COVID-19 is a scary time filled with a lot of uncertainty. You’ve probably thought through an emergency plan for yourself. But, are your pets included in your emergency plan? What happens to your pets if you get sick and have to go to the hospital? Making an emergency plan for your pets is absolutely essential and prevents them from having to go to a shelter because you didn’t make preparations for their care., We’ll walk you through making a plan in three easy steps. There’s also a great printable worksheet that is free for you to download and use.
When you think about making an emergency plan for your pets, you should plan as though you are going on a long vacation! Firstly, if you get sick, your pet needs somewhere to go! Who is the best person to take care of them?
When you consider who could care for your pet, keep these things in mind:
After thinking through those points, you probably have someone in your life in mind to take care of your pet. That’s your plan A person. Now, think through these questions again and consider who could be your backup plan. You don’t want to be stuck without a plan B if plan A falls through!
Don’t forget to ask your pet’s potential caretakers if they are okay with caring for your pet.
Think through what your pet needs on a daily basis, a weekly basis, a monthly basis, etc. Remember, you’re planning as though you’re going on a long vacation. All of these things need to be packed up in the same location, that way they are as ready-to-go as possible!
As you’ve thought through what items your pet uses everyday, you’ve likely thought through their routine some! But, let’s get that down on paper. While you and your pet might be on autopilot with these routines, someone else is taking care of your pet and they aren’t familiar with your pet’s routine.
Expert Tip: Add to your pet’s bag (or your packing list for them) as you go through step three. You’ll likely remember items you would have forgotten had you not walked through their routine.
You’ll also want to include things like your veterinarian's information and other emergency contacts in these written instructions!
This sounds like a lot of information! So we’ve consolidated all of this into a printable worksheet. Just fill it out and leave it in the bag for your pet’s caretaker. Your emergency plan is complete!