Last summer, I volunteered at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah (USA). One of my tasks was dog walking. I had the chance to walk a few dogs that had been rescued from Hurricane Katrina. I can’t imagine being forced to leave my pets behind in the case of a natural disaster. Local governments here in Japan are always reminding people to have food and water on hand in an earthquake “kit.” However, I have never heard or seen any publications on how to prepare our pets for an emergency. The American Veterinary Medical Association has a nice brochure available online that has some very useful hints on how to prepare for a disaster. In particular, having a first aid kit specifically designed for your companion animal is a great idea since veterinary care may not be readily available.

AVMA’s brochure: Saving the Whole Family