Evacuating Your Home

Plan ahead. Find a safe place to take your pets to if you need to evacuate. Doing your research in advance will save you precious time when you and your pets are faced with an emergency. Keep a list of:

• Friends/relatives who would be willing to host your pets in their home. Provide them with all the necessary supplies and information on your pets' care needs and daily habits.

• Locate pet-friendly hotels/motels in the areas you would most likely go to. You can find lists on websites such as www.petswelcome.com, www.petscanstay.com or www.takeyourpet.com Or, visit hotel Internet search sites like www.hotels.com or www.travelocity.com (click "pets allowed" in the search criteria). The American Automobile Association (AAA) publishes "Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook". It lists, by state and city, 13,000 locations that will accommodate pets in an emergency. The PetBook is available in many AAA club offices, at better bookstores or online at Barnes and Noble.

• Check for grooming and veterinary facilities that may offer boarding in emergencies. Consult the yellow pages, Internet or the Better Business Bureau and ABKA (a trade association of pet care professionals) for lists of boarding facilities. Don't shop by price alone. If possible, get referrals from friends and your veterinarian. To locate a licensed veterinarian, use Merial's veterinarian locator.

• Find local animal shelters prepared to provide emergency shelter for displaced pets. Government run shelters will be listed in the blue pages of the phone book, and non-profit animal shelters in the yellow pages.

When an evacuation order has been issued, act quickly and leave as soon as possible. Bring your pets indoors and ensure they are wearing collars with identification tags. Place dogs on leashes and small pets in their carriers. Load your pet disaster preparedness kit and supplies into your vehicle. Call your prearranged animal evacuation site to confirm availability. If you are required to go to a public shelter, keep in mind you will not be permitted to take your pets with you.