Be Prepared

STUFF HAPPENS


Think you'll never be forced from your home by a natural disaster or stuck in your car 
overnight in a snowstorm? That only happens to other people. But “Stuff Happens” and we know we should be prepared.

In case you think this is alarmist, it’s not. We just want you to be prepared.

“I knew Superstorm Sandy was coming…but I certainly never thought I’d have 5 minutes to get out of my apartment. Who thought something like that would happen to me? Water was rushing in from all directions. I didn’t have a chance to think, let alone try and grab what I might have needed. My 2 dogs were frightened and we had to wade through 4 ft. of water and sludge to get outside only to find ourselves with no supplies…no food, no fresh water. Ended up with all the pet parents huddled together on the top floor of our building. We couldn’t leave Hoboken for days—it was very difficult. Never again…. I now have an ON THE ROAD PET bag stashed in my car and another one hanging on the hook at the door, just in case.”
~Rachel S. 

 Photo Credit: Rachel S., Superstorm Sandy, Hoboken, New Jersey

YOU SAY YOU WILL BUT WE KNOW YOU WON’T

You might have thought about making a “Grab and Go” bag but of course, you haven’t done it. Stop beating yourself up, click on “Buy Now” and take care of this. Our Safe Travels and Adventure Kits contain everything you need to take care of your dog (and you, by the way) in an emergency. Consider this:
  • Even if you get to a shelter, it may not have supplies for you and your dog (or cat). You’ll need water, dog food, a collar and leash, ID for your pet, a first aid kit and of course, poop bags. You may be there for a while.
  • Keep a kit in your home and car. Do we have to remind you about people stuck in their car overnight in a blizzard on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago or on the Long Island Expressway? Baton Rouge? Superstorm Sandy? Those people never thought it would happen to "them." Throw the kit in your car or closet and hope you never have to use it.
  • Even if you live in a no-snow area, you probably live in a high risk fire area (California, Arizona) where you may have literally 3 minutes to clear out. Hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes anyone? Floods? We could go on, but you get it. The U.S. is a huge country and each of us, no matter where we live, will experience a significant weather or natural disaster "event" in our lives. 
  • The Kit doubles as an emergency preparedness “grab and go” bag for people too. We suggest that you add a flashlight, a lightstick (make sure that your pet doesn’t get ahold of this, as it contains chemicals for illumination), a hand cranked radio and a solar or battery cell phone charger, to name just a few items. If you want the Kit to do double duty as a pet and people emergency kit, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ADD ADDITIONAL WATER POUCHES.



We want you to know what to do. Check out these helpful websites:

www.fema.gov/helping-pets

www.humanesociety.org/issues/animal_rescue/tips/pets-disaster.html