AC Pup wants pet owners to be prepared for the worst
Guess what’s happening in Forsyth this Saturday night. It’s Bone Appetit, the steak and ribs cookout fundraiser for Save A Pet rescue group. We’ll be on North Jackson Street from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Even if you didn’t buy tickets for the meal, come anyway and enjoy the entertainment and festivities. There will be fabulous music by three different groups to enjoy — Swain and The Highway Souls, great bluegrass music by Cabin Point, and duo Terry Baker and Earl Hitt.
It’s going to be great fun, all to help the animals. So come on out and join me. And plan to visit Save A Pet’s brand-new shelter at some point to see the beautiful construction and happy dogs for adoption.
On another subject, I’ve been like everyone else watching the horrible wildfires raging in Alberta, Canada. It’s such a tragedy with out of control destruction. It’s unfortunate for the people there who had to evacuate their homes for their safety.
It’s also sad for the pets and wildlife exposed to the fire, smoke and ash. Their homes have been disrupted or maybe even destroyed.
We never know when or where an emergency will occur. This week is might be Alberta, and next week it might be our own area. That’s why we should always be prepared.
If you have a pet, there are things you can do to be ready for an emergency. And the best time to plan is before something happens instead of in the midst of chaos.
Why don’t you take a little time this weekend to develop a plan for your family and pets so you won’t be separated from your pets in the event of an emergency? Getting organized in preparation of an emergency would make everyone feel a little better.
It would be great to get all the pet items assembled in a portable bag that’s easy to grab and go. There are specific items you want to include in your pet grab-and-go emergency bag. It should contain a current photo of your pet, foldable food and water bowls, blankets, vaccination records, leashes, a collapsible crate or carrier and litter and a litter box for the kitties. It’s also wise to have a supply of food, water and any medications your pet is taking.
Some emergency shelters do not accept pets, and most people who love their pets are not willing to leave them behind. This has improved a little because so many people refused to leave their pets during Hurricane Katrina, but you never know if the shelter closest to you will accept pets.
So do some research ahead of time and learn what hotel chains are pet-friendly in the event you must evacuate. More hotels are gladly welcoming them as they realize how important pets are to their families. Once you do your research, make a list of these pet-friendly hotels to put in your emergency kit.
And don’t forget to have legible identification tags and microchips. That’s why I encourage everyone to get new ID tags every quarter just so you’re ready.
While we hope we never have an emergency in our area, it’s wise to be prepared just in case. Go ahead and get your emergency bag ready. You’ll be glad you did.
This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 12:01 AM with the headline "AC Pup wants pet owners to be prepared for the worst."