What to know
In a chemical emergency, you may need to evacuate or shelter in place. Gather materials that your pet would need, including food, medications, important papers, and other supplies. Make a plan by finding pet-friendly hotels or asking friends or relatives if you and your pet could stay with them.
Overview
Chemical emergencies can happen because of an accident such as a train derailment. They can also happen if someone releases chemicals on purpose, such as a terrorist attack.
If a chemical emergency happens, you need to have a plan in place to protect yourself and your pets.
In a chemical emergency, follow the same steps to protect your pet as you would for yourself.
This guide is mostly about dogs and cats. For tips on disaster planning for livestock, horses, birds, reptiles, or small animals, such as gerbils and hamsters, please visit:
- Ready.gov
- The Humane Society of the United States
- The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Stay up-to-date
Follow any instructions from the police, fire, or other local officials.
"Ready to go" bag
Prepare a Go Kit for your pet. A Go Kit contains supplies and important papers for your pet if you need to evacuate.
Examples of supplies include:
- Enough food and water to last 2 weeks.
- Food and water bowls.
- For cats: litter box and scoopable cat litter along with plastic poop bags. Disposable aluminum roasting pans are good as well.
- For dogs: plastic poop bags and a week of cage liners.
- A supply of large and small trash bags and several pairs of disposable gloves.
- Medicines to last 2 weeks.
- A pet first aid kit.
- Extra pet collar, leashes, and harnesses.
- A blanket.
- Microchip number (if your pet is microchipped).
- For cats: toys, a pillow case.
- For dogs: toys, chew toys.
Get a carrier or crate for your pet and train your pet to travel and sleep in it. Write your name, your pet's name, your address, and your telephone number on the carrier or crate.
Get a copy of your pet's records from your veterinarian, especially shot (vaccination) records. Some shelters will not take pets that are not vaccinated.
Actions
- Get a pet sticker for your front door. The sticker lets first responders know if pets are in the house. Write "EVACUATED" on it if you must leave your home.
- Make sure your pet has a collar, ID tag, and rabies tag. The tag should have the most recent information to reach you in case you and your pet are split up. Include your pet's name and your phone number.
- Keep a current picture of your pet and one of you with your pet on your phone for pet identification.
- Put together a list of local animal shelters. Lost pets often end up at a local animal shelter. After it is safe, you can check local shelters for your missing pet.
Microchips
Microchips are a permanent way to identify a pet. Collars can come off or get lost.
If your pet is lost and taken to the shelter, the shelter can scan for the microchip and read the information. They can reach you, let you know they have your pet, and you can get your pet back.
How a microchip is put in your pet
A small electronic chip inside glass with a number is put under your dog's or cat's skin. The chip is about the size of a rice grain.
The chip can be put in your pet at your veterinarian's office and is no more painful than your pet's vaccinations.
Anesthesia is not needed. The chip is inserted under the skin like a vaccination.
Registering the microchip
After the chip is placed, you should register the chip with the manufacturer. Add your phone number and other information to reach you.
It is important to register the chip and keep your information up to date in the manufacturer's registry.
There is no central registry. The American Animal Hospital Association has a universal microchip look-up database, but it is not a registry. There are free pet registries.
Your veterinarian should scan the chip once a year to make sure it is still working.
The American Veterinary Medical Association has more information about microchipping your pet.
Make a plan
Keep in mind
- Plan where you might go if you must evacuate. Look for pet friendly hotels or motels along the routes you may take. Have another route in mind in case the first one is blocked.
- Ask friends or relatives that live outside of your area if they will take your pet. You can also ask if you can stay with them and bring your pet.
- Find a local shelter or ask your veterinarian about pet hospitals or shelters that will take your pet in an emergency.
- Practice so everyone knows what to do.