Do Not Wait Until Disaster Strikes To Be Prepared

November is National Preparedness Month
Goes for the family pet too

The PETS Act of 2006 (Pet Evacuation & Transportation Standards Act) requires local and state emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation plans how they will accommodate household pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster or evacuation.

Kathy Davis with Los Angeles Animal Services stated, “Do not wait until disaster strikes to be prepared. Plan now for where you will take your pet and insure that you have vaccination records and a carrying cage ready for the next event. If your pet has a special diet or requires medication, keep a supply ready to go.”

The shelters are flooded each year with lost or abandon family pets. EVAC centers are not able to accommodate pets without the proper carriers.

“It’s up to you to be prepared and by planning ahead to insure your pets’ health and safety helps the whole community to be safer. Keep all of your emergency items in a small carrier or duffle bag near your crate or travel safety gear for easy access. In an emergency, you can then simply grab your Pet Pack and go!” Pet Safety Lady Christina Selter.

“Always remember, if you evacuate your home, being prepared insures better safety for the whole family”, stated Battalion Chief Jose Torres with the Santa Monica Fire Department.

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND!
• More than 500,000 pets are effected by fires each year and evacuations
• Over 40,000 pets each year die of smoke asphyxiation
• Losing a pet due to evacuation can be a devastating experience
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About LA Animal Services: The predecessor to the Los Angeles Animal Services Department of today was formed by ordinance in 1947. With the General Manager as executive, the Department is under the control of a Board of Commissioners, with five members appointed by the Mayor, and by the City Council of Los Angeles. A current organization chart of the Department is found below. For more information about the organization of Los Angeles City government, you may wish to review the City Clerk’s brochure, your Government at a Glance. http://cityclerk.lacity.org/cps/pdf/govtglnc.pdf

About Pet Safety Lady, Bark 10-4, Bark Buckle UP: Christina Selter, “Pet Safety Lady,” works closely with Fire, Police, Coast Guard and EMT personnel who support the safety program and has been featured at International Auto Shows, Pet Expos, Television, Radio, News Articles and guest speaking engagements nationwide. She is the founder of Bark Buckle UP the recognized innovative leader and experts in pet travel safety. Bark Buckle UP educates and promotes awareness for pet safety while traveling with our pets and Bark 10-4 that helps fire departments nationwide obtain the Pet Oxygen Masks to help save pets lives. http://www.petsafetylady.com and for high res photos email Bark@BarkBuckleUP.com