What I keep in the car for my dogs in case of an emergency (National Preparedness Month).
Are your dogs prepared to escape during a zombie apocalypse? Maybe not. However, it wouldn't hurt to include your pets in your emergency preparedness plan, whatever you're making plans for. I'm not a pet preparedness expert, but I thought I'd share a few stories and the items I keep in my car for my dogs in case of an emergency while on the road.
UPDATED/REVISED 09/10/2020 to clarify a statement made about a loose dog in the park.
History
In 2004, the Federal Emergency Management Agency dedicated September as National Preparedness Month. The goal is to encourage and educate citizens to be better prepared for national emergencies following the tragic events of 9/11.
With the recent wildfires in California, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, floods from tropical storms, and tornadoes that hang out in alleys, it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Organizations such as FEMA and the American Red Cross provide many resources for how to handle natural disasters safely.
Becoming Better Prepared for My Dogs
I didn't used to be concerned about preparing an emergency kit or creating an emergency plan for myself. I'd imagine scenarios and how I should handle them, but that was the extent of my preparedness.
When I adopted Shadow over 13 years ago, the fur-Mom in me started to worry and wonder how I'd keep him safe in case of an emergency. I researched many different topics, including what foods were toxic to dogs, what to pack when traveling with dogs, how to do dog CPR, and how to treat minor injuries.
The knowledge was the first step to becoming prepared to care for my dogs in case of an emergency. Experience that allowed me to apply the knowledge I learned helped me become better prepared to care for my dogs in case of an emergency.
Fortunately, my dogs and I haven't been in a situation where an emergency plan or kit was essential or necessary. However, my attempts to be prepared for emergency situations proved helpful for a variety of different scenarios.
For example, knowing what foods are toxic to dogs proved helpful once when I didn't have dog food to feed Shadow. We found ourselves in an unfamiliar city after a relative was rushed to a hospital there. My Mom insisted on going there and staying in the ER with our relative. The drive there was long, and our overnight stay was unexpected. Shadow came along because there was nobody to watch him on short notice.
I didn't have Shadow's dog food with us because I didn't expect to stay overnight. Dog-friendly stores were closed for the day and I wasn't going to leave Shadow alone in the car to step into a grocery store. At least I knew what "human" foods I could order from a restaurant's drive-through window to feed him, so he didn't miss a meal. It wasn't the best or healthiest option, but I knew it wouldn't hurt or kill him that one night.
Shadow and I camped in the vehicle that night. Fortunately, I had a few items in the vehicle from a road trip we just returned from. I didn't get to unpack or unload everything before I got the call from my Mom to leave.
We had a few blankets, a couple bowls, and a jug of water. I decided I wanted to ensure the items we used that night were always in the vehicle. I also noted other items I wish I had for Shadow that night to leave in the vehicle at a later time.
The items I left in my vehicle proved helpful when Shadow and I picked-up a loose dog one day. While walking at a park, a man approached me and asked if I could help catch a dog. The dog was covered in filth, very thin, and panted heavily.
UPDATE: A moment ago, my friend highlighted the statement that read "While walking at the park, a man approached me and asked if I could help catch a dog" and said "don't you know that this is how people get kidnapped?"
I just wanted to state that as an introvert, I don't normally speak with strangers. However, I left out the part that there were plenty of other people at the park that day. The dog, clearly distressed, wasn't far behind the man when he approached me. If it could've been an attempted kidnapping, he would've had many witnesses videotaping while Shadow and I fought him. Shadow is protective. 10/10 Good Dog.
The man said she crossed a busy road multiple times that day and narrowly missed getting hit. He and others tried to catch her with no luck. He thought they lost sight of the dog until he saw her in the park later.
I grabbed a bowl, bottle of water, small Tupperware of dry dog food, spare collar, and spare leash from my vehicle. Shadow and I sat on the ground so we wouldn't appear threatening. I offered the dog water and food. She accepted my offerings and I was able to put the collar and leash on her.
Fortunately, she was microchipped. The amazing people at my local Banfield Hospital were able to find and contact her owner. I left the dog with them, and they were courteous enough to call me when she was reunited with her owner.
I had those items in my car because my dogs and I went on several road trips in- and out-of-state. We'd play at rest areas, visit different parks, and explore new trails when we could. There were times when I cared for minor scrapes, scratches, and sores.
For example, one day at a dog park, Shadow decided to jump off a boulder six feet off the ground, probably to show off to the other dogs. He obtained a few bloody scratches, but I knew how to treat them and keep them from getting infected.
Items I Leave in My Car Always
Based on past experiences, in preparation for emergencies, I keep the following in my car for my dogs:
First aid kit
Roll of self-adherent bandage wrap
Bowls
Empty jug for water
Squeezable filtered water bottle and extra filters
Packs of wipes
Towels
Blankets
Few small plush toys
Spare collars
Spare leashes
Hairbrush
Coats and raincoats
Socks and shoes
Goggles
Printed copies of health history
Hopefully, most of the items I listed make sense to you, but I realized a few items are probably questionable.
I used to only put blankets in my car when we'd leave home for a night or longer. However, the blankets don't take up much room, so I left a few in my car. I lay a long blanket over the backseat and keep a small one on the floor in the back. I also have a couple rolled up in the trunk along with some small towels. It's nice to pull a blanket out of the car when I decided to have an unplanned picnic in the park with my dogs.
