Hill’s Pet Prepared Tips to Surviving a Disaster With Your Pet #PetPrepared

This post is sponsored by Hill’s Food, Shelter, & Love® Initiative and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping Promote National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, but we only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

During disasters thousands of pets go missing to never be found again. Many of these pets have no identification, making it extremely difficult to reunite during a disaster. The responsibility of shelters during these national disasters stretches their resources, and overwhelms the staff. There are some things that you as a pet owner can do to make it easier on shelters, and on your pets but really during a disaster there is only so much you can really do. That being said, Hill’s disaster relief has come up with some tips to get you disaster ready.

Our pets mean the world to us so it make sense to do everything we can to ensure they are safe. That’s why I am thrilled to know that Hill’s Food- Shelter – Love has our back, and is willing to help out when we need it the most.

During a disaster shelters are not just caring for the current population of shelter animals, but those that became separated from their owners during the disaster. Hills Disaster Relief Network helps at a moments notice to offer nutritional food while shelters work hard to reunite pets with their owners. This is a huge thing since most shelters are already struggling to feed the animals they already have. Hill’s understands that even the most prepared pet owners can be separated from their pets during an emergency, and that’s why disaster preparedness is so important. That’s why Hill’s believes its important to have a plan to keep your pets safe during a disaster. Having a plan could be the only way your pet survives a disaster.

It’s important to prepare your family pets for unforeseen emergencies. Natural disasters happen all too often all over the world, but it’s especially important to practice disaster preparedness if you are an animal owner. Animal shelter’s are already overwhelmed during disasters but then add to the mix a whole new set of lost animals, and you can imagine how stressed out the staff become. Aside from having proper identification on your dogs, it also helps to ensure they have up to date vaccinations and are being fed a quality pet food. All of this will ensure your pet’s chances of surviving a disasters are greater because healthy pets can handle stress better than unhealthy ones. When disaster does strike, the Hill’s Disaster Relief Network is positioned to quickly respond with shipments of pet food to communities impacted by disaster. Having a nutritious meal during a stressful time in a pets life is essential to survival. Shelters are already strapped for cash so when a disaster hits its even more difficult to feed the communities pets. Having a company like Hill’s willing to give aid during a crisis is fantastic. Another great thing about Hill’s is they also established the first-of-its-kind national network in 2013 as an extension of its Food, Shelter & Love ®program.

In the last three years, the Hill’s network has delivered free pet food to more than 60 different shelters and veterinary clinics across the country in response to 25 major incidents. The disasters included the floods in Colorado, fires in Idaho and Arizona, the fertilizer plant explosion in Texas, the mudslide in Washington state and tornadoes in the central and southern regions of the country.

Hill’s recommends the following Tips to Ensure Your Pet’s Safety in an Emergency:

Making sure your pet is identifiable is super important. Ensure your pet can be identified by either a microchip or collar ID tag and that contact information is up-to-date.
Prepare a “Pet Emergency Go-Kit” of pet supplies that is readily accessible in an emergency. Your Pet Go-

Kit should include the following: first aid supplies and guide book; a 3-day supply of pet food in a waterproof container and bottled water; a safety harness and leash; waste clean-up supplies; medications and medical records; a contact list of veterinarian and pet care organizations; information on your pet’s feeding routine and any behavioral issues; comfort toys; and a blanket.
Display a pet rescue decal on your front door or window to let first responders

know there is a pet in the house. Include your veterinarian’s contact information.

Learn where your pet likes to hide in your house when they are frightened. Finding

them quickly will help you evacuate faster. Identify a location to take your pet if you need to leave your immediate area. Keep in mind that disaster shelters for people may not be open to pets. Scout hotels and

motels with pet-friendly policies and ask relatives or friends if they could house you and your pet.
Carry a picture of your pet in the event of separation. If you need to evacuate, consider taking a pet carrier or crate if possible for transport and safe-keeping.