Red Paw Emergency Relief Team: Include Pets in Evacuation Plan
By Molly Daly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- During National Preparedness month, a Philadelphia non-profit that provides relief and recovery services to pets affected by fires, floods, and other emergencies urges you to make sure all of your family members are ready to go if you ever have to leave home in a hurry.
Red Paw Emergency Relief Team founder Jen Leary says when you rehearse your escape plan with your human family, make sure you include your critters.
"You don't want to find out during an emergency that your cats will not go in their cat carriers because they're afraid of them, or that your dog doesn't like to ride in the car," Leary says.
Leary says with some practice, a cat who only associates the carrier with the vet can come to see it as a haven.
"Condition them to like it. Put them into the carrier, and give them a treat. Take them out of the carrier and give them a treat. Put them in, take them out, and make it something that's enjoyable and easy, or keep the carrier around, let them sleep in it, let them go in it when it's comfortable for them. Make it a non-issue," she advises.
Leary says it's also important to make sure your neighbors know you have pets -- what kind, and how many, so they can tell first responders if you're not home, or unable to tell them yourself.