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American Veterinary Medical Association's Disaster planning tips.
Click here for the Humane Society's article on "Disaster Preparedness for Pets."
Free Sticker: Pets Inside.
In Defense of Animals Disaster Preparedness Tips
International Fund For Animal Welfare's Disaster Preparation Tips For You & Your Companion Animals
Noah's Wish is an organization dedicated to rescuing animals from disasters. Click here and read more about their advice for
"Being Prepared" and links to agencies who help when disaster strikes.
Learn more. At Rabbit References, click on "Care, Feeding, Tips," then select topic "Preparing for Disasters."
"Emergency Kit," by Cristina Forbes. At Rabbit References click "Health and Medicine," select topic "Emergencies," and then
the article.
DISASTER PLANNING
1. IN THE MIDST OF A DISASTER
IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND SHELTER FOR YOUR COMPANION ANIMALS SO YOU MUST PLAN AHEAD.
Companion animals
are not accepted at shelters. Only service animals are accepted. Keep a list of "pet friendly" hotels and motels immediately
outside of your area. Include phone numbers and directions. Put this information with your other disaster supplies. Make sure
you check on species, size, and number restrictions. Ask if these restrictions or "no pet" policies can be waived in an emergency.
If you are forewarned of a disaster, call ahead for reservations.
2. ASSEMBLE
A RABBIT DISASTER KIT IN A WATERPROOF CONTINER THAT CAN BE CARRIED EASILY. IT SHOULD INCLUDE:
Food and water
to last for a minimum of 72 hours: Keep pellets and hay in water-tight containers. If it is possible to take vegetables, seal
salads in plastic bags and keep them in a cooler.
Sturdy, top and front opening carrier to evacuate your rabbit safely.
Food and water dishes.
Rabbit first aid kit, current medications, prescriptions, and medical records.
Proof
of ownership, pictures of your rabbit, and pictures of you with your rabbit.
Lost posters in case you get separated
from your rabbit.
Harness and leash (if you can get your rabbit to tolerate this) with ID tag on it.
Blank
ID tags, adhesive tape, and indelible ink pen to write temporary information on the tags. Write the name of a relative or
friend outside of the disaster area. Put the tag on the harness or the carrier.
If your rabbit has a micro chip, note
that on the ID tag that is on the carrier.
List containing important telephone numbers, feeding schedules, medical
conditions, behavior problems, name of telephone number of your rabbit's vet in case you have to foster or board your rabbit.
Litter boxes, paper towels, small amount of white vinegar to use as a sanitizer, plastic bags to dispose of waste.
Favorite toys, blanket, fleece pad, etc.
3. Rabbit Specific Suggestions (Thanks
to Jason Laube)
Have a decent supply of food and water accessible in the rooms where your buns roam.
This supply is in containers that can easily be taken while transporting the buns. Most importantly is keeping a supply
of pellets in an airtight container WITH the carrier cage and sealed bottled water with small ramekin (rubber/sticky/or velcroed
bottom is good so they don't knock it over).
Keep a couple of towels in the room. That way if you have to
evacuate immediately you can throw them over the buns, and even if they are in panic, you can wrap them up tight
burrito style and keep them from injuring themselves. Then if time is too tight you can leave with two wrapped
buns in a towel, held tight, nothing else. If you have a bit more time you can put them into their carriers.
Keep the carrier cage in the rabbit's living quarters or next to a cage if you cage if you have to cage
them. This way you can take that towel bundled with them in it tight and place it in the carrier. They
don't have much time to struggle and they have some movement in the cage so they don't hurt themselves. Inside/beside
the cage attached to the carrier, keep a roll of paper towels in addition to the supply of pellets and water. This is
for comfort if you do not have access to clean the cage easily or if you have lots of buns to transport. At least you
can clean up major messes. If you can leave Carefresh/or other limited mess bedding in the carrier that may also be
beneficial but will only work for at most 2 days.
Other environmental factors too prepare for
if evacuating/total loss of power:
-COLD: if you had to evacuate in -20F temperature it would be harrowing for
the buns. Wrap the entire carrier cage with a towel. This will only provide a few extra minutes of warmth
and protection but it is a start especially if it is windy outside.
-HEAT: if it is HOT and low humidity a portable mister, a battery powered portable
fan, ice/cold pack, if you can grab them, will help the buns.
-SMOKE: there is a special
plastic bag style hood with smoke filter to give you precious few minutes to breath and escape. If need be, keep the
bun in a towel. Place him/her inside this hood and hold them tight in there. Smoke
will affect them much faster than it will affect a human. The cheaper and more logical way would be to wet the towel
you are going to grab them with and keep them in it but if you have multiple buns this may be difficult or impossible. You
can get them in a carrier and then cover the entire carrier with a wet towel all around.
