How To Make A Bugout Bag For Your Pet

Survivalists call an emergency backpack with enough gear, food, water, etc, to survive for 72 hours a "bugout bag". If you are forced to flee from your home in a hurry due to a disaster such as an earthquake, a bug out bag can help you survive or live more comfortably wherever you may end up, even if you must survive on your own for several days. You can find many articles about how to make a bug out bag for humans to use when evacuating, but the subject of a bugout bag for pets is not well covered. As someone who has both helped with hurricane relief, and been forced to evacuate with pets, I wanted to share some ideas for making an evacuation kit for pets.

If you care about your dog, cat, etc., you should think about making an evacuation kit for your pet. Note that not all emergency shelters for humans accept pets. Try to find out as early in a disaster scenario as possible which shelters accept pets, or to whom you can give your pet for temporary care until you can be reunited. Your local ASPCA or vet may be able to help you in such a situation.

A bugout bag can be made from an old backpack, suitcase, or other tough container. Preferably your pet bug out bag should be waterproof. If not, each item inside of it should be placed in a waterproof container or bag. Since you will most likely be carrying your own bugout bag, it should be lightweight and easy to hold onto.

What To Put In A Bugout Bag For Pets

The things you need to put in a bugout bag for animals are much the same as those in one made for human use. Your pet will need the basics, such as food, water, shelter, medicine, etc.

Food For Pet Bugout Bags

You should keep at least three days of food in your pet's bugout bag. A mix of canned and dry food is preferable, in case the dry food becomes spoiled by moisture. It is best to pack the same food that your pet eats daily, as not to cause digestive problems. Seal dry food inside locking plastic containers such as Tupperware and then place the containers inside sealed plastic bags for waterproofing. You'll need to replenish the food in your pet bug out bag every few months since canned food will only last about a year, and dry pet food will last about four months.

What To Do About Emergency Water For Your Pet In An Evacuation

Neither you or your pet can survive without clean water. Some water purification tablets may be dangerous to animals. That's why it's a good idea to both take your own clean water along, and take a water purifier. There are many kinds of water purifiers for the bug out bag available, but choose one that has a high - volume output, such as the MSR HyperFlow.

Medications For Your Pet Bugout Bag

In the event of an evacuation you may not be able to access veterinary care for your pet. Ask your vet if they can give you several tablets of your pets medication in separate, labeled containers. Vets often have free samples of things like heart-worm medication that they may be able to give you if you explain what you need them for. Even if your pet doesn't have fleas or ticks, keep a bottle of flea and tick shampoo in your pet evacuation bag in case they pick them up as you evacuate or relocate to a shelter. A grooming comb or brush is also a good idea for a pet evacuation kit.

Shelter For Your Pet Bugout Bag

It's a good idea to carry a small tarp or sheet of plastic in your pet evacuation kit in case you need to set up an improvised shelter outside for them. Some nylon string and a cheap plastic tarp about five by ten feet could be used to make a temporary shelter for your pet.

Medical Records

If you are evacuated you may need to seek veterinary care for your pet in an unfamiliar location. Keep a copy of your pet's shot records, the veterinarian's name, what medications your pet takes, etc, in your pet bugout bag's contents. Make sure your pet's rabies tag is affixed to your collar, along with any other required tags. Your pet should have a collar with the their name, your name and cell phone number embroidered into the collar itself, along with metal ID tags attached with a secure clasp. Having your pet "chipped" or an RFID chip implanted in them, is a must. If you and your pet are separated these tiny chips, which are implanted under the skin, can be read by most animal shelters with a hand-held wand. They will display your name and address. It is also vital that if you have ever had one of these ID chips implanted in your pet that you update your contact information to include a cell phone number.

Collars, Leashes, Cages. etc., In A Pet Bugout Bag

Be sure to put an extra leash and collar in your pet's bugout bag. If you have a very small pet, you might want to include a small, foldaway cage in the evacuation bag. Since you don't know where you might end up, some kind of bedding, such as a small blanket, is a good idea so that your best friend doesn't have to sleep on a hard shelter floor.

More Thoughts On An Evacuation Kit For Pets.

Make sure that your name as well as that of your pet is attached to your pet's bugout bag, so that it can be returned to you, or so that animal shelter workers can match the kit's food, etc to the animal. A laminated sheet of paper listing the needs and characteristics of you pet is also a very good idea for a pet evacuation kit. Type up a brief summary of you pet's requirements, behavior aspects and place this in your pet evacuation kit where anyone who uses the kit can see it. Include on the list things such as "aggressive toward cats", requires heart medication daily", amount of dose, amount of food usually fed, etc.

If you have any additional thoughts on what items may be useful in an evacuation kit for pets, please leave your suggestions in the comments section below.