JUNE 2015

Is your PET ready for Hurricane Season?

It's that time of year again, and Floridians know we have to be prepared in the event of a hurricane or other emergency. But all too often, pet owners fail to prepare their pets for these emergencies, and that can be disastrous for the animals. In today's Spotlight, we share information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about how households that include pets should prepare for the hurricane season. In our second article, we share our own tips for preparing your pet for evacuations and life away from the comforts of home.

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy spread her devastation as far north as Canada, and as far west as Wisconsin. Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other disasters happen across Florida and everywhere else on earth, and our pets rely on us to keep them safe and comfortable. Take some time today to read these tips, and then get your family - including your pets - prepared for what could happen.

There's always something fun and exciting going on at Bewaggle, and we're excited to share our news and information with you. Read on and share in the excitement!

All the best,

Marianne Carlson, Co-Founder
Bewaggle, LLC

407-729-2242

What FEMA wants you to know

Hurricane Katrina taught us a lot about what we should have done to protect our pets in the event of a natural disaster. During that terrible storm, thousands of pets were killed or lost, and we at Bewaggle want to help you prevent that happening to your beloved pets. FEMA has developed some very useful guidelines for how to prepare your family and your pets for an emergency. The following is an excerpt from their website:

Plan for pet needs during a disaster by:

Identifying shelter. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Find out which motels and hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to allow pets well in advance of needing them. There are also a number of guides that list hotels/motels that permit pets and could serve as a starting point. Include your local animal shelter's number in your list of emergency numbers. They might be able to provide information concerning pets during a disaster.
Gather supplies.Take pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, manual can opener, food dishes, first aid kit and other supplies with you in case they're not available later. Before you find yourself in an emergency situation, consider packing a "pet survival" kit which could be easily deployed if disaster hits.
Make sure identification tags are up-to-date and securely fastened to your pet's collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. If your pet gets lost, his tag is his ticket home.
Make sure you have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes.
Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can't escape.

For more tips on helping your pets during and after an emergency, visit READY.gov/Caring-for-Animals.

Keeping pets safe AND comfortable

The first and most important point every pet owner should keep in mind, when faced with an emergency evacuation, is that you simply MUST NOT leave your pets behind. Hurricane Katrina taught us that. Pets often can't survive on their own, and when the do, they are rarely reunited with their families. So please, if you need to evacuate,

PLEASE take your pets with you!

Another important fact to keep in mind is that most emergency shelters can't accommodate pets of any kind, so you need to be proactive and prepare ahead of time for any possible emergency. Find several pet-friendly hotels , and get their phone numbers into your cell pone. Getting an early reservation when thousands of people are evacuating at once is going to be key. Here's a website that can help you find the Pet Friendly hotels along your evacuation route. www.gopetfriendly.com

Make sure your evacuation supplies include your pets medications, food, treats, water, dishes, toys, bedding, extra-long leash, a Pet First Aid Kit, and a secure crate. Include his litter box or "business bags" for use when your pet needs to do his business. You should also include your pet's medical records and a photo of you with your pet, in case you get separated. If you haven't yet micro-chipped your dog, please do it now! And if you've moved or changed your phone number, remember to verify that your contact information is current and correct on your micro-chip account.

If your pet isn't accustomed to being in a crate, now is the time to get him used to it. Evacuations are stressful times on humans and their pets, and being locked into a crate that your pet isn't used to can only add to the misery.

Make sure your dog has something durable to chew on, as that's one way they relieve stress. And cats will need a scratching post. All pets will need plenty of fresh water and potty breaks, so be well prepared for both.

Once you get to safety, spend some quality time with your pets, assuring them that they are safe, and giving them plenty of exercise, as that will relieve stress and keep their digestive systems functioning well. Lots of pet owners have seen excellent results from the use of "Thunder Shirts". These are specially designed vests that fit snugly around a dog's ribs and often reduce anxiety caused by thunder, separation, or other stresses. They are available online and at most large pet retailers.

As the hurricane season begins, we're all hoping to dodge the bullet and avoid disaster altogether. But the best way to avoid disaster is to prepare for it. Take the necessary steps now to ensure the safety and well-being of your entire family, including your pets!