Pets in an emergency

We have seen recently how quickly an emergency can arise when natural disasters take hold.

The fires on the Greek islands last year and the fires in California this year, which have wreaked havoc and resulted in so many deaths, have made us realise that we all have to be prepared to evacuate our property with virtually no warning.

So, are we prepared? Do we think it won’t happen to us? Well, first of all, fire, earthquakes, and floods do not respect anything in their path.

One of the major problems facing people who lose everything is that, initially, they don’t even have any identification. So, apart from the obvious problems, having to replace documentation is time-consuming and stressful.

So we are advised that to avoid these problems, we need to have a bag packed, ready to leave at a moment’s notice, and have easy access to our passports, driving licences, medication, mobile phones, chargers, cash, credit/debit cards, etc. This is not as difficult as it seems, so long as everyone is aware of the location of said items and they remain in close proximity to each other.

In most countries, deeds to your house and your last will and testament will be lodged with a lawyer, but if that is not the case, there are other essential pieces of paperwork that need to be available.

What about our pets?

For ex-pats living abroad, certain issues come naturally, and these include an emergency hospital bag and items essential for the safe well-being of our pets.

Let’s start with the obvious; living in Greece where I do, because of the high temperatures, it is natural to have in the car water for human consumption and a container of water and food for strays. So water in particular is always available.

The adaptable hospital bag is an essential item when living abroad. Whilst minor health problems are generally treated at the doctor and local hospital, more serious issues may require a lengthy trip to a better-equipped hospital in a larger town. This is where the hospital bag comes into its own diminishing stress at the most stressful time, particularly for the fella’s. Think on it, chaps. Would you know where to find the required night dress, the correct toiletries and any other items SWMBO requests? Trust me, it’s a lot less aggravating if both of you have a bag packed.

Also available should be a small bag for the dog to use in an emergency. Depending on the number and type of pets that you own and who rely on you for their safety, you need to prepare a bag for them as well. Essential items are…

Water and food for a few days, bowls, vaccination certificates, lead and collar, whistle/clicker if used. If a Pet carrier is needed, that also needs to be readily available. At times like this, knowing that our pets are microchipped will give us some peace of mind if they get separated from us.

For those who go camping, they will be aware of waterproof fabric, collapsible feeding bowls, and water bottles that come complete with a small bowl that allows unused water to be drawn back into the bottle. Trekking towels, which are highly absorbent, take up hardly any space compared with traditional towels.

We live with earthquakes, so being able to evacuate the house with no advance notice is a fact of life. In our hospital bags, we also keep photocopies of passports, driving licences, etc., so even if we cannot retrieve the originals, we have a record, which makes life easier when obtaining replacements.

Other considerations

Depending on your circumstances, knowing the location of pet-friendly hotels will be advantageous.

In case of separation, it is helpful to have contact details of animal shelters that may be the end location for lost pets.

Owners who have successfully trained their pets to accept a cage will find this an advantage in an emergency.

It is also very important to ensure that pets are well socialised which will be a great help as this will reduce their stress.

Well-trained, well-behaved, confident dogs will cope with the disruption to their lives with ease, but if yours is nervous or lacking confidence, then now is a good time to rectify this matter by socialising and, if necessary,y getting professional help.

Only when disaster strikes do we receive the benefits of our preparation.

For those with several pets, you will need to have a plan of action ready and, where possible, avoid having to abandon them. Cats, dogs, and very small cage pets should be easily relocated, but I guess those who own horses and farm animals will need to develop a different strategy.

None of this is a template for a successful survival in the face of a natural disaster, but it is incumbent on all of us to prepare accordingly. We need to remember that a few minutes of preparation now may save your life and that of your pet. Let’s always remember that property, goods and chattels can always be replaced or rebuilt, but our lives, the lives of our family, and our pets cannot. Some forward planning is required, and we all hope that these preparations will be unnecessary, but as we have seen, lives have been lost as people hesitated and were unable to make instant decisions, and no forward planning was in place.

Recent experiences

If you have any doubt, listen to the words of actor and comedian Billy Crystal, who lost his house and all his possessions:

“These are the clothes that I wore when I fled my house….. I wore them for a week.”

Like it or not, cataclysmic climate changes are on the way, and unfortunately, many of the world’s leaders are either in denial or choosing to ignore the threat for reasons of finance, ignorance, or ideology. None of us are immune from natural disasters or man-made ones, for that matter. We can plan. Our pets cannot.