We in Greater Vancouver have been fortunate that no large scale natural disaster has impacted our lives in recent memory, however last month's tragedy in Japan is a reminder that emergencies and disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, without warning. And while ensuring the safety of your family is paramount, don't leave your pets out of your Emergency Preparedness Plan.

Know Your Pet's Location

Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Your pets ID tags should contain their name, your telephone number and/or email address and any urgent medical needs. Be sure to write your pet's name, your name and contact information on your pet's carrier. 

Because collars can be removed or fall off, microchipping increases the likelihood that you will be reunited with your pet. Make sure your contact information is always up to date with the microchip manufacturer.

Transport Your Pet Safely

If a sudden emergency forces you to leave your home environment, make sure to transport your pet safely and securely. Cats and small dogs should be placed in a protective (rigid or soft), airline approved carrier, clearly bearing the pet's name and your contact information.

For dogs that are not easily transported in a carrier, make sure to have a collar or harness that will allow you to easily control them.

Reduce Your Pet's Stress

In the event you have advance notice of possible evacuation, give your pet a stress-relief aid, such as Rescue Remedy 1-2 hours beforehand. This will help keep them in a calmer state when you most need them to be. 

Have a Pet Evacuation Kit Ready

Create a "Pet Grab & Go Kit" by storing the following items in a portable pet carrier as close to an exit as possible: 

• vaccination records, ID or license/vaccination tags
• collar, leash and muzzle
• pet food for a minimum of three days
• water-a minimum of one gallon per day per animal for a minimum of three days
• food/water dishes
• newspaper, plastic bags, cleanser and disinfectants
  (free of ammonia)
• medications
• current photo (colour is best to show markings)
• blanket, towels or pet bed
• familiar toys

You can also purchase a pre-assembled pet evacuation and travel kit offered through Pet-Pac. Both canine and feline options are available.

Finally, to reduce the likelihood your pet will suffer from digestive problems due to changing his or her food, keep a few containers of their regular food handy in case you have to leave in a hurry.  

If You Can't Take Them With You 

In the unfortunate event that you must evacuate without your pet, the Canadian Red Cross recommends that you: 

• Put your pet in a safe, secure room without windows but with adequate ventilation (bathroom).
• Leave enough food to last for seven days.
• Fill up the sink, bathtub and containers that won't tip over easily with water. Your pet will be under stress and may drink more water than usual. One to two gallons of water per day per pet can be used as a guideline.
• Leave familiar bedding and safe toys that the pet is used to.
• Don't confine dogs and cats in the same space.
• Ensure that your pet is wearing identification tags.
• Place a notice on your front door or a clearly viewable window that there are pets in the house and where they are located.
• Provide a telephone number where you can be reached or the number of your veterinarian.
• If you expect flooding provide access to elevated spaces or counters.

Seek Veterinary Care Immediately

Depending on the nature of the emergency, your pet could be exposed to smoke, fire, water, or other noxious substances which require immediate care from an emergency veterinary facility. Your pet may appear to be fine when in fact damage may have occurred to internal organs, placing your pet in a life-threatening condition. Veterinarians are best equipped to diagnose and deal with the potential effects of the trauma on your pet. 

Last week, Wag Zone hosted its first-ever Pet First Aid Certification class lead by Lisa Wagner of Walks N' Wags. Twelve attentive students, including 5 Wag Zone team members, spent an entire Sunday learning accident prevention and lifesaving pet first aid techniques. This in-depth, highly interactive course had students doing everything from bandaging canine participants (who were model students, I might add) to practicing CPR on life-like "dog-equins" and "cat-equins" (as opposed to mannequins...)

The class was enthusiastically received by all who attended, and the 'graduates' departed with the skills and confidence necessary to be able to help save the life of an animal in need. We look forward to the having the opportunity to offer this informative and invaluable class to our clients again in the near future.

Jonelle Warren of Pawlished Dogs just let me know that there is one spot remaining in the Level One Basic Obedience class starting up this Wednesday. If your pup is in need of a bit of 'pawlishing', this may be just the answer for you. This 6-week course costs $130 and covers all the basics and helps get your pup on the road to being a responsible, manageable member of your family. For more information or to grab that one last spot, contact Jonelle at pawlisheddogs@gmail.com or by phone at (604) 612-4789.

  

Each newsletter we will introduce you to another talented and committed Wag Zone team member that your pup calls friend.

Anna Kimm-Jones, part of our supervisory team, is one of Wag Zone's longest-standing employees. And, as with most everyone who works here, her passion for dogs started young. 

At the young age of 9 Anna was already volunteering at Edgemont Veterinary Clinic. Whether walking dogs, helping clean out cages or getting meals ready, Anna got a really good look behind the scenes of the good and the not so good sides of working in a vet clinic.

It was never a dull moment growing up in the Kimm-Jones' household, being surrounded by animals: cats, bunnies, birds, frogs and mice. But there was something missing. Finally, after YEARS of wearing down their mum and dad, Anna and her sister finally got their wish to get their first dog, a Weimaraner named Kaspar.

Anna had originally planned to become a make-up artist but when she was 17 a friend recommended she take a summer job working at a doggy daycare. Within the first week of working at Camelot Dog Daycare and Spa (what would eventually become Wag Zone) Anna knew she had found her passion: working with dogs.

"You can learn very quickly when you have the right people teaching you and helping you every step of the way." Anna is quick to say, "and helping look after upwards of 40 dogs doesn't hurt either". 

Through working with the pack with a supportive team, the formerly shy and introverted Anna became more confident and assertive, ultimately being promoted to her current role as Supervisor. In May Anna will have been working with Camelot/Wag Zone for 5 years. 

"It's changed my life, honestly, more than anyone will really know. There's no experience like working in a pack environment at Wag Zone, every day is so different, inspiring, challenging, funny and unbelievably rewarding."

Aside from dogs, traveling is also a passion of Anna's, from exploring different parts of Canada, the States, and Spain to spending 6 weeks on a road trip between London and Scotland and many places in between. In the future Anna wants to travel to Italy, Africa and eventually,take on another road trip, this time through Canada and the States.

"I have a very long list of "Travel to dos'" but there is so much to see, so many different cultures of the world to experience. I will have lived a full life knowing I have embraced as much as i could."

Goodbyes are never easy and sadly this past month has been full of them. The first to leave our sides was our beloved Fergus Pritchard. A dog of immense heart and spirit who graced our presence every day for longer than any of us have worked here, Fergus is sorely missed by staff and pack alike. We loved his spark for life and I, for one, was particularly fond of his wonderful habit of head-butting me to say hello with his tail wagging in rapid circles. Wag Zone is most definitely not the same without him holding court in the Wagzecutive Suite. Through the loss however, we celebrate a life that was happy and full and that he has finally reunited with his brother Huxley who left us almost a year ago. 

We also had to bid a fond farewell to Scamp Carr and Jesse Cole, who brought smiles and cuddles to our lives right up to the end. Scamp was a gentle, loving dog who would loyally follow his doggy brothers Teddy and Scooter. The little clump of Carr dogs roving about was always a heartwarming sight. And Jesse was a sweet affection hog who would lovingly wait beside us, nudging us in reminder that she had pats coming her way, to which we would happily oblige.

All these pups are the reason that we work in this business. Wagging tails, wet noses and warm hearts. Thank you, dear friends. May you rest happily in peace. Until we meet again.