PRESS RELEASE: Preparing for Pet Emergencies Makes Sense

Wag’N Pet Safety Gear gives tips on pet emergency preparedness planning

While many people have a disaster plan in place for their family, the plan does not always include emergency provisions for the family pets.  Virginia based Wag’N Pet Safety Gear encourages pet parents to prepare in advance for a disaster situation that might effect both two-legged and fourlegged members of the family.

“In the midst of a fire or flood, tornado or terrorists attack, the likelihood that you and your pets will survive the emergency depends largely on emergency planning done today,” said Ines de Pablo, who holds a Masters Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management and is the sole founder of Wag’N Pet Safety Gear.  “Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling a
pet disaster supply kit and developing a pet care buddy system, are the same for any emergency. Keep in mind that what's best for you is typically what's best for your pets.”

Wag’N offers free All-Hazards Preparedness Checklists for cats and dogs, as well as for small/exotic pets, that can be downloaded at www.wagnpetsafety.com
Here are six tips to prepare for a pet emergency that Wag’N considers best practice and urges pet parents to follow:

• Pets should wear a collar with its regular identification, county license, microchip and rabies tag AT ALL TIMES.  Pet parents should carry a record of their pets’ medical history, a photo of their pet and emergency contact numbers.  A Wag’N Pet Passport™  is a good solution to put all information together in one place.
• If you must evacuate, take your pets with you if possible. However, if you are going to a public shelter, it is important to understand that animals may not be allowed inside. Plan in advance for shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your pets.
• Assemble a pet evacuation pack.  Wag’N offers Purr’N™ & Woof’N™ Evacuation Kits
 that contain the essential items needed for one cat or dog, respectively, and their human in the event of a disaster. Remember: a pet evacuation pack does not replace the need for your own evacuation kit!  
• Once your pet evacuation pack is completed, run a drill.  Imagine scenarios and trying carrying it, as well as your own kit, making sure everything fits in the car and still allows for safe transportation of people and pets. The drill will allow you to find out if you need to include other items or a larger or smaller quantity of certain things.
• Make a back-up emergency plan in case you can't care for your animals yourself. Talk to your neighbors
and figure out who can do what, where and when.
• Take a Pet First Aid Class and have a Pet First Aid Kit available for emergencies.  Wag’Ns Mayday WellFed™ and Skinny™ Pet First Aid kits are easy to care and contain items necessary to administer basic pet first aid.

About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N offers pet parents and first responders the necessary gear, supplies and training to effectively mitigate, prepare and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Chief Wag’N Officer, Ines de Pablo holds a Masters Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prestigious George Washington University in Washington D.C. and has over a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt.  Wag’N Enterprises is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed and all-encompassing crafted tools and services giving people and their pets’ peace of mind in case of an emergency.