During Emergency Preparedness Week during the first full week of May, the Saskatchewan SPCA reminded residents to include their pets in any emergency preparations.
“In recent memory, we have witnessed emergencies in our province ranging from tornadoes and train derailments to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Josh Hourie, Community Relations Coordinator for the Saskatchewan SPCA. “Emergencies can happen at any time and that’s why we’re encouraging pet owners to plan ahead and prepare. Taking the time now to think about your pet’s needs in your emergency plans will ensure their safety should disaster strike.”
The Saskatchewan SPCA suggested using the Pet Emergency Kit Checklist and the Pet Emergency Information Sheet to assist in emergency planning. These resources provided an easy-to-follow overview of the recommended supplies to include in emergency kits along with detailed pet care instructions forms. The checklist and information sheet can be downloaded at www.saskspca.ca/emergency.
Pet emergency kits should include appropriate food and water, bowls, medications, medical records, leash, collar, ID tags, animal first aid kits, pet carriers and other special considerations for animals, such as cat litter or bedding.
When disaster strikes, the SPCA further reminded pet owners to stay informed by listening to local media and to follow local emergency measures organized on social media. Additional information about emergency planning for families and pets can be found at the Government of Saskatchewan’s Disaster Prevention and Preparedness website: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/environment-public-health-and-safety/disaster-prevention and the Government of Canada’s Get Prepared website: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/.
