Disaster prep

· 3-7 days of food (rotate to keep fresh) and water, bowls, and any medications with a written dose list
· Copies of vaccine/medical records and a current photo of you WITH your dog (proves ownership if separated)
· Spare leash, collar with ID, and a familiar comfort item; a soft muzzle (scared dogs bite, even yours)
· Crate or carrier labeled with your contact info; poop bags and a small first-aid kit

The single highest-value prep: a MICROCHIP with CURRENT registration (the chip is useless if the phone number is three moves old) plus a physical ID tag. In a disaster, ID is how a lost dog comes home.

· Know pet-friendly hotels and shelters on your evacuation route BEFORE you need them - many emergency shelters don't take pets
· Never leave a dog behind 'to come back for' - responders often can't, and conditions worsen fast
· Have an out-of-area contact and a buddy who can grab your dog if you're not home
· Practice the crate-and-car drill so loading under stress is routine, not a fight

Bring them inside at the first warning (animals scatter and hide when frightened), keep them leashed or crated during chaos, and reassure with calm routine - your steadiness is their anchor.

Familiar smells and landmarks may be gone; keep dogs leashed even in 'their' yard until things normalize, and watch for displaced-wildlife and debris hazards.

Note: Assemble once, store by your own go-bag, check twice a year.

Name: Dog Emergency Go Bag Kit

Why: Pre-assembled disaster kit - the fastest way to be ready this week

Link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Dog+Emergency+Go+Bag+Kit

Retailer: Amazon

Name: Collapsible Travel Dog Bowls

Why: Pack flat, deploy anywhere

Link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Collapsible+Travel+Dog+Bowls

Retailer: Amazon

Name: Waterproof Pet Document Pouch

Why: Vaccine records and your photo-with-dog, dry and grab-ready

Link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Waterproof+Pet+Document+Pouch

Retailer: Amazon

Name: Soft Dog Muzzle

Why: A frightened or injured dog may bite - even yours; sized to the breed

Link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Soft+Dog+Muzzle

Retailer: Amazon

Name: Dog First Aid Kit

Why: The disaster-and-trail overlap - vet wrap, tick tool, gauze

Link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Dog+First+Aid+Kit

Retailer: Amazon

Name: Reflective Collar with ID and QR Tag

Why: A QR/ID tag a stranger can scan is how a lost dog phones home

Link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Reflective+Collar+with+ID+and+QR+Tag

Retailer: Amazon

Name: Update microchip registration

Why: The #1 prep - confirm your chip's phone number is current

Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=update+pet+microchip+registration

Free first: Most of a go-bag is things you already own — a spare leash, a worn t-shirt for comfort, copies of records in a zip bag, cash. The single highest-value item costs nothing: a microchip registered to a phone number that is actually yours today.