​Keep Your Pets Safe This Hurricane Season

HOUSTON, TX — June marks the official start of hurricane season, so the Houston SPCA—the area’s leading nonprofit agency for animal-related disaster rescue, relief and resources in the region—advises residents to prepare now by making an emergency pet care plan.

“As we have learned from past weather events, the region is prone to serious flooding and a natural disaster can strike at any time, which is why we strongly encourage people to be proactive in planning for the well-being of their animals,” said Patricia Mercer, president, Houston SPCA.

The Houston SPCA encourages families to pack a portable pet disaster kit to include food, water, medication, vaccination records and cleaning supplies.

Make sure your pet has a safe traveling carrier that has been labeled with your emergency contact information.

You should plan on enough supplies for at least two weeks. Take your pet’s favorite toy or blanket with you to help minimize his/her stress.

Mercer says, “It’s also a good idea to include the name and phone number of a friend OUTSIDE the greater Houston area in case local phone service is not functioning immediately following a disaster.”

All cats and dogs should wear collars and identification tags with current information. Dogs should wear nylon or leather collars only.

Never place tags on training collars or choke chains. Cats should wear a breakaway/safety collar. If you must evacuate, take your pet with you.

If conditions are unsafe for people, they are unsafe for pets. Pet owners should identify an evacuation route and make temporary, pet-friendly housing arrangements before a storm hits.

It is particularly important to arrange housing for horses and other farm animals. Their size, shelter and transportation needs make planning ahead crucial.

For more information on what you should do to help keep your animals safe this hurricane season, including a complete disaster preparedness checklist, visit www.HoustonSPCA.org.

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