PetSmart Offers Tips to Keep Pets Safe and Calm During Severe Weather
PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–While it appears Hurricane Joaquin is unlikely to hit landfall in the
U.S., the storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and potential
flooding to the East Coast, according to the U.S. National Hurricane
Center, and so PetSmart® and PetSmart Charities™ offer
tips to help pet owners keep their best friends safe during severe
weather.
“The best way to keep pets safe during a storm is to be prepared and
have a disaster plan,” said Robyn Jaynes, DVM, PetSmart’s resident
veterinarian and pet care expert. “It’s common to overlook pets when
preparing for a storm, but taking a few simple steps to include your
pets’ needs in your family plan will help ensure they are comfortable
and safe before, during and after a storm.”
Jaynes suggests the following:
-
Ensure your pets are safely contained. When severe weather warnings go
into effect, crate or kennel your animals. Also, have buckets on hand
for fish and turtles in the event you need to transport them – this is
a safer alternative than transporting these pets in aquariums. -
Look for pet-friendly options for housing your pet should you need to
evacuate. Ensure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations, which are
often needed for boarding, and that you have enough supply of any
medication your pet may be taking. -
Make sure your pet has identification. Countless numbers of pets go
missing after storms. Proper ID on your pet is the best assurance you
and your pet are reunited in the event you are separated. -
Be aware of paw-level hazards post-storm. Sharp debris, toxic spilled
chemicals, fertilizers and other substances on the floor of the home
or ground outside pose less risk to upright humans, but can be
dangerous to ground-level pets. -
Severe weather can be frightening to pets. Provide your dog or cat
with a familiar toy or blanket or try aids like calming sprays and
collars or a ThunderShirt™ anxiety shirt to help ease anxiety. -
Ensure you have a pet disaster supply kit ready for immediate
departure. Create a kit including the following in an easy-to-carry
waterproof container:- One-week supply of food and fresh water
- Hard copies of each pet’s updated vaccination records
-
Extra supply of medication (if refrigeration is necessary, have
easy access to a small, insulated bag or cooler) - List of regional pet-friendly hotels
- Bed, carrier or leash for each animal
For additional tips and resources, please visit: https://www.petsmartcharities.org/blog/pledge-to-prepare-create-an-emergency-preparedness-plan-for-your-pets
About PetSmart®
PetSmart,
Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions
for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we
believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection,
PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their
pets so they can live more fulfilled lives. This mission impacts
everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates,
and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 53,000
associates, operate approximately 1,433 pet stores in the United States,
Canada and Puerto Rico and approximately 202 in-store PetSmart®
PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a
broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products and offers
dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart
Doggie Day Camp day care services and pet adoption services
in-store. Our portfolio of digital resources for pet parents – including PetSmart.com,
PetFoodDirect.com,
Pet360.com,
OnlyNaturalPet.com
and petMD.com
– offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care
information in the U.S. Through our in-store pet adoption partnership
with independent nonprofit organizations, PetSmart
Charities™ and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, PetSmart helps to save
the lives of more than 450,000 homeless pets each year. In addition,
PetSmart supports organizations that make communities a better place to
call home through our philanthropy program, PetSmart
Gives Back™. By giving back to the communities where we live and
work, PetSmart not only celebrates the power of pets to enrich
people’s lives—we live it.About PetSmart Charities™
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that
helps save the lives of homeless pets. More than 450,000 dogs and cats
find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart®
stores and our sponsored adoption events. The nonprofit also funds
spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation.
Averaging about $30 million each year, PetSmart Charities grants more
money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group
in North America. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization,
independent from PetSmart, Inc.Contacts
PetSmart
Melissa Wenzel, 480-271-5428
mwenzel@petsmart.com
or
PetSmart
Media Line:
623-587-2177
