Disaster Preparedness Guide for Shasta County Dogs

Emergency Kit Essentials

• Food: Store three to seven days of food per dog. If your dog eats raw or fresh, pack portions in insulated containers or coolers with ice packs. Always include backup kibble or canned food in case you lose refrigeration. Bring bowls or collapsible dishes.
• Water: Store three to seven days of water per dog in bottles or jugs. Bring portable or collapsible bowls. If clean water might not be available, pack purification tablets or a small filter.
• Medications: Keep a seven-day supply of all prescription and over-the-counter medications. If any need refrigeration, store them in an insulated cooler with ice packs. Figure out your backup options now: portable coolers, battery-powered mini-fridges, a friend with power, or a pet-friendly shelter with refrigeration.
• First-aid kit: Put together a kit for cuts, burns, sprains, bites, and other common injuries. Include:
  • Sterile gauze pads and rolls
  • Adhesive bandages of various sizes
  • Non-stick wound pads
  • Medical tape
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Antibacterial ointment
  • Tweezers and blunt scissors
  • Digital thermometer
  • Instant cold packs
  • Elastic bandages for sprains or strains
  • Hydrogen peroxide for inducing vomiting (only if a vet tells you to)
  • Eye wash or saline solution
  • Disposable gloves
  • Muzzle (dogs in pain may bite)
  • Emergency blanket
  • List of vet contacts and basic first-aid instructions
• Leash, Collar, ID Tags, and Microchip
  • Keep at least two complete sets of leash and collar so you always have a backup. Keep one in the go-bag or car.
  • Each collar should have current ID tags with your name, phone number, and a secondary contact.
  • Make sure your dog is microchipped and the registration info is up to date. If your dog gets loose during a disaster, this is how they get back to you.
• Crate or Alternatives: Make sure the crate actually fits your dog now, not when they were a puppy. It should be secure and comfortable enough for extended stays. For large dogs or situations where a crate won’t work during evacuation, plan on an exercise pen, tether, or safely enclosed area. Whatever you plan to use, your dog should already be comfortable with it before an emergency happens.
• Comfort and Enrichment Items: Pack a blanket and a favorite toy. Add puzzle toys, chew toys, or other enrichment to help keep stress down. If your dog will have limited space to move, bring a ball, tug toy, or leash for short walks when possible.
• Waste Disposal: Pack poop bags, litter, and a scooper. If you might be stuck indoors or in a vehicle for a while, add disposable puppy pads, a portable dog potty, or a small litter box. Bring hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and sealed waste bags.
• Backup power: Batteries and power banks for medical devices.
• Important documents: Vaccination records, microchip information, emergency contacts.
• Veterinary & Emergency Contacts: Write down your primary vet, a 24-hour emergency vet hospital, pet-friendly boarding facilities, and pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation routes. Include the pet poison hotline numbers: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) and Pet Poison Helpline (1-800-213-6680). Keep these in a physical folder and saved on your phone.

Disaster Specific Planning

Wildfires

Focus: Rapid evacuation, smoke protection, and stress reduction

Planning Considerations

• Know multiple evacuation routes and have more than one destination in mind for your dog
• Know which local shelters, boarding facilities, and hotels take pets
• Keep emergency ID, vaccination records, and go-bags where you can grab them fast
• Monitor air quality and fire alerts

