Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are vulnerable to various natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, and significant earthquakes.

Additionally, the risk of house fires necessitates having a plan in place.

In light of these potential emergencies, it is crucial to ensure that you are prepared with your Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials.

If you need assistance in this regard, I am here to help you create a comprehensive Dog Emergency Kit, ensuring you have everything necessary to safely evacuate with your dog.

Here are suggestions as to what you need to have in your kit to take with you when you and your dog must evacuate for a safe location. 

Identification for your Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials Kit

Anything can and will happen in an emergency, be prepared!

Microchip:

Make sure your dog is microchipped. Put the microchip number on a label/s and stick them on the back of your Driver’s License or other item that you keep with you at all times.  Place a copy inside your Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials Kit as well.

Photos:

Take full body and head photographs of your dog.  Then take one of you and your dog together just in case you need to prove ownership.  Make these in colour of course.  A duplicate or two extra made on your printer won’t hurt either. 

If you have a purebred dog include your registration with either the AKC or the CKC. 

If you have recently rescued or adopted your dog, you can treat this just like a registration.  It is just as important.

Medical Records:

If you vaccinate, or have other medical records (including prescription medications) ensure this is with your Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials.

Collars and Tags:

Ensure you have your name, your mobile number and an out or state or out of province contact number on your dog’s collar. This information will likely not be on your regular tag so you may need to have a second one made up.

 If you are unsure how your dog will react in an unfamiliar place during an emergency situation, I recommend a harness and a muzzle.  Both of these should have as much identification on them as you can provide in the event your dog becomes separated from you.

Make sure your dog can pant and drink water through his muzzle.

Contact Information:

Put any additional contact information in your Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials.  For example, additional family members, coworkers, friends or someone you trust.  You can put this into your mobile but I would put it onto old fashioned  paper in the event you lose cellular service and cannot retrieve the information.

Food, Water and Medication for Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials

What would you do or how would you feel without water for days?

Food and Water:

Have enough food and fresh water for at least a few days, longer if you have room.  It could be winter or it could be a heat wave.  Try to plan for both.  Don’t forget a dish.  In Sabrina’s case she needs her stainless steel bowl as she won’t drink out of a travel bowl.  Plan for at least two weeks if you have the space.

Medication and Supplements:

Pack at least two weeks worth of all medication and a copy of the prescription.  Include any important supplement.

Shelter and Confinement:

A Crate that is hard sided or soft sided will work.  But if you are on the move, the soft sided is really your only option unless you are driving and have a lot of room.  Extra blankets and a waterproof cover option are things to consider in addition to your crate pad. 

A six foot lead (skip the flexi) and martingale collar with relevant identification attached is vital. A proper fitting harness is advised as well.

Clothing:

A warm coat, rain jacket and booties to protect your dog’s feet from the potential of sharp objects like rocks or broken glass.

First Aid and Sanitation for Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials for your Dog

First Aid:

Vet wrap, gauze and pads, antibiotic cream, Benadryl, and an antiseptic. Materials for a splint, in the event of a broken limb.

Sanitation:

Cleaning wipes, disposable gloves, paper towel, waste bags.

Miscellaneous:

Flashlight, blanket, insect repellant that is safe for your dog.

Don’t limit your First Aid to my suggestions only, do your research on what you may need where you live. For example, if you live in a wildfire prone area consider masks for protection from smoke and medication for burns.

The Plan

You may never need this - but what if you Do have to evacuate?

• Make a Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials Kit for all of your dogs.

• Pack all of the above items (except for the larger items and the water).

• I use a large heavy plastic and rubber tub. I keep it by the portable water in our home’s pantry. 

• Check your supplies in your Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials Kit on a regular basis, for example I check on Sabrina’s kit on her birthday in April. And Christmas. 

• Rotate all food, water and medications.

• It’s hard to have a plan of where you will go with your dog, especially since you will not always know what is coming.

• But you will likely know about a wildfire or a flood. But it is important to give this some thought. 

• Have a list of various veterinarians including your own.  Emergency veterinarians as well. 

• And while no one expects their governments to come to their rescue, I would still have some telephone numbers on hand where you can call to find out if there is a shelter open where you are. 

  And any other additional information that may be helpful in your particular situation. 

• Make a commitment to gather your Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials for your dog as soon as you can. 

• Even if this seems overwhelming, use my list to at least get yourself started. 

• Diarize to have a complete Pet Emergency Evacuation Essentials for your dog kit in 30 days.  If it is fire season, don’t wait.