Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, and floods, or even possibly electric fires in our homes or possibly (the threat of) terrorist attacks, force pet owners to make quick decisions pertaining to the care of their pets.
It is best to plan ahead, which requires preparing an emergency kit and practicing to achieve a fast, safe and efficient evacuation during emergencies.
1 Emergency Kit Assembly
Assemble and place the emergency kit in an easily accessible area. Have your pet's carriers assembled and labeled with permanent ink as follows:
Carrier Label Information:
- Pet's Name
- Owner's Name, Address and Telephone Number
- Emergency Contact Name and Telephone
- Veterinarian's Name, Address and Telephone Number
- "REWARD WHEN RETURNED TO OWNER" - to increase your chance of having the pet returned should the carrier get lost in the commotion.
Plan and Practice Safety Procedures:
Get your parrot used to his cage. If possible, train him or her to wear a bird harness.
Emergency Kit Contents (stored in a sturdy container):
Disinfectant (e.g., Nolvasan) & spray bottle
Bottled Water (3 days minimum - up to 2 weeks)
Emergency Dry Food (3 days minimum - up to 2 weeks)
Paper Towels and Regular Towels
Medications (2 weeks' worth in waterproof container)
Emergency contact information
Recent photograph & ID information
Toys
Newspaper to line the cage
Flashlight & batteries
Blanket to cover the cage
Additional Preparations:
Check out temporary pet-friendly living quarters (motels, boarding facilities, veterinarians, friends, or relatives) ahead of time.
Make sure that you have enough cash on hand. Credit cards cannot be processed when the electricity is out and checks may not be accepted.