As the Northern Hemisphere enters its hurricane season, it’s a useful time to review your plans for disaster preparedness regardless of your location in the world.
In New Zealand, as our seismic activity continues to make the news, it’s important to be ready regardless of season. Things like refreshing your stored water supply, for example. And if you don’t have a bottled water supply, get one! This includes storing enough water for 3 days for you and your animals.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) distributed this video last year. It outlines the things you need as a pet parent and not just things for dogs. I have clients on lifestyle blocks with horses, for example. Although I don’t know much about horse care, I can certainly understand the need to have harnesses and a trailer ready for evacuation.
The video mentions how to make a temporary dog tag out of a luggage tag. This may work for larger dogs, but is impractical for small breed dogs.
What I prefer is to have an old dog registration tag in my emergency kit. It’s been covered with a blank label and I have a pen in the kit.
If we had to evacuate to a temporary location, I will write our contact details on this temporary tag.
I’m also a supporter of micro chipping, which is compulsory for dogs in New Zealand.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
DoggyMom.com 