What To Do With Your Pets During A Hurricane
MIAMI (CBS4) - Hurricanes can be stressful on everyone, especially your pets. But if you plan ahead, it will lighten your load.
Like planning for your family before a severe storm, you should plan for your pets basic needs. The number one thing you will need is water. At least two or three gallons of water per animal, enough to last at least four days.
You will also need a week's worth of pet food and medications. And if you have a cat, get extra cat litter too.
Sabra Rosen of Ft. Lauderdale has lived in Florida all her life, so hurricanes are nothing new. But going through a big storm with her two new Pomeranians would be a first.
"I will take them with me wherever I go," said Rosen. I would never leave them they are like family."
Experts say that's a good idea. You should never abandon your animal in your home.
"I can't stress enough the importance of an I.D. with a current phone number, not the number from your last house," said Cherie Wachter with the Humane Society of Broward County.
Wachter recommends that your dog's I.D. tag have your address and even an alternate phone number.
If you are forced to evacuate, you will need to plan ahead for a place to take your pets.
In Broward County you are asked to go in person to the Humane Society on Griffin Road in Dania Beach to register.
There you will be given a registration packet asking you to provide a photo of your pet, current rabies certificate and utility bills as proof of residency.
"We will accept dogs and cats, rabbits, gerbils, birds, hamsters, just no reptiles," said Wachter. "The dogs are kept in one area, cats in another and people in another."
Owners are responsible for walking and feeding your pet.
The Broward pet friendly shelter is at Millennium Middle School on NW 94th Avenue in Tamarac.
If you live in Miami-Dade and want to take your animals to a pet friendly shelter you are encouraged to pre -register on line. Just go to www.miamidade.gov/hurricane.
Miami-Dade County has two pet friendly shelters.
One is at the E. Darwin Fuchs Pavilion at the fairgrounds, the other is located at Doctor Michael Krop Senior High on County Line Road.
Your pet has to be licensed with current rabies vaccination and you must present proof of residency.
