EMERGENCY LIST FOR HORSES & DOGS
Here are the supplies that you should have in
a disaster kit for horses. Adjust the amounts, depending on the number of
horses that you have.
1. FOOD
Since a horse's digestive system is very
delicate, you should keep the horse on the same diet it is accustomed to during
a disaster.
a) Always have a reserve supply of the type of
food or special feed your horse is used to eating that would last at least one
week;
b) Store feed in an airtight, water proof
container;
c) Rotate feed at least once every (3) months;
d) Include with your disaster supplies an
extra feeding bucket, just in case the one normally used is lost.
2. WATER
When the water supply is disrupted during a
disaster, it can become a real challenge getting enough water to give to a
horse, and dehydration can become a major problem for a horse, especially when
it is stressed.
a) Have enough drinking water to last at least
one week for each horse - 50 gallon barrels are good for this;
b) Store water in a cool, dark location, and
be sure to rotate it so it remains fresh;
c) Remember that if the tap water is not
suitable for humans to drink, it is also not suitable for animals to drink;
d) Include with your disaster supplies an extra water bucket; just in case the one normally used is lost.
3. SANITATION
Maintaining a clean environment for horses during
a disaster will minimize the threat of disease.
a) Keep at least a one week supply of shavings
to be spread out in the horse's stall (be sure that what you use is dry);
b) In your disaster supplies keep a pitch fork
in case the one you usually use is lost;
c) If space allows, have an extra wheelbarrow
or muck bucket which will greatly assist when cleaning a stall
4. IDENTIFICATION
It is important to have some type of
identification on your horse during a disaster which would include such forms
of identification as:
·
microchipping
·
tattoos
·
freeze branding
If your horse is not permanently identified,
there are some options for temporary identification, which include:
a) Using a livestock crayon and write your
name, phone number, and address on the horse;
b) Using clippers to shave your name, address,
and phone number in the horse's coat;
c) Braiding into the horse's mane an
identification tag with your name, address, and phone number on it;
d) Have a spare identification tag with your
disaster supplies that you can write on, so that if you are going to be living
somewhere temporarily you can put the phone number and address of that location
on the tag and braid it into the horse's mane;
e) In with your disaster supplies keep some
current photographs of your horse, including in some of the pictures the
person(s) who own the animal, so that they can be used to prove ownership
should your horse get lost and you have to reclaim it
f) In with your disaster supplies include a
copy of the Bill of Sale for your horse or other documentation that can be used
to prove ownership.
5. FIRST AID KIT
Check with your veterinarian to find out what
he/she recommends you include in your first aid kit. Some suggested items
include: cotton and cotton rolls, disposable surgical gloves, vet wraps, duct
tape, telfa pads, Betadine, instant cold packs, easy boot, diapers, Furazone,
scissors, Blue Lotion, and tweezers.
6. MEDICATIONS
a) If your horse is on long term medication,
always have on hand at least a (2) week supply, since your vet may not be able
to refill a prescription for awhile;
b) Check with your veterinarian, preferably a
mobile veterinarian, to see if he/she has a disaster plan - if not, find a
veterinarian in your area who does so that you can get medical care for your
horse should it get injured during a disaster;
c) Keep your horse's medical records,
including records of vaccinations, with your disaster supplies;
d) It is important to keep your horse
up-to-date on vaccinations, especially tetanus as the risk of getting cut
during a disaster greatly increases;
e) Keep with your disaster supplies a current
copy of your horse's Coggins certificate.
7. EVACUATING YOUR HORSE
In case you have to evacuate your horse, you
should have a horse trailer and a truck that can safely pull it, but be sure to
maintain the trailer so that it is safe to pull - a safety check includes
looking at:
·
the floor of the
trailer
·
the trailer hitch
·
the tires
·
the lights
If you do not have a trailer or enough trailer
space for the number of horses that you have, then work out ahead of time other
arrangements for transporting your horse(s)
8. TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR HORSES
If you have to evacuate your horse, you may
not have a barn with stalls to take it to, so in that case, you should have
rope in your disaster supplies to use to tie out your horse (you must train
your horse to tether before you have to do this in a disaster though.) In with
your disaster supplies you should have a halter and lead rope for each of your
horses and it is best to have leather halters and cotton lead ropes and not
nylon, so that in the event of a fire they will not melt.
With horses and other large animals, it is
especially important to make arrangements ahead of time as to where they can be
sheltered if you need to evacuate them. Some suggestions for temporary housing
include equine centers, boarding stables, racetracks, and fairgrounds. It is a
good idea to have a community evacuation plan if there are lots of horses in
the area where you live. Setting up a "buddy" system can help to save
the life of your horse too.
