Please plan and prep for pets pronto
Nobody likes the thought of suddenly having to leave their house in an emergency. But if it were to happen, only the people who are prepared for it are going to be able to do it without a lot of problems. This is especially true when pets are involved.
Recently we took a look at the items that you should include in a pet bug-out bag. In this blog, I’m going to mention ways that you can be prepared for this situation, as well as how to find pet-friendly hotels in a hurry. Here are some suggestions:
• Make sure that your animals are current with their shots and other medical treatments, and have the paperwork to back that up in your pet bug-out bags. Most animal boarding places require this in order for your animals to stay there.
• Have current ID tags attached to your animals’ collars. Ideally, those tags will include one or more of your cell phone numbers. These could be your pets’ lifelines if they somehow get separated from you in an emergency.
• If your pets do not already have microchips, take care of that as soon as possible. The chip is usually implanted in the shoulder area and can be read by a scanner at most animal shelters.
• Have current photos of your pets that you can show people if one or more of those pets somehow get lost due to the crisis.
• Make sure you have enough pet carriers, leashes, harnesses, etc., on hand, and that they are sturdy and secure.
• Add phone numbers of your vet, animal shelters and hotels/motels that take pets to your list of emergency numbers.
• Have a back-up plan with a trusted friend or neighbor who might be able to get to your pets if you can’t return to your home promptly in an emergency.
If you wind up having to stay in a hotel for one or more nights due to the emergency that forced you to get out of Dodge quickly, you’re going to want to be in a hotel that accepts pets. Many don’t, of course, so find out in advance which ones do in your general area.
Have you ever taken any of your pets to a pet-friendly hotel? If so, what was that experience like? Are there any pet-friendly hotels that you would recommend?
With all this “Pet Bugout “ ideas, why hasn’t Patriot come up with cat food and dog food, etc. that has a 25 year shelf life? They could make a killing!! ( I would buy a ton for my 6 cats!)
Don’t forget to pack meds. Might be heart worm med or presription meds for thyroid etc. Also pack some tools to trim nails and scrape teeth, rinse eyes and clean ears. There are also filter masks for pets.
I just clicked on every pet friendly site you posted and got nothing.
For those concerned about hotels with no power: If you are going to a major chain property, ie La Quinta, Extended Stay, etc, they all have backup generators to restore power within 24 hours. Most are checked once a month, but because you are dealing with a franchise, be sure to ask.
Debit Cards: As long as it has the Mastercard or Visa logo, you should be fine. Speak with the manager, because some of the more “pricey” locations will even accept Paypal as to hold a room and pay the bill. It’s worth staying away from “no-tell-motels” unless you are 100% sure you will be able to protect you and your family 24/7.
I do agree with most of you. But I don’t necessarily agree with putting down some animals. If you have birds like cockatues or parrots or some kind of exotic non dangerous animal? you should take it or let it free. But if you have snakes or alligators or boas? well that is not a regular pet. But you can take a boa with you. If it is a pet you should take your pet. but if its not you don’t have anything to do with it if it’s dangerous. Unless youre Stupid. If it’s a Dog? Defenetly you need to take it. You need someone to stay awake at night while you sleep. Dogs have great hearing and they will alert you at first sign of perimeter alerts. If you’re a prepper you don’t have animals that can’t be transported in a second. Keep your pets and be safe. :)
i agree with you completely about pets needing a b.o.b.bag. i have one for each of my cats including their own carrier and a leash. my husky lab has a b.o.b. bag that she can carry herself. she also has a leash. they all have a toy, food, extra collar, water, blanket, collapsible dishes, meds. and vitamins. they each have their own 1st aid kit that has been made for that pet in mind. they each have a towel and rag for cleaning if necessary. never mind that they are pets! if i need it they might too. and i do not want to have to share their things with each other, any more than i want to take away from my family for them, no matter how much we love them.
Here in the land of the partially free and home of the cowardly, where citizens are terrorists and terrorists are misunderstood victims of western imperialism and capitalism you must have a photo ID and major credit card to check into a hotel. (even if you plan to pay cash) I expect we will soon follow Europe and require a passport.
I don’t know if a pre-paid debit card with the visa logo and visa number would work. Perhaps an experienced traveler can chime in. I would like to stash one of those in my bag.
Issues? I don’t have any issues. why d’you ask?
They accept debit cards
IF OUR GOVERNMENT IS READY AND WILLING TO TAKE OUR NATURAL LIBERTIES HERE AT HOME, WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO TREAT FOREIGN PEOPLES WITH MORE RESPECT? AND WHY DO YOU SUGGEST THAT TO BE CONCERNED WITH SUCH PEOPLES, AND THEIR SUFFERING, IS TO ‘MISUNDERSTAND’ THEM?
I don’t get it. Don’t you think what we are doing abroad is the model they want to get to here eventually? And in any case, who invaded whose country first? We are an imperialist nation and yet where in the Constitution do you find any justification for that? Goodness! JWC
Excuse me if there is a real disaster do seriously think Pet hotels will be open? If the electricity is off will anything be open?
Sounds to me like you are giving advice about something you have no first hand experience in.
Disinformation can be a dangerous thing. Shame on you!!!
You are thinking only of teotwawki disasters. Most disasters that may require evacuation can be local or regional. such as the recent train derailment, hazmat spill and fire forcing evacuation of several miles from the train There are also tornados, earthquakes, etc, that effect many people but are limited in range. You can still drive out of the zone and get to a hotel. You could even have a very local disaster – your house burns down. Now you and your pets need a place to bug out to. Having their bags packed and stored next to yours will allow you to escape with some basics.
