Hurricane Irma is on its way toward Florida and Tallahassee residents are getting ready. The local animal shelter is encouraging people to be sure they plan for their pets.
Ahead of a storm state officials recommend having at least three days of food and a gallon of water per person per day. Tallahassee Animal Shelter Assistant Director Michael St. John recommends about the same for pets.
“It’s going to of course depend on pet size,” St. John says, “but look at what you typically give your animal during the course of a week, and try to have three to five days’ worth of food and water—say a gallon of water for your pet per day.”
Do not forget to include your pets in your emergency plan. Here are a few tips on how to prepare. #FLPrepares pic.twitter.com/x1LMZ7aTQI
— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) September 6, 2017
“You want to makes sure that you have all their things together,” he says, “whatever they need, their medications, a copy of their medical records, identification.”
St. John also says making sure pets have a collar with updated tags or a microchip is important in case pets get separated from their owners. The Tallahassee animal shelter can insert a chip for a fee without an appointment, but St. John recommends calling ahead to ensure a veterinarian is on hand.
