June is Pet Preparedness Month, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is encouraging pet owners to plan for emergencies. Officials recommend creating a kit with food, water, and medications for your pets, along with keeping up-to-date photos and medical records. Arranging for someone to care for your animals if you’re separated is also advised. Taking these steps now can make a crucial difference during a disaster and help ensure the safety of furry family members. Additional resources and tips for pet preparedness are available online at Ready.Illinois.gov, helping everyone stay ready if disaster strikes.
“Just like for humans, we need to be prepared for disasters on behalf of our pets,” said Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “Not only do we need to think through all the items necessary to care for pets when we are at home, we need a plan in case we are not home and need arrangements for care.”
- Create a pet preparedness kit with medications, non-perishable food and treats, water, bowls, cat litter and pan, waste bags, blanket, bedding for pocket/exotic pets (and perhaps a heat source), toys, first aid kit, and copies of medical records
- Have up-to-date identification on your pet
- Identify a safe area of your home where all can stay together during a shelter-in-place recommendation, and keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers
- Coordinate with a trusted friend, relative, or neighbor to take care of pets and their disaster kits if you’re not home, then meet you at a specific location
- Don’t allow pets to roam loose in a damaged home or neighborhood.
