(Elh70 image.)
There are many good resources for preparedness. How much food should you store? What should you keep on hand for emergencies? What to do in case of nuclear attack? (Seriously, that information is out there!)
But few of us think of preparedness for our pets. How much food do we keep on hand for them? Do we have basic veterinary first aid supplies? Do we know what we’ll do with them if we have to evacuate to a shelter?
A reader emailed me about the Great Pyrenees Club of America, which has begun a committee to help people address issues of disaster preparedness for pets.
“Our mission is to provide helpful information enabling pet owners to prepare the family and family dog for the unforeseen disaster; to assist Great Pyrenees owners, should disaster strike, by providing necessary supplies, information and assistance.”
Education in this area is much needed. We may have a year’s worth of wheat in storage, but we don’t have a year’s worth of dog kibble!
That’s because pets are part of the preapredness plan (as food) for most people. When you’re out of food and starving, Fido starts looking less like a faithfull companion, and more like a tasty snack.
That said, if you plan on having a pet through such an emergency, kibble is a good thing to have. Like most items in my home, I have several bags of kibble. I used the oldest first, and replace a bag as I open it. Three 40 pound bags of kibble will keep 3 chihuahuas happy for about 9 months most times, more if I ration it vs free feeding.
Coincidentally, kibble is also human digestible, and makes a good fall back for people as well given it’s shelf life. It’s not the best thing you can eat, but it beats eating mud, or not eating at all.