INDIANA — Recent emergencies are a reminder of how quickly families may need to leave their homes. Pet Friendly Services of Indiana is encouraging pet owners to prepare now by making sure their emergency plans include their pets.
To make that preparation easier, Pet Friendly Services has created a free Pet Emergency Preparedness List, a printable resource designed to keep important information about a pet in one accessible place.
“When an emergency happens, you may not have much time to gather everything you need,” said Cheri Storms, executive director of Pet Friendly Services of Indiana. “Taking a few minutes now to organize your pet’s information can make a stressful situation a little easier and help ensure your pets aren’t overlooked when you need to act quickly.”
The checklist provides space for pet owners to record important information including their primary veterinarian, nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic, medications and dosages, food needs, microchip number, insurance information, allergies, vaccination records and emergency contacts.
Pet Friendly Services recommends completing the checklist before an emergency occurs and keeping it somewhere that is easy to access. Pet owners may also want to keep a digital copy on their phone so the information is available if they cannot return home.
“Pets are family, and they need to be part of the plan from the beginning,” Storms said. “Knowing where you’ll go, what your pet needs and where their important information is located can save valuable time.”
The organization encourages pet owners to share the checklist with friends and family, particularly those who may need assistance evacuating with their animals.
The Pet Emergency Preparedness List is available free from Pet Friendly Services of Indiana.
