Experts give tips on evacuating safely with pets

Planning to evacuate ahead of a storm with a pet — or several pets — can be challenging, but animal-care experts have some guidelines that can help.

The tips come from the Louisiana State Animal Response Team, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

What to do

• Never leave your pet behind.
  The safest place for your pet is with you.
• If you plan to stay at a hotel, contact it in advance to confirm a pet-friendly policy.
  For online information about pet-friendly hotels, check out petswelcome.com or bringfido.com/lodging.
• If you are staying with friends or family, make sure that your pets are invited as well.
  If not, ask for recommendations of nearby veterinary hospitals or boarding kennels and make reservations in advance.
• Ensure your pets are up to date on vaccinations and bring their records.
  Obtain a copy of your pet's vaccination record from your veterinarian and keep it with your emergency kit.
• If your pet requires medication, bring at least a two-week supply.
• Identification of your pet is crucial.
  The ideal form of identification is a microchip or a tattoo.
  At a minimum, your pet should have a tag with its name, your name, and your phone number on it.
  Pictures of your pet that capture identifying features are also a good idea.

Individuals with special needs or those without transportation who have pets should contact their parish emergency managers ahead of time to register for special assistance during a disaster.
Contact your parish emergency manager through the parish sheriff's office.

For emergency assistance with animal-related issues, contact your parish emergency preparedness office.
For a list of parish emergency preparedness offices and contacts, go to gohsep.la.gov/ABOUT/STATE-REGIONS.

The Utah-based nonprofit, Best Friends Animal Society, has other tips for pet owners during severe-weather events:

• Connect with neighbors to ensure someone can care for and/or evacuate pets if residents are unable to do so.
• Bring pets indoors at the first disaster warning signs.
• Determine where all household members — including pets — will go in an emergency and identify several evacuation routes to get there, since one route may not be accessible in the event of a disaster.
• Create a pet go-bag that includes three to five days of their food and water, any required medication, a collar and current ID tag, a crate labeled with their name, towels and blankets, and a pet first-aid kit.
• For outdoor cats, elevate feeding stations and provide protected areas for them to get to higher ground, but do not try to trap and contain unsocialized community cats.

"If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your animals," the Humane Society of the United States said about weather events and pets. 

"If you're forced to leave your home because you've lost electricity or for any other reason, take your pets with you," the nonprofit organization said. 

If you stay home, do it safely, the Humane Society said, offering the following tips:

• If your family and pets have not been told to evacuate, identify a safe area of your home where you can all stay together.
  Close off or eliminate unsafe nooks and crannies where frightened cats may try to hide.
  Move dangerous items such as tools or toxic products that have been stored in the area.
• Bring your pets indoors as soon as local authorities say trouble is on the way.
• Keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers, and make sure they are wearing identification. 
• If there is an open fireplace, vent, pet door or similar opening in the house, close it off with plastic sheeting and strong tape.
• Listen to the radio or follow official channels online to stay up to date on evacuation orders or other announcements.
• Include horses and farm animals in disaster preparedness plans.
• Individuals looking for assistance should call the parish in which they are located and ask for guidance, including if they have an emergency shelter or location for animals.
  It is also advisable to call local animal control to flag the property so it is on the radar of emergency officials.