How to Prepare Your Dogs for a Hurricane

Living in Louisiana, hurricanes were unfortunately a hidden worry during the summer and fall. You enjoy the beach, but keep one eye on the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Well, hurricane season is among us so it’s time to prepare or refresh your dog’s evacuation kit.

Never leave your dogs behind. It’s not fair to dump a bag of food on the ground and abandon them. You brought them into your lives, and it’s your responsibility to keep them safe. Bring all of your pets with you–there’s no excuse.

So plan now and worry later.

Evacuation Kit for Dogs

Gather these items, pack in a heavy duty suitcase and store in an easy-to-reach closet. When disaster looms in the ocean, your dog’s kit is ready to go.

• Pet first aid kit plus two-week supply of all required dog medication.
• Download a pet first aid app for your smartphone. It’s packed with first aid information plus it locates the closest veterinarian when traveling.
• Flat buckle collar with current ID tags.
• Microchip your dog and register and/or update your information with microchip manufacturer.
• Photocopy vaccination records and any other vet information pertaining to chronic illnesses.
• Snap updated photos and place in a plastic bag. Store in a folder just in case your dog gets lost.
• Purchase a safety kennel lead for each dog. I recommend Mendota British Slip leads, as frightened dogs can not back out of them. The lead has a leather slip to prevent the loop from opening too wide.
• Old towels and bedding.
• Plastic or wire crate.
• Bottled water (two to three day supply).
• Dog food (one to two weeks).
  • I recommend canned food due to its long shelf life. It’s also very palatable, which encourages eating during times of stress.
  • If feeding your dogs raw food, keep a small supply frozen in the back of your freezer and switch out as needed to avoid spoiling.
• Poop bags for cleanup.
• Waterless shampoo for quick cleanup.

Plan Your Evacuation Route Now

Forced to leave your home within hours is scary. Many times, evacuees are forced to travel further north because pet-friendly hotels fill within minutes so keep a list of pet-friendly hotels within a 60- to 70-mile radius of your home.

Be prepared for traffic jams. It seems everyone decides to evacuate at the same time mostly due to mandatory evacuation per state officials. Your dog must ride inside your vehicle, as it’s unrelentingly hot sitting in traffic jams or just traveling during warmer months. Plan for enough space for your dog to lie down and turn around inside your car or truck.

To Leave or Ride It Out

Oh, this is a frustrating decision. It’s expensive evacuating and then returning home to limited home damage have many people tempted to ride out the next hurricane. As someone who shares her home with dogs, we leave early once we confirm our area is within the path for category 4 and 5 hurricanes! I would rather watch traffic jams from a nice cool hotel room than fight my way through.

Many of us work, and this is usually the last deciding factor on staying or leaving. Speak to your supervisor and ask about hurricane evacuation polices. Many business allow employees several days to prepare and evacuate with their families.

Hanging out and making a last minute decision can be costly. When in doubt, get out and bring your dogs with you.

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