Hurricane Pup Preparedness
Volume 31: How to Keep Your Golden Safe During the Hurricane Season
When hurricane season starts, it’s important to have a plan in place to take care of your golden when things get ruff. Hurricane season is from June 1st through November 30th every year (Atlantic Hurricane Season, n.d.). Having hurricane preparations completed prior to the hurricane season is ideal so you’re not scrambling to get them done at the last minute. Putting together an emergency pet kit is also helpful to have with all of your hurricane supplies so you know your pup will be taken care of too. So lets go over how to adequately prepare you and your pups for hurricane season!
You’ll want to portion out at least 3 days of food for your pet in an airtight waterproof container (Racine, 2023). You should also have at least 3 days worth of fresh drinking water for your golden as well (Racine, 2023). Don’t forget to include their food and water bowls!
Put your dog’s medicines as well as medical/registration records, your vet’s contact information and the closest emergency vet contact info together in a waterproof bag (Pet Preparedness, 2021). Make sure your pet’s vaccination records are up to date in case you need to take them to a shelter or boarding facility (Pet Preparedness, 2021). While you’re at it, get your pup microchipped. If they are already chipped, make sure their contact information in the database is up to date so if they get lost, you can be reunited again. It’s also a good idea to have a picture of you and your pet with you. This will help prove ownership of your dog if ever in question (Pet Preparedness, 2021).
A pet first aid kit is also essential to include in your pet’s hurricane supplies. This kit should have: latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol, antibiotic ointment, scissors, bandage tape, cotton bandage rolls, flea/tick prevention, saline solution and a pet first aid reference book (Pet Preparedness, 2021).
If you have to evacuate your home, make sure you have a large crate for your dog (Pet Preparedness, 2021). The crate should be big enough for your golden to stand up, turn around and lie down (Pet Preparedness, 2021). Look up shelters and accommodations you could stay at (Racine, 2023). Most importantly, if you are ordered to evacuate you should do so and ALWAYS bring your pets with you (Racine, 2023). If it’s not safe for you to stay, then it’s also not safe for your pets to stay behind (Racine, 2023).
Of course you should always have a collar or harness with an updated ID tag and leash for your goldie (Pet Preparedness, 2021). You should also put their rabies tag on their collar/harness so there is no question of whether they have it or not (Pet Preparedness, 2021). If your golden has health issues that require medication, include this info on their ID tag to help make sure they receive prompt medical attention (Racine, 2023).
Bringing items to clean up after your pet is a must. This includes: poop bags, trash bags, cleaner, paper towels and potty pads if applicable (Racine, 2023).
Including your golden’s familiar items will help them feel less stressed during this time (Pet Preparedness, 2021). You can include their favorite blankets, dog bed, toys and treats so they feel at home wherever they go (Pet Preparedness, 2021).
Designate an alternative caregiver to look after your pup in case you cannot get to them during a storm (Racine, 2023). This could be a trusted family member, friend or neighbor. It’s also a good idea to put a rescue alert sticker on your front door to alert emergency personnel that there is a pet inside in need of assistance (Racine, 2023).
We hope these tips help you and your pup be prepared for the hurricane season this year. Please stay safe and golden! ✨
References
Atlantic hurricane season. (n.d). Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_hurricane_season
Pet preparedness: 10 items you’ll need for your pets hurricane emergency kit. (2021, March 17). FEMA. https://www.fema.gov/blog/pet-preparedness-10-items-youll-need-your-pets-hurricane-emergency-kit
Racine, E. (2023, September 5). Hurricane preparedness for dog owners. American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/hurricane-preparedness-dog-owners/