Pet of the Week- Quarantine Edition (Pet Emergency Plans)
Having a plan for your pets in a crisis or disaster situation is critical; individuals who become sick or require hospitalization will need to have someone to take their animals, usually quickly and with little to no notice. As the novel coronavirus continues to spread, Wenatchee Valley Humane Society encourages all pet owners to review their pet emergency plan or, if they don’t have one, to put one together.
We recommend the following steps to help keep your pet safe:
Identify a family member or friend who can care for pets if someone in the household becomes too ill to care for pets.
Have crates, food and extra supplies on hand for movement and relocation of pets if necessary. We recommend an evacuation to-go bag be created (this is also helpful in wildfires and other disaster emergencies). See our suggested evacuation to-go list here.
Keep all animal vaccines up to date and have copies of those records available in the event that boarding becomes necessary.
Ensure that all medications are documented with dosages and administering directions. It’s a good idea to include the prescription from your vet with the medications and your pet’s to-go bag.
Pets should have proper identification: a collar with ID tag and a microchip with current, up-to date contact information. If you pet is licensed, register your license FOR FREE, with Pethub.
WVHS understands not everyone has a personal support system or the financial means to meet all the above recommendations. When experiencing difficulty in creating a preparedness response, please reach out to Wenatchee Valley Humane Society to find out what support is available. During this crisis, there may be options of temporary housing for pets, donated supplies, subsidized veterinary services, and more available to help people care for and stay together with their pets.
