Tip #1: Identification, Identification, Identification!
Proper ID - for ALL pets - is the absolute most important thing you can do to increase the odds of reuniting with your animal in the wake of disaster. We all learned a valuable lesson after Hurricane Katrina, when only 15-20% of the tens of thousands of lost pets were able to join their families again.

There aren't hurricanes in Pittsburgh (thank goodness), but we do have our share of floods, tornadoes, fires and the possibility of attack in an unstable world.

We strongly recommend microchipping for dogs and cats (even indoor ones), because while a collar can fall off or be removed, the RFID chip will remain in place for the life of your pet. This simple procedure can be done at any appointment, with minimal pain - it's similar to a vaccine injection, just with a larger needle to accommodate the size of the chip. [Request an appointment online now]

Consider a microchip an extra layer of protection, not a replacement for ID tags.

BoomerangTags.com offers free shipping, no sales tax, and a lifetime guarantee for its CollarTags - they're excellent options for break-away cat collars, too!

Tip #2: Prepare a "Go Bag"
(It's a good idea to have one of these for your family, too)
This is a grab-and-go pack of essentials for your pet in case you need to evacuate on short notice.

A well-stocked "Go Bag" includes:

• 3-7 days of food for each pet (rotate every 2 months)
• 7-day supply of bottled water (rotate every 2 months)
• A small supply of daily medications (rotate every 2 months)
• Extra leash + extra collar/harness
• Food & water bowls
• [cats] Foil roasting pan as a disposable litterbox
• [cats] Gallon Ziploc bag of litter
• [cats] One pillowcase per cat - these can be used as emergency cat carriers, if needed. (Don't worry - they can breathe and actually often feel comforted by the visual barrier from unfamiliar sights.)
• Recent photos of your pet, in case you become separated
• Photocopies of vaccine records for each pet

Tip #3: Have emergency contact information ready before you need it
If they're not already, program important veterinary phone numbers into your cell phone:

• Allegheny North Veterinary Hospital: 412-364-5511
• Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center (PVSEC): 412-366-3400
• University Veterinary Specialists: 724-727-2273
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435
• Your local fire/police department non-emergency numbers

You might consider having an alternate caregiver on standby in case something would happen that prevents you from accessing your home. Talk to trusted neighbors and create a plan together to provide care for one another's pets in case of emergency.

Downloads:

• ASPCA Mobile App (iOS/Android)

On-the-go information about how to manage emergencies with your pet - no signal/WiFi required

• ​American Red Cross Pet First Aid App

Advice for stabilizing your pet in an emergency, how to administer medication and respond to stress-related behavior.

• Animal Poison Control App
  

Quick access to common toxins to aid in assessing severity of risk, identification, and one-click calling to the 24/7/365 pet poison control line.​

Links:

• Ready.gov: Pet & Animal Emergency Planning

Preparing emergency supplies, shelter, & more. Includes information for large animal preparedness.

• American Red Cross: Pet Disaster Preparedness & Recovery

​Useful info, from preparing your emergency kit to helping your pets safely adjust after an incident.

• BringFido.com

Although​ intended for traveling and entertainment with your dog, this website can serve as a helpful search tool if you must evacuate and find lodging with your pets.

• Tornadoes: Keeping pets safe

Tips include having family members practice moving pets into a designated "safe zone" - evacuation drills are important for your pets, too!

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The severity of chocolate toxicity depends on several factors:

• Type of chocolate
• Weight of your dog
• Amount of chocolate ingested​

While one milk chocolate Hershey's Kiss might not cause harm to your Labrador, it's best not to share candy with your canine companions. Right now, your dog doesn't know what he's missing; avoid giving him any type of chocolate so that he doesn't develop a taste for it.

​We all know how hard chocolate is to resist once you know just how good it is...!