Training Exercises

• Crate Entry and Loading Drills: Practice getting your dog into the crate or carrier quickly, and reward calm behavior. Run through the full go-bag setup so you know how long it actually takes.
• Recall with Distractions: Practice recall around smoke, loud noises, and sirens. Your dog needs to come when called even when the environment is chaotic.
• Practice Pottying on Leash: If your dog normally goes off-leash in the yard, start training them to go on leash in unfamiliar spots. During an evacuation, that’s all they’ll have.
• Teach a Potty Cue: Pick a phrase like “go potty” and pair it with the act consistently. Reinforce immediately. This saves time and stress when you’re in a parking lot at an evacuation center.
• Short Evacuation Drills: Walk your dog through exit routes with carriers, tethers, or exercise pens. Do it more than once so it’s familiar, not frightening.
• Acclimation to Protective Gear: If you plan to use a mask or cooling vest, introduce it gradually now. Dogs will fight unfamiliar gear in a crisis.
• Stress Reduction / Settle Exercises: Practice having your dog settle in their crate, pen, or on a tether for increasing periods of time while things are happening around them: noise, movement, unfamiliar smells. Reward calm behavior with treats, praise, or a short play session.
• Cooperative First-Aid Handling: Practice examining paws, looking at minor cuts or burns, and handling your dog calmly. Reward them right away so they associate handling with good things.

Earthquakes

Focus: Shelter in place, injury prevention, and indoor safety

Planning Considerations

• Identify safe zones indoors away from heavy furniture and anything that could fall
• Set up confinement areas and keep supplies within reach
• Keep the first-aid kit, food, water, and medications somewhere accessible

Training Exercises

• Safe-Zone Recall: Teach your dog to go to a specific safe room or crate on cue. Practice during normal household activity so it becomes automatic.
• Stay under Household Stress: Simulate shaking by making loud noises, dropping soft objects, or moving furniture. Reward your dog for holding a calm stay.
• Calm Crate Training: Gradually increase how long your dog spends in the crate so they can tolerate confinement during and after tremors.
• Obstacle Navigation: Practice moving through furniture or tight spaces to prepare for debris or blocked exits.
• Emergency Exit Drills: Practice controlled exits from rooms or the house, carrying carriers or using tethers as needed.
• Cooperative First-Aid Handling: Practice safe restraint and gentle examination for minor injuries like bumps or sore paws. Reward calm behavior with treats or praise.

Floods and Tsunamis

Focus: Evacuation to high ground, transport, and water safety

Planning Considerations

• Identify multiple high-ground evacuation points
• Have waterproof carriers or crates ready
• Track local flood alerts and know your evacuation routes

Training Exercises

• Vehicle Acclimation: Train your dog to get into the car and stay calm in a carrier or seatbelt setup. Practice loading under time pressure.
• Leash Walking on Uneven Surfaces: Walk your dog on slippery, muddy, or uneven ground so they build confidence and don’t panic on unfamiliar footing.
• Shallow Water Exposure: If your dog isn’t comfortable around water, introduce controlled wading or swimming in a safe spot. Fear of water during a flood makes everything harder.
• Timed Evacuation Drills: Practice moving your dog, carrier, and supplies to high ground with realistic timing.
• Crate, Tether, and Exercise Pen Familiarization: Make sure your dog is comfortable in a crate as their primary safe space. If a crate won’t work in every situation, practice with exercise pens or secure tethers so your dog stays calm and contained during evacuation or sheltering.

Prolonged Power Outages

Focus: Maintaining routine, food, water, medications, and environmental safety

Planning Considerations

• Have backup lighting, fans, or heaters ready
• Plan refrigeration alternatives for raw or fresh diets and medications
• Keep enough water and non-perishable food on hand
• Think through what you’ll do if temperatures get extreme

Training Exercises

• Calm Settling Techniques: Practice using puzzle toys, chew toys, and mental exercises to keep your dog occupied without electricity. A bored dog in a dark house is a stressed dog.
• Practice Pottying on Leash in Low Light: Train your dog to go on leash in the dark or with just a flashlight. If the power’s out and it’s 10 p.m., you still need to take them out.

Resources:
Pet Disaster Evacuation Plan – California Animal Response Emergency System

Pet Disaster Evacuation Kit – California Animal Response Emergency System

Prepare Your Pets for Disasters – Ready.gov

Need Help With Training?
If you would like guidance on any of the disaster preparedness training exercises or want personalized support for your dog, contact us. Expert assistance is available for crate and leash training, potty cues, cooperative care, and all other skills to help your dog stay safe during emergencies.