It takes time to move larger animals, so allow
plenty of time to get them to safety.
Do not wait until the last minute. If you have
a horse that is not accustomed to being in a trailer, practice loading and
unloading with the horse. During the emergency is not the time to convince a
horse who has never been in a trailer to go inside one.
DOGS
The next time you buy food or supplies for
your dog, take this list with you. Don't put off doing what you should do now -
it may just make the difference between being able to keep your dog alive when
a disaster strikes.
Here are the supplies that you should have in
a disaster kit for dogs. Adjust the amounts, depending on the number of dogs
that you have.
1. FOOD
Always have a reserve supply of the type of
food your dog is used to eating that would last at least a week. If your dog
eats canned food, buy cans small enough to be used at one feeding since you may
not have a way to properly refrigerate any left over food, and buy pop top cans
if you can since you may not have access to a can opener (you should include a
can opener with your disaster supplies just in case though). Store food in an
airtight, water proof container and rotate food at least once every (3) months.
Include with your disaster supplies an extra feeding dish, just in case the one
normally used is lost. Include with your disaster supplies a spoon to scoop
and/or mix food.
2. WATER
Have enough drinking water to last at least
one week for each dog in your household. Store water in a cool, dark location,
and be sure to rotate it so it remains fresh, remember that if the tap water is
not suitable for humans to drink, it is also not suitable for animals to drink.
Include with your disaster supplies an extra water dish, just in case the one
normally used is lost.
3. SANITATION
Have a pooper scooper in your disaster
supplies for picking up after your dog. Have some plastic bags in your supplies
for disposing of your dog's waste, you may want to purchase some disposable
pooper scooper bags at a pet supply store.
4. CLEANING SUPPLIES
Include with your disaster supplies a small
container of soap for washing out your dog's food dish. Include with your
disaster supplies some paper towels for drying dishes and other cleanup if you
will be housing your dog in a crate, include with your disaster supplies a
disinfectant that can be used to clean the crate.
5. COLLAR AND TAG
A proper fitting collar and an identification
tag should be kept on your dog at all times, and an extra collar and
identification tag should be kept with your disaster supplies should the
permanent ones get lost during a disaster (do not keep a choke collar on a dog
all the time, as your dog may accidentally get it caught on something and choke
itself. Have a spare identification tag with your disaster supplies that you
can write on, so that if you are going to be living somewhere temporarily you
can put the phone number and address of that location on the tag. Keep a proper
fitting dog harness and at least a 6 foot long leash with your disaster
supplies to be used when you walk your dog - this is a stressful time for dogs
too, and a frightened dog can slip out of a collar, but not a harness.
6. TEMPORARILY CONFINING YOUR DOG You may wish to purchase a plastic
airline crate or a wire collapsible crate to transport your dog should you have
to evacuate and/or to keep the dog in following a disaster - be sure the crate
is large enough for your dog to lie down comfortably and allow room for a food
and water dish (remember that fences and walls can come down during a disaster,
making it easier for a dog to escape and get lost). You may wish to purchase a
metal stake that screws into the ground, with a place to fasten a dog chain -
be sure if you stake your dog out to provide protection from the hot sun,
extreme cold, snow, or rain - a dog house should be placed within reach to
protect the dog - it is also important when staking out a dog that you do not
leave it somewhere that other aggressive animals might be able to get to it.
When staking a dog, be sure to use a chain and not a leash that the dog can
chew through - also be sure that the dog is not chained in a place where it
could fall off of something and hang itself (for example, an elevated porch).
7. FIRST AID KIT Check with your veterinarian to find out
what he/she recommends you include in your first aid kit some suggested items
include:
·
first aid book for
dogs
·
conforming bandage
(3" x 5")
·
absorbent gauze pads
(4" x 4")
·
absorbent gauze roll
(3" x 1 yard)
·
cotton tipped
applicators (1 small box)
·
antiseptic wipes (1
package)
·
emollient cream (1
container)
·
tweezers and scissors
·
instant cold pack
·
latex disposable
gloves (several pairs)
·
proper fitting muzzle
DISCLAIMER:::
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE ARE PURELY SUGGESTIONS-You should adjust your needs accordingly. We accept no responsibility for injury, death or ACT OF GOD, apart from what is within our control here at The Organic Pet LIVE. Please do your homework and follow common sense when preparing for your pets. We will not be held responsible for your behavior, whether good, bad or otherwise. We are here to promote safety and health.