Pet Disaster Plans

We've just had a horrible weekend in the South with the spring storms that bring tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Tragically, people died. Twelve as of today. More than 700 homes in Mississippi were damaged or obliterated. Businesses, churches, gone. Untold numbers of pets lost their homes or their lives. A twister touched down in North Georgia and damaged property. Some cities in Alabama and the Carolinas experienced similar destruction.

If you live in a storm-prone area, you should have disaster plans not just for your family, but for your pets. In hurricane or wildfire zones, plan your escape routes. During flash floods (which hit my county hard last autumn), know how you'll get away, and where your nearest shelter is located. During tornado season, determine the safe area in your home (typically the northwest corner on the lowest level) and set up sturdy crates for all your animals. Practice drills, and make sure your dogs and cats will reliable enter their crates upon command. Fill a plastic bin with at least three days' worth of pet food, clean water, and first aid supplies like flashlights, gauze, and medical tape. Include extra leashes, collars, and muzzles for your dogs (an injured dog is more likely to bite out of pain and fear, so safety for the human rescuers is an important part of your disaster plan).

And remember, a trained dog is much easier to handle than an untrained dog. This is a good time for refresher training on recalls and loose-leash walking. Don't wait until you need certain behaviors from your dog; rather, plan for the unexpected.

Here in Georgia, when disaster strikes and folks need to evacuate their homes and go to a public shelter, laws have been changed that now require human shelters to accommodate family pets. Some humane societies, boarding kennels, and veterinary offices will take in pets for the short term. Find out in advance where your pets are welcome if you need temporary housing.

My prayers are with those families to my west who lost loved ones last weekend.

Green Dog Ideas

Happy Earth Day! For dog owners who would like to make green decisions, there are several things to consider.

For example, how do you get rid of your pet's waste? While some communities require doggie doo go into double-black bags before disposal, others recognize the value of green alternatives. No, I'm not suggesting you throw your dog's poo into the creek (in many areas, that contributes to the levels of bacteria in streams and rivers).

You can, though, invest in biodegradable bags. Since you're a responsible pet owner, and you always pick up after your dog on daily walks, biodegradable bags are a good green alternative for waste disposal.

Other Earth Day suggestions: once your puppy outgrows his collar, wash it good and donate it to your local shelter or rescue organization. Ditto with crates. Invest in good stainless steel water and food bowls, rather than plastic ones (which my dogs have always managed to chew and mangle, so the stainless options last a lot longer).

You get the idea . . . you can have pets and use environmentally friendly supplies.

On another note, I'm pleased to announce that my youngest mudpuppy, my black Lab Story, earned her novice obedience title from the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) registry. I'm finally feeling connected to this challenging pup, and she is finally maturing. Labs are slow to grow up emotionally, and while I still call her my "puppy," Story will be four years old this summer. Ah, time flies.