Disaster Preparedness For Your Pet

You can never predict where and when a disaster will strike. From something as small as a house fire to as large as Hurricane Katrina, a little preparedness can make the difference between life and death. This also applies to your pets. As much as we care for our pets they are often overlooked when preparing ourselves for a disaster, and it only occurs to us at the last moment that we should have done more for our friends. The result is that many dogs and cats are left to fend for themselves, and those that survive the actual disaster, find it very difficult to live in a world where food and shelter are no longer provided for them.

The first thing we should consider when developing a plan to get our pets through a disaster is their basic needs. I recommend making a "disaster kit" in a sturdy waterproof container and keep it readily available if you must leave unexpectedly with your pet in an emergency. This kit can be a life saver whether you are forced to evacuate or stranded around your home.

Make sure to include:

• A pet first aid kit
• Your pets vaccination and medical records, medications, vet contact information, microchip information, list of behavioral problems, and feeding instructions.
• Current photos of your pet
• Food and water bowls, litter boxes, etc.
• Pet food and water for at least a few days (Make sure to rotate out the food every few months, so you don't end up with bad food when the emergency strikes)
• Spare sturdy collars with rabies and identification tags

The second thing to consider when preparing your pet for a disaster, is where you can keep your pet. Everyone just assumes that they will take their pet with them in an evacuation, but without proper planning, you might be surprised when you get to your destination. Most shelters, including Red Cross, do not allow pets unless they are service animals. You must research where a shelter will be that does accept pets in your area. If you have time, make sure any hotel you go to allows pets, many will make an exception in an emergency but you have to ask in advance. It's always a good idea to have a fail safe back up plan, such as an out of state neighbor or friend that is familiar with your animals and could care for them, even for a few months if needed.

When a catastrophic event happens, there is mass confusion afterwards. This applies to people and it also applies to our pets. Many people assume that your pet's instincts will help it cope when it's world gets turned upside down, but this is not the case. Expect your pet to act differently, whether it be depressed and lethargic or even aggressive. The best thing to do for your pet is to keep it confined in isolation from other pets in a sturdy carrier if possible. Pets that get along together normally may not be so friendly with each other in their frenzied state. There will be many dangers on the ground after a disaster such as chemicals, sharp objects, maybe even traffic where there usually isn't. Keeping your pet confined keeps them out of harms way.

The following links have a wealth of information on preparing your pets for a disaster. Research and be aware of the situations you may encounter.

http://www.avma.org/disaster/petsact_faq.asp
http://floridaredcross.org/Petsafety.html
http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/pets.html

A disaster is always unexpected and can change your life forever. But with a little planning, you can keep both you and your pet safe and happy.


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Product Review - Ethical Pet Laser Pet Toy

What is the most fun you could have with your pet for under $5.00? The Ethical Pet Laser Pet Toy is! I have never found a toy that can provide so many laughs, and hours of entertainment for you and your pet as a simple laser pointer.

There's something about a little red dot that can instantly capture the attention of any four legged  animal you may have in your home. The erratic movement inspires your pet's instinct to hunt, and their inability to ever catch their "prey" provides the mental stimulation that our pets so desperately need.

The Ethical Brand Pet Laser Toy comes with 5 interchangeable lenses so you can change the appearance of the dot. One of them is even a mouse for your cat to practice it's killer instincts around your home! The Ethical Pet Laser Toy comes with it's first set of batteries, so the fun can start as soon as you receive the product.

If you're still not sold on a the most fun for your buck that you can find anywhere, here are some satisfied customers.



This dog loves it so much he even asks for it by pressing a switch!


So if you're on a budget and tired of buying toys for your pets that seem to just get destroyed within a few days, or you just want something new to entertain your pet, try the Ethical Pet Laser Toy. They are cheap, last forever, and will provide hours and hours of happiness for you and your pet!

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Picture of the Week! Cute Puppy!

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Feather Plucking

You've noticed lately that your parrot has started losing feathers. At first it was just a few on the bottom of his cage, but now, he appears to be going bald! Not to worry, this is a fairly common issue with birds, particularly parrots.


Generally, when birds fall ill, they show very few signs of being sick. Of all pets, bird's are probably the least domesticated, and act almost exactly the way they do in the wild. Hiding illness serves them well, as predators don't know who to pick as the weakest member of the flock. What does this have to do with feather plucking? Well, we can rule out a major illness. If your bird is plucking out it's own feathers, there's little reason to suspect that it may be sick. That's good news!

When your bird is plucking it's feathers, it's a sign that the bird is bored. Parrots are very intelligent and need to have large amounts of socialization and mental stimulation. They get this in the wild by being a part of a flock, and searching for food. In your home, in a cage, it's like being in solitary confinement for your bird. We use this same method as punishment for our criminals, we should understand the effect is similar on a bird.

A cage is necessary for your parrot's safety around your home, so we must do our best to make it's cage a place of relaxation and fun. The first way to do this is lots of toys. I prefer tough indestructible toys that present the bird with a problem, like how to get the treats out. This exercises their mind and gives them a creative outlet.

  by  â™¡Blackangelツ

 When people first hear this, their inclination is to fill the cage from top to bottom with as many toys as it can hold. I'm sure your bird would love this for a week or two, but it's not effective. Eventually, the bird will get used to it's toys and get bored again. I like to recommend having a supply of 7-10 different toys, and only put 2-3 in the cage at any time. Every week rotate out the toys, so no single toy stays in the cage for very long. By the time you put any specific toy back in the cage, it will be like new again!

Every parrot owner also needs to allow their bird some time outside of their cage. Even if you own a parrot that cannot be handled, you should allow it some time out of its cage. They need to explore their surroundings and be in a new environment on a regular basis. I highly recommend making sure your birds wings are clipped to prevent it from flying, house's are generally not good places for aerial acrobatics. This time out of it's cage will do wonders for your bird, it helps the bird to not view it's cage as a prison, but rather just another room of the house.

The third thing your feather plucking parrot needs is socialization. Most parrots live in large flocks in the wild, and they need to feel a part of a group to feel secure. If possible, the best thing you can do is directly interact with your bird. Play with it, talk to it, and hold it. When you're not directly interacting, the bird's cage should be in a high profile area of your home. They do best in a room where your family spends most of it's time. Even being in a cage, seeing the members of your house gives the bird something new to concentrate on all the time. It lets them know that their "flock" approves of them, and will be there for them.

If you own a bird that is plucking it's feathers, its best to improve it's daily mental workout. By providing toys and socializing your bird, you can make both you and your parrot happy!
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