Preparing for disasters

I was just about to start this column when my phone blew up with warnings about potential flooding and hail from the storm that was overhead.

It pretty much confirmed my notion that this topic would be a timely one about now. I still laugh when I think about what I grabbed before heading to an inside stairwell in my apartment in Ohio during a tornado watch: one can of pork and beans (pre-vegan days) a can opener, spoon, my toothbrush, a picture of my family and my cat. Not exactly protocol for disaster preparedness!

I did a little better in Tesuque when the fire in the Santa Fe National Forest kicked up on the heels of the Los Alamos fire in 2011. That pile also told me a lot about what was truly important to me at the time!

In September 2021, an ASPCA survey showed that “83 percent of pet owners are impacted by disasters” and fewer than half have disaster preparedness plans. Last year we had fires from Belen to Ruidoso and a flood in Roswell. We’ve already lived through extreme winds, hail and flooding this year.

So my friends, it’s time to go over what exactly they mean when they tell us to have a plan. First, a word about leaving pets in hot cars, and what to do if you see an animal in distress.

The temperature in a car can increase by 40 degrees in a matter of 15 minutes. So if it’s 70 outside, it’ll be 110 in the car in 15 minutes and your pet’s brain will begin to “fry.”

Death can happen quickly. No amount of ventilation, i.e. cracked windows, is considered adequate to prevent this, so even during a “quick trip” to the store, leave your buddies at home, please.

In 2023, Albuquerque Animal Welfare received 594 calls about pets left in cars. That’s 594 too many.

New Mexico has laws prohibiting animal cruelty, and Albuquerque has an ordinance about leaving pets in cars during extreme heat (ordinance 9-2-2-6). It’s a petty misdemeanor that can result in a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. If officers find the pet unharmed they may educate rather than cite, but if the pet is harmed or dies, the charge can escalate to animal cruelty or felony animal cruelty.

If you see a pet in a hot car, first call 911. This may protect you somewhat if you end up breaking a window to rescue the animal. Get the vehicle’s information and alert store personnel to make an announcement. Stay with the car until help arrives, or if you must — break a side window.

New Mexico doesn’t have a Good Samaritan law regarding animal rescues like this, but I’d rather face paying for a new window over watching a dog die a horrible death, wouldn’t you?

OK, now here’s the “recipe” for your disaster preparedness kit, gleaned from the ASPCA, Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society of the United States) and FEMA (ready.gov). First, unlike hot cars, if you’re evacuating during a disaster, take your pets with you, please.

There’s a good poster available at aspca.org/news/disaster-preparedness-checklist-your-pets, but in a nutshell here’s what to include:

1. Copies of each pet’s medical records, including prescriptions, microchip numbers, descriptions and photos of each pet — preferably one with you in it (this helps prove ownership if you get separated), contact info for your vet, yourself, and others in your circle.

2. Food, water and medications for at least three to five days, feeding supplies and written instructions for food and medications (in case you get separated), hygiene supplies (litter, poop bags, paper towels, etc.) and pet first-aid supplies.

3. Leashes, tags and collars with ID’s, harnesses, and carriers or crates.

Avoid putting loose animals in your car as they can cause accidents, become projectiles in an accident or escape through doors and windows. Think of them as babies in your car.

Last but not least, think about how you’ll get out and where you’ll go. Set up a buddy system with friends/neighbors in case you’re not home when an evacuation is called, and put a sticker on your door with the number and species of pets in your home to inform emergency personnel.

Some further great information can be found at humaneworld.org/en/resources-pet-disaster-preparedness, including how to “shelter at home” if that’s a possibility. So, get busy, be prepared, and here’s hoping none of us will be in harm’s way this season. Thank you for reading and stay well.

(Colleen Dougherty is a writer, educator, artist and behavioral health therapist. She has worked and volunteered in animal welfare for more than 20 years, and has spoken at several animal welfare conferences. She holds degrees in art and counseling therapy, and graduate certificates in eco-psychology and humane education. Her passion is fostering joyful and respectful relationships between animals, humans and the earth. She’s been writing Paw it Forward since 2016.)