Disaster Plans Must Include Pets; AVMA Video Offers Advice to Help Save Lives

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As emergency crews respond to the tsunami crisis in Japan and flooding in California, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is reminding pet owners in a video to include pets and livestock in emergency plans.

"Taking care of pets can be one of the most rewarding jobs of everyday life, but many of us are completely unprepared to protect our animals in the event of a disaster like an earthquake, wildfire, tsunami or flooding," explains Dr. Heather Case, the AVMA's disaster response expert, in the video. "Recent events remind us just how desperate disaster situations can be.  It's not difficult to put together an effective disaster plan and kit that will help you to protect your pets and livestock, so I encourage everyone to do it.  It's too late once disaster hits."

In the short video, Dr. Case details the simple plans and precautions that pet, horse and livestock owners can undertake to protect their animals if disaster occurs.  The video details how to prepare a disaster kit with information and supplies that will allow you to evacuate safely with your animals. The kit should include, among other things, special disaster identification tags, with your cell phone number, a hotel where you'll be staying and/or the number of an out-of-town relative so that you can be found even during an evacuation.

The video has been posted on AVMAtv.org, the AVMA Media Library and also on Youtube. The AVMA encourages bloggers and journalists to post the video on their websites.

For more information on disaster preparedness, please visit www.avma.org and read our disaster preparedness brochure, Saving the Whole Family.

The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. More than 81,500 member veterinarians worldwide are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities.

SOURCE American Veterinary Medical Association