Be “Petpared” During Emergencies

To help pet owners prepare for their pets’ safety and well-being in the event of an emergency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sponsoring a “2014 #Petpared Twitter Challenge” throughout April.

To participate, pet owners are encouraged to take a photo of themselves with their pet carrying out any one of half a dozen recommended actions that will help ensure their pets’ safety. Then tweet the picture by April 30 using the hashtag #Petpared.

Among the recommended actions that could be photographed are:

• Hanging a tag on your front and back doors with your pet’s information so emergency responders will know immediately who is inside; 
• Making a Pet Emergency Kit; and 
• ID’ing your pet with a current license, identification tag, collar and possibly a micro-chip. 

Celebrity judges will re-tweet some of the successful actions on National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, May 5. Pets also could be featured as a regional “spokespet” during May.

The 2014 #Petpared Twitter Challenge is supported locally by the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Montgomery County Animal Response Team and the Police Department’s Animal Services Division.

Get more details on FEMA’s program from the news release.

Learn more about emergency preparedness for pets.