06/10/2025
June Is National Pet Preparedness Month
Responsible pet owners are like Boy Scouts. They always come prepared. Petparentusa.com salutes the extra steps taken when pet owners prepare for emergencies, unexpected crises, and/or natural disasters. Here’s our eight-item checklist to focus attention on June as we observe National Pet Preparedness Month:
Microchip your pet- a must for all pet owners, regardless of the situation. As the American Veterinary Medical Association mentions on its Frequently Asked Questions post, microchips are one of the strongest tools for a successful and happy reunification. If your pet becomes lost, goes missing, or is separated from you, a scan of the chip helps finders of your dog or cat locate the owner's contact information.
Register your pet-a chip is great, but almost useless unless owner contact information is registered in a reputable database like Other critical information, like necessary pet medications or pet medical conditions, can also be stored in the registration database.
Assemble a pet emergency kit-In the event of situations that may involve evacuations, prepared pet owners will want to review the list of seven essential items prepared by the American Red Cross that every pet owner should assemble and have at the ready.
Develop and practice a pet fire safety evacuation plan-many American families, especially those with young children, have a household evacuation plan in the event of a fire. Do the same for your pets and have family members practice who does what if flames and smoke imperil your household. The American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has tips and a link for pet owners to secure special window stickers alerting first responders that your household is a pet household.
Check local shelter pet rules and regulations these are especially relevant to pet households in hurricane and flood-prone areas. Most municipal and county emergency shelters are designed to provide shelter, food, and care for humans, but not so much for animals. Some communities have pet-friendly shelters, but most don’t. Check with your local and county government agencies in advance of threatening weather to ensure you are aware of local regulations.
Check with pet friendly hotels along evacuation routes-weather forecasting has improved to the point where threats from hurricanes and potential floods provide at least some warning time and dictate mandatory or voluntary evacuations. If your household needs to “bug out” to avoid danger, call in advance to see which hotels/motels are pet-friendly along the evacuation routes. Knowing in advance will save you and your pets the trauma and added anxiety of being turned away when seeking shelter.
Pack proper pet provisions-in extreme situations, you may have to evacuate and not be allowed to return to your home for several days. Your pet emergency preparedness kit should include a week’s supply of pet food, adequate water, and pet medications if necessary. Check with your local veterinarian in advance for guidance on expiration dates on medications and access to refills if a weather-related emergency is imminent. Pack these extra pet provisions in a waterproof container, and include a favorite pet toy or two to help your pup or kitty mitigate the anxiety that will come in an emergency.
No job is finished until the paperwork is done-don’t forget to pack a copy of pet vaccination records, especially proof of current rabies vaccine. You may need it to secure emergency shelter for your family and pet(s). Also pack a battery-powered emergency weather radio. During some weather-related emergencies, the power is sure to go out and it’s important to be able to monitor news and instructions from emergency management officials.
