Emergency Preparedness
We recommend planning ahead to keep you and your pets safe. Follow these tips to make an emergency plan for your pets:
Temporary Care
Ask a friend, neighbor or family member to care for your pets if someone in your household becomes ill and/or is hospitalized. Consider researching boarding facilities. Remember, these may close if considered non-essential businesses.
Identification
Be sure to keep your pet’s microchip registration up to date with current contact information. Always keep collars on your pet with tags that have current phone numbers. Have a picture of your pet printed out and kept with your pets medical records.
Emergency kits (one for each pet)
- Two-week supply of food and water. Store in a water-tight container. Rotate food and water every three months to keep fresh.
- Food and water bowl
- Can opener
- One crate or temporary housing space per pet.
- Litter and litter box for cats
- Comfort items
- Cleaning items for pets (paper towels, scoop for litter box, cleaning spray)
- Pet first aid kit
COVID-19 & Our Pets
An update on COVID-19 and our pets – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following:
- Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household.
- Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people.
- Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals.
- Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather.
If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would around other people.
- When possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick.
- Avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food or bedding.
- If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them.
While additional animals may test positive as infections continue in people, it is important to note that performing this animal testing does not reduce the availability of tests for humans.