Re: Pet friendly hotels. LaQuinta Inns are nationwide and pet friendly at no additional charge. I have used that hotel chain 25+ times. Always been welcomed. Of course, my pets behave and I clean up after them.
I have a horse and a donkey so emergency bug out care becomes more complicated. They can be used as transportation since both ride and drive, and fuel is not an issue. I figure about 100 miles per gallon of oats. They can graze in the summer and we do live in rural area so bugging out to the great outdoors is right outside our door. This still brings up issues of care for them. How about an article with tips on emergency bug out issues for horses?
James Wesley Rawles “Patriot” series has in the third novel called “survivors”, the main character rides a horse home. It is not a ‘how-to’ book, but he discusses a lot of issues during the course of the journey. Tools you have to have for a long journey. Since you already own a horse, you probably know the basics at least. You probably know your animals’ particular characteristics, ie. reaction to gun shots, snakes, etc.
Amazon search for horse care gives you over 53k hits. Talk to your vet about training available. Do some practice bug out trips.
Dear Frank,
As always, great information! Dealing with pets during a disaster is one on the issues I’ve incorporated into the book I’m working on now SURVIVAL 2.0, a follow up to your and my book, SURVIVAL 101-How to Bug Out and Survive the First 72 Hours.
One topic we discuss is the complex issue of “exotic pets!” Here is some of what we have to say:
WARNING: On the issue of exotics we do have one harsh demand to make that we know is going to raise eyebrows and make a few people angry.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER … leave exotic animals or fish of any kind behind … alive! Yes, we are insisting that if you cannot take them with you, put them down.
Allowing your beloved exotics to escape into the wild may sound like the humane answer, but it is not!!! Releasing them into the wild is not only illegal, but it can cause untold devastation or perhaps kill innocent people in the case of deadly snakes.
Enough said … so always take your pet aardvark, Comodo Dragon, 500 pound gorilla or spitting cobra with you … either that or kill it and eat it!
Hope our readers understand how important this issue can be,
God Bless,
Orrin
Orin, I totally agree with you. Our family has aleady had this kind of discussion & have a pack ready for each one of our pets, should we be able to take them. Depending on the kind of disaster or emergency we are facing, we may or may not be able to take our pets with us. Sometimes for the safety of the humans involved, a barking dog may not be a viable choice. We love our pets, but may have to put them down if the situation is severe. As much as it would break my heart to do it, I’d rather put them down myself than put them into the hands of a looter or other wild person.
Orrin, I have to agree with you 100%. When my military unit went into New Orleans to do a search and rescue during Hurricane Catrina, I didn’t mind what could have been found in the water; but, rather what was left behind in the homes we had to search.
This one home that we went into had snakes. I mean snakes of all kinds. The person that lived there had several poisonous species and a couple of them were loose. As a flight medic, I was prepared for any medical emergency except for poisonous snake bites. We had to cautiously search the home and kill any and all snakes we saw be they constrictors, grass snakes or rattlers.
We didn’t know when the situation would allow the owner to return or have some unsuspecting looter come in and let these reptiles loose. So I made the decision to destroy the animals. We had no room for them and personally, we were not going to make any.
I know that this may be the exception to the topic at hand; but, just think about it for a minute. If something happens how long will it take you to return and care for your pets? Is it better to let them starve because you are not there to care for them or allow them loose. I’m not talking about birds, cat, dogs or your fish. What would happen if your pet got loose in the neighborhood. Would they be a danger to the public or themselves? Put them down if you can’t take them with you. Take your cats and dogs and birds with you too. You can always find a shelter along the way that could take them while you are in transit. It is best for all concern than to allow your dogs and cats fend for themselves. I also came across a lot of dogs and cats that were left behind. We took the friendly ones and killed the ones that weren’t. It broke my heart to kill a dog that was scared or protecting his home. We just didn’t have time for the BS. We put them down if we couldn’t control them. :-(
Sad, but necessary, food for thought. Unfortunately, very few people give any real thought as to how to protect their pets in any kind of a disaster — even in places like New Orleans & other high-risk flood areas.
Unfortunately, your choices were unavoidable, and very correct. I’m fond of snakes (used to keep about a dozen) and have been heavily involved in dog rescue for 20+ years. We always see the result of owners who were either too lazy or too stupid to do what’s necessary for their dogs (or cats). We took several of the dogs abandoned during Hurricane Katrina, too.
You did the right thing, and it wasn’t your fault. Keep in mind all the animals you SAVED !!!
Your suggestion will probably tick off some exotic pet owners, many of whom will be emotionally incapable of doing what’s necessary. For the most part, you’re exactly right, but there are probably a few exceptions, like parakeets, canaries, and — depending on the climate — exotic snakes like boas& pythons. I no longer keep snakes, but in my northern Virginia location, there’s zero chance of a boa or python living thru a cold winter here anyhow. Is it kinder to let them hunt mice rats for a season & then freeze? Hard to say.
Definitely NO tropical fish should be released. The snakeheads and those mussels raising hell in the Great Lakes have shown us that, for sure.
We have 30-some rescue dogs here, some not exactly young or healthy, and we are hunkering in place here on the farm anyhow — but once our usual stash of a couple of thousand pounds of dog food runs out …. choices are not going to be easy.
Don’t worry Orrin. The people who would disagree with you will never go to a site with the word ‘patriot’ in its name.