Petfinder urges residents of the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana, from Port Mansfield, Texas to Cameron, Louisiana--and including the towns of Galveston and Houston, Texas to prepare themselves--and their pets--for disaster. Hurricane Ike promises to be a savage storm, likely a Category 3 or 4 hurricane with winds of up to 130 m.p.h. and a storm surge of 20 ft. that will flood not just low-lying areas, but possibly parts of Houston, as well. Visit our Disaster Preparedness page, where you will find a Disaster Plan and a Disaster Plan Checklist and many other tips and tools to help ready your pets and your family for the storm. Here, again are some steps you can take today to ensure your pets' safety.
Quick Tips for Disaster Preparation
-- Prepare your disaster plan and review it with all your family members.
-- Take photos of your pet with your cell phone. If you and your pet become separated, the pictures will help rescue groups reunite you more easily.
-- Have a pet carrier ready for your pet in case of evacuation. You will need a carrier for safe transport in your car and for any public evacuation transportation. Also, emergency shelters will not take pets without carriers. Write the pet's name and your cell phone number on the top of the carrier, in permanent ink.
-- If you do have to evacuate, take your pet with you. We learned from Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Don't risk your pet's safety and life.
--The SPCA has already evacuated 75 animals from Brazoria county and
moved them to shelters in Houston to wait out the storm. The SPCA has
over 3,000 pet carriers on hand to help with potential pet evacuations.
You can watch a video about the pet evacuations here.
--Large animals such as horses and other farm animals can be evacuated to the Brazos Animal Shelter and the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.
--Pet Paradise, a Houston shelter, will function as an emergency shelter for pets if Houston is issued an evacuation order. They will board cats and dogs free of charge in case of mandatory evacuations.
--Local Texas TV station, Khou.com has listed additional details about evacuation orders and emergency pet shelters.
--San Antonio TV station, Woai.com has posted tips for protecting pets during Hurricane Ike.
Pet Owners: LET US KNOW HOW YOU ARE DURING HURRICANE IKE. Petfinder.com will be monitoring the situation and providing updates as they come in.
--Large animals such as horses and other farm animals can be evacuated to the Brazos Animal Shelter and the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.
--Pet Paradise, a Houston shelter, will function as an emergency shelter for pets if Houston is issued an evacuation order. They will board cats and dogs free of charge in case of mandatory evacuations.
--Local Texas TV station, Khou.com has listed additional details about evacuation orders and emergency pet shelters.
--San Antonio TV station, Woai.com has posted tips for protecting pets during Hurricane Ike.
Pet Owners: LET US KNOW HOW YOU ARE DURING HURRICANE IKE. Petfinder.com will be monitoring the situation and providing updates as they come in.
