department of Animal Services suggests pet owners include all of the following in their pet disaster plan:

• A pre-designated place outside of the disaster area where they and their pets can stay such as a friend or relative’s home or a pet-friendly hotel.

• Crates for all of one’s pets that are large enough for them to stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably inside.

• Identification tags on all pets, a license tag for dogs and an ID tag for cats.

• Microchip all pets and register the microchips with Animal Services and the microchip company.

• Current photographs of owners with their pets.

• Leashes, collars, bowls and toys for each pet.

• Current veterinary records and medications for each animal.

• Food, water and litter for up to seven days.

• For livestock, make sure to have a trailer large enough to move the animals out of harm’s way.

Practice the plan. It takes longer than one thinks to round up all of one’s animals and get them safely in the car. If disaster strikes, people should not wait for an evacuation order. If they fear they and their pets are in danger, they should leave their house and take the animals with them.

If people are away from home during a disaster, they can call Animal Services’ 24-hour Emergency Dispatch line at (619) 236-2341. An officer will be sent to their home to rescue their pet.

For more information, visit the Animal Services website at http://www.sddac.com. If a school, group or business would like an animal control officer to give a presentation on disaster preparedness, contact Deputy Director Dan DeSousa at (619) 498-2308.