Watch Video This 5 1/2-minute video, with Lt. Mark Demski of the Office of Emergency Management, covers all aspects of pet preparedness. |
During an emergency, firefighters, police and other first responders are focused on protecting people. We know, however, that many people consider their pets members of their families and will refuse to leave without them. Pet owners need to plan how they will care for their animals during an emergency. These preparations must involve deciding where you will take a pet during an emergency. Many shelters do not accept pets. Depending upon the circumstances, Baltimore County may open "pet friendly" shelters that allow pet owners to bring leashed and crated animals, which will be transported for the duration of the event to the County's Animal Control Shelter in Baldwin. But pet friendly shelters should be a last resort. Emergency managers strongly recommend that you plan in advance to leave pets with friends or family or a boarding facility, or that you research hotels and motels that accept pets and where you could stay if you needed to evacuate. A supply kit for your pet is also a must, for evacuation situations but also in case you need to get through an emergency -- such as a blizzard -- at home. The kit should include: - A leash and a carrier. A pet friendly shelter will require your animal to be leashed and/or crated. The pet carrier should be large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around in.
- Pet identification. Your pet should wear an identification tag and rabies tag.
- Contact information and a photo of you and your pet. The County's Animal Control Center will require these.
- At least three days worth of food and plenty of extra water.
- Extra medications, if your pet takes them.
- Pet sanitation supplies.
- The pet's immunization and medical records. The County's Animal Control Center will require these if your pet stays there during an emergency.
Your pet should be licensed, as required by County law. And consider micro-chipping; you can have your pet micro-chipped at the Animal Control Center in Baldwin or at a veterinary hospital. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency's web site contains more useful information about disaster preparedness for pets and livestock. Revised August 27, 2009 | 
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