My dogs have collected spurweeds (grass stickers) on their fur in the past. Spurweeds seem to be common at many rest areas. I used a hairbrush to brush the spurweeds off if possible. It's quicker and easier than picking them off with my fingers. Of course, I'd use my fingers if the spurweeds stuck to their skin. Usually, it only sticks to the fur.
I keep raincoats for my dogs to keep them dry. They don't mind getting wet, but they also don't mind wearing their raincoats. I use the raincoats when it's raining because I don't want the inside of my car to get soaked.
Keeping a set of socks and shoes is useful during extreme weather conditions. The ground gets remarkably hot here in Texas during the summer. The socks or shoes protects my dogs' paws from getting damaged or blistered from the unbearable heat of concrete and asphalt. I imagine it'll also be helpful if we find ourselves in icy situations.
Rascal sometimes has trouble seeing on bright, sunny days. I'm trying to get him used to wearing goggles, so he doesn't struggle to see when we're outdoors for some time.
I consider my dogs' printed copies of their recent vaccinations like me carrying my medical card. I also have the information available digitally but having the printed copy doesn't take up much space in my glove compartment. It's a nice backup in case my digital copy doesn't pull-up on my phone.
Items I Take for a Day Trip Out-of-Town
Below are items I bring when we take a day trip:
Small containers of dry dog food
Dog treats
Dry shampoo
Filled jug of water
Shadow's prescription medication
While I could just bring enough food and water for a full day away from home, I like to bring enough for a couple days. In the past, we often went out-of-town for a fun day of park hopping and window shopping. I like heading to larger cities that have many dog-friendly parks and stores for us to visit.
There were a few times I decided last minute to stay overnight at a hotel to extend our fun day out or seek shelter during a bad storm. It was always convenient to have all the things my dogs needed without having to make a trip to a store or back home to get the necessities. I never worry about Shadow missing his Galliprant medication when I take a couple tablets with us on a day trip, especially if the day trip turned out to be an overnight mini vacation.
NOTE: My dogs do not stay in a crate at home or when we travel. They're trained to not destroy anything or "go" indoors. They also don't run around in the car. I did travel with a crate for use in hotels when my dogs were young puppies, but not anymore now they're older and very well-trained.
If your dog is crate trained, or you're traveling with a puppy, you may consider taking a crate with you. I've yet to stay at a hotel that had crates available for someone to borrow or rent. However, I've stayed at a few military lodgings that had crates available in-room. Something to consider.
Other Ways I Prepare for My Dogs
I've mentioned the items specifically for my dogs, but there are a few other items I bring for myself that benefits all of us. My cellphone is the best tool and resource to have. Of course, it's perfect for making emergency phone calls if needed. I did have to call 9-11 at a dog park once after coming across a spreading brush fire.
My cellphone is also a great resource for finding information I need at a given time. There are two apps I've installed in case I need to reference them during an emergency. I'm sure there are many other useful apps as well.
I've had the First Aid - American Red Cross app on my phone for years. It has many safety and preparedness resources, including checklists, quizzes, and a hospital locator based on your GPS location. It also provides some information on pet preparedness.
I also have the Pet First Aid - American Red Cross app on my phone. Like the other app, it has many safety and preparedness resources specific to pets. It includes a hotel locator if you find yourself needing to stop somewhere overnight with your pet.
Hotels such as LaQuinta, Residence Inn, and Sheraton are typically dog-friendly, but not all hotel locations are. Not all dog-friendly hotels are large or multi-dog friendly. If the app or an online search doesn't provide enough specifics, I'd call to verify that both my 70 lb. and 20 lb. dogs are permitted in their rooms.
There are also some hotels that require a copy of a dog's vaccination receipt. That's where keeping printed copies of health history and vaccinations proved most helpful in my experience.
Many dog-friendly hotels require a pet deposit. Sometimes part or all the amount is reimbursed after check-out, provided there's no damage to the room, but a lot of times it's non-refundable. I always keep that in mind when I choose to stay in a hotel with my dogs.
Misc. Items I Once Carried
Years ago, a Soldier joked about seeing Shadow's ID to gain entry onto a military post. To make the Soldier laugh, I made Shadow a fake dog ID to show at the gate the next time we went through. While I did so for fun and to make someone smile, I realized it didn't hurt to carry a card that contained important information about my dog. The ID noted his name, breed, microchip number, size, approximate weight, guesstimated date of birth, coat color, sex, eye color, and a recent front-facing photo. I even created a fake logo and had the card laminated to make it look legit. My Mom's kept my dogs' IDs for herself, but I'll probably make more soon to keep in my wallet.
I also used to carry a card I made that listed toxic and dangerous foods to dogs. While I didn't use it myself, I gave copies of the card away to other dog owners who wanted it. Hopefully, it proved helpful to others.
Conclusion
Maybe I'm missing items I should store in my car in case of an emergency, but hopefully I have the basics my dogs would need if we had to evacuate or stay overnight in an unfamiliar city on short notice.
The items I do have in my car have proven to be helpful in times past, although not often used. It's convenient to have those items handy for those rare situations I choose to use them for my dogs. Being prepared has many benefits for a variety of scenarios.
What's Next?
Now that the weather's cooling down, I think my dogs and I will spend more time hanging out at the parks.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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