PET FRIENDLY HOTELS:
Best Western Inns 1-800-528-1234
Clarion Hotels 1-800-252-7466
Comfort
Inns 1-800-228-5150
Days Inn 1-800-329-7466
Econo Lodge 1-800-553-2666
Holiday Inn 1-800-465-4329
Howard
Johnson 1-800-465-4329
La Quinta Inn 1-800-531-5900
Masters Econo Inns 1-800-633-3434
Motel 6 1-800-466-8356
Quality
Inn 1-800-228-5151
Ramada Inn 1-800-228-2828
Red Roof Inn 1-800-843-7663
Residence Inn 1-800-331-3131
Roadway
Inn 1-800-228-2000
Sleep Hotels 1-800-753-3746
Super 8 Motels 1-800-800-8000
3. IN CASE YOU ARE NOT AT HOME WHEN DISASTER
STRIKES
Ahead of time, ask a trusted neighbor if they would be able to transport your rabbits to meet you at
a prearranged location. Make sure this neighbor knows where your rabbit is, is comfortable with him/her, knows where your
disaster supplies are kept, and has keys to your home. If you have a pet sitter, find out well in advance if s/he is available
to help.
Ensure that your rabbit has access to plenty of water. Top off his/her water bowl every day before you leave
for work. Leave out an extra bowl of clean water.
Give you rabbit a bigger meal at breakfast and a smaller one in
the evening to balance out. Keep plenty of hay available in several different places.
Carry the telephone numbers
of your local police and fire stations. You can authorize them to enter your home and rescue your rabbits.
Buy a timed
feeder to dispense pellets for your rabbit. They are available in most pet stores and provide food up to three days.
HRS article on micro chipping, "Thumper Come Home." At Rabbit References, click on "Care, Feeding, Tips," and then select
topic "Outdoor Exercise."
IF YOUR RABBIT IS LOST
PLAN AHEAD
Since most rabbits will not suffer wearing
a harness or a collar where you could put an ID tag, have him/her micro chipped or tattooed. A good time to have this done
is when your rabbit is under anesthesia for spaying or neutering. Numbered micro chips are about the size of a grain of rice
that a vet implants with a syringe under your rabbit's skin, right behind his/her head and between the shoulder blades. This
procedure adds about $35 to the spay/neuter costs. You will fill out a registration form that ties your information to the
number on your rabbit's micro chip. This costs an additional fee of about $12.50. If your rabbit is lost and comes into a
shelter or vet's office, s/he can be scanned for the number. When the number is entered into the associated database, your
tracking information is accessed.
Make sure you keep your information up to date.
Keep a recent photo of your
rabbit, both digital and print. The picture should include something of a known size, a soccer ball for example, so that a
size comparison can be made about your rabbit.
Keep a description of your rabbit on file. The description should include
your rabbit's name, gender, age, weight, and any distinctive markings. Use the photo and the description to make a lost poster
if need be.
FINDING YOUR RABBIT
Time is of the essence.
Begin your search immediately. First, file a report with all the animal control offices, rabbit shelters that accept rabbits,
and rabbit rescue organizations (click on Adopt a Rabbit for a list of shelters and rescue organizations). Check back with
them daily.
Create a lost poster with a photo and description of your rabbit on it. Include the date and location
of where your rabbit was lost. Offer a reward. Advertise your contact phone numbers. The best one is a cell phone that allows
you to retrieve messages. Search your neighborhood up to a three-mile radius. Blanket your neighborhood with your posters.
Ask neighbors, children, postal delivery persons, and regular visitors to your neighborhood if they have seen your rabbit.
Give everyone you talk to a copy of your lost poster. Make sure everyone knows that you are offering a reward.
Post
your lost poster in public locations such as near-by veterinary offices, grocery stores, libraries, etc.
Contact local
radio stations and newspapers about placing a lost pet ad.
Check the classifieds in your major and community newspapers
every day for reports of found animals.
Hire a pet detective to track your rabbit (see links this page).
Go
to the "Adopt A Rabbit" page and click on the links to the shelters. Most of their web sites have information about finding
lost pets.
Visit every local shelter and asked to check every section, even the ones closed to the public such as
the areas for injured and quarantined animals. Your description may not match the description that the shelter used so do
not depend on their point of view. Keep in mind that shelters are legally required to keep an animal for only five days before
euthanizing.
Check national web sites at these links:
Lost and Found: internet information resource for the recovery of lost and found companion animals. www.lostandfound.com
Pet FBI: Ohio lost pets
Pets Missing in Action offers a free listing with optional photo in your region of the country. www.pmia.com
Place to post about lost pets.
At www.petrecovery.com, click on "Advice: Finding Lost Pets" on the Navigation Bar. Then click on the "Pet Detective's Guide
to Finding Your Missing Pet" and "Sample Missing Posters."
Carl Washington is a local pet detective who was sited in The Washington Post "Pet Set" feature on 10/12/03. He can be reached
at (703) 960-9596 or at petdetective77@hotmail.com.
ADVERTISING FOR YOUR LOST RABBIT
To
place an ad in The Washington Post classified section, "Pets & Animals," call (202)334-6200. Outside of the metro area
call 1-800-753-2527.
To place an ad in the "Precious Pet" feature of the county (Montgomery, Fairfax, etc.)"Extra"
section of The Washington Post, call (202)334-7926 for all metro locations. Outside of the metro area call 1-800-627- 1150.
The extra section is published on Thursdays.
How do I make final arrangements for my rabbit?
RabbitWise has no direct experience with these specific organizations or persons. Mention on this web site is intended for
information purposes only and does not represent the opinion of, counsel from, or recommendations by RabbitWise.
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