Monday, December 17, 2012

Caring For Your Animals With Pet Survival Kits

By Celia Hall


When there is an emergency like a natural disaster, your chances of surviving are greatly increased if you have some emergency supplies handy. Food and water, a first-aid kit and blankets are just some of the items that may save your life while you wait for help to arrive. This is why many people keep these in a pack in the hall closet, ready to grab when necessary. Unfortunately it's easy to forget that your pets will need help to survive too. However, you can save their lives with pet survival kits.

The nature of an emergency situation is that it can strike fast and there is not much you can do to prevent it. If you have emergency supplies ready, however, you can reduce the negative impact of the situation on yourself and your loved ones. You may need such a kit when you are trapped in a destroyed building and waiting for help to arrive or when you need to evacuate quickly. It can even come in handy when there is a power outage or when you're in an accident and need someone else to take care of your pets.

The most important items to pack in an emergency kit are food and water. Keep several tins of food that won't perish too quickly. You will need a can opener too, of course. Dry food is a good option too, as long as you can seal the bags again once they've been opened. A few gallons of water will keep the animals hydrated. Don't forget to pack some bowls too.

Animals don't like unfamiliar situations and can feel stress and fear just like you do. To comfort them, a toy or two is a great idea. For warmth and some extra comfort, you should also pack a blanket.

Some basic first-aid items will come in very handy in case of injuries. They may even save a pet's life. Also keep a supply of any medication that your pets may need. A list of basic feeding and caring instructions and the contact details of your vet will help in those times when someone else suddenly has to take care of Fluffy or Snowball because you're in hospital.

During emergencies, animals often run away or hide. You can prevent this by having a harness or leash ready for each animal. Identification tags with your own contact information as well as that of a relative or friend will make it much easier to be reunited with your furry friends if you do become separated during the chaos of an emergency situation.

Make sure that you can get to your pets' emergency pack quickly and easily. It's a good idea to keep it in the same place that you keep your own kit. Pack everything in something like a backpack that is easy to carry.

Many outlets that sell emergency supplies also stock specially prepared pet survival kits with everything you might need. You can buy these online too. To be a responsible pet owner, you should be taking care of your furry friends' welfare even when the going gets really tough.




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