Watching the hurricane Sandy roll in
The animals feel the storm much earlier then humans, I think. Actually, I have been feeling it for days, but I am one of those weird humans that is really in tune with every change in pressure for hundreds of miles. The atmosphere here at the zoo has been pensive. Maybe it is because we have been rushing around for days, thanks to the predictive awareness of the National Weather Center, and the robo calls that have been coming from every utility because of the early declared state of emergency.
Preparing the property is one things. Preparing for a prolonged outage, or inage (being captive in the house for days), is another when you have animals. This got me thinking about what, more than animal food and litter, should I be prepared for, in case I really did have to evacuate. Though we are within 1,000 feet of the water, we are on high ground, so it is very unlikely; but what if the roof got damaged or something. So, here is my list:
5 cat carriers and 2 dog kennels.
Vet papers on all animals.
Dry and wet food for 1 week: 21 cans wet cat food, 14 cups dry cat food, 2 cans wet dog food, 40 cups of dry dog food,
5 cat food bowls and 2 dog food bowls.
Minimum 2 littler pans and 1 large bucket of litter (and scooper and bags for scooped stuff). (Maybe I need to have some small little set up in each carrier if they have to stay in there (I need to think about that).)
Minimum 1 dog water bowl and 5 small water bowls for cat carriers.
Muffin’s heart medicine and baby aspirin.
Kitties anti-anxiety medicine.
Animal first aid kit,
Blankets for each carrier and 2 extra for dogs.
Dog marrow bones and 2 toys to keep them occupied.
Leashes and collars (with all their tags). (I don’t have collars for the cats with any ID. To late to buy now, but maybe I need to figure out something so they each have ID.)
Also should know where I can go with the zoo. I can’t go to my sister-in-law because her dog hates dogs, my Mother-in-law’s cat would freak out, so next step would be a shelter. Who will take all of us? I better start working on that since the wind and the rain are here.
This is really hard. Even when we have been without electricity or heat before for more than a week, we have never left the animals, and we never will. One big winter storm we lost 2 out of 4 large tanks of fish, because they got to cold. Now with the generator hopefully that won’t happen again. But, one must be prepared.
Please be safe wherever you are.
Keep you loved ones close and your animals out of harms way too.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
DogDaz Zoo 
wordswithnannaprawn
October 29, 2012 at 00:49
I sometimes get headaches with low barometric pressure systems and I have a dog that likes to bark at thunder….not a great mix in storm season! Hope you all stay safe, and as a p.s what exactly does an animal first aid kit have in it? I’m asking in all seriousness because I don’t think it’s something most people would consider in an emergency.
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:23
In a waterproof box, we have:
• Non-Latex gloves
• Gauze sponges ( a variety of sizes)
• Gauze roll, 2-inch width
• Elastic cling bandage
• Material to make a splint
• Adhesive tape, hypoallergenic
• Non-adherent sterile pads
• Small scissors
• Tweezers
• Magnifying glass
• Grooming clippers or safety razor
• Nylon leash
• Towel
• Muzzle
• Compact emergency “blanket”
• Water-based sterile lubricant
• Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent)
• Rubbing alcohol;
• Topical antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic towelettes
• Insect sting stop pads
• Cotton-tipped swabs
• Instant cold pack
• Epsom salts
• Baby-dose syringe or eye dropper
• Sterile eye lubricant
• Sterile saline wash
• Safety pins (medium size 4)
• Tongue depressors
• Benadryl tabs
• Glucose paste or syrup
• Styptic powder or pencil
• Plastic card (such as old credit card) to scrape away stingers
• List of emergency phone numbers including veterinarian, an after hours emergency veterinary hospital, and the National Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) and money to make a phone call.
• Petroleum jelly
• Penlight with batteries (AA)
• Clean cloth
• Needle-nose pliers
(I keep it in the back of the car and refresh once a year).
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wordswithnannaprawn
October 29, 2012 at 09:49
WOW!! that’s about twice as much as we have in our ‘human’ first aid kit!! Your pets sure are well taken care of 🙂
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 10:18
Hehehehe – Well the humans use it too. But the animals can’t tell me what is going on, so yes, I guess I worry about them differently.
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barb19
October 29, 2012 at 03:33
You seem to be well prepared, and that’s half the battle. I hope you and the animals don’t have to evacuate. Keep safe – all of you.
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:18
Thanks – Do you get cyclones?
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barb19
October 29, 2012 at 17:36
Yes we do. We live in the sub-tropics of Queensland. The cyclones usually hit a bit further north from our area, but we still experience the high winds, torrential rain, flooding, etc.
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dogdaz
November 1, 2012 at 15:49
Oh my. Then you know what goes on here.
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Tya Khan
October 29, 2012 at 03:54
dats a good preperation, u’ll thot it all… I hope u never have to go through the evacuation and i really hope that you all n others around you stay safe and sound.
*hugs*
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:17
Thanks Tya. We need hugs right now.
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Tya Khan
October 30, 2012 at 07:12
All the hugs and prayers for you guys n ur safety.
*biggggg hugggg* i wish i cud just hide u all in this big hug to keep you all safe from this so threatening hurricane. Sitting so far away from the place just hearing about it is still terrifying to me, i cant begin to imagine what all my friends(fb friends and Fellow bloggers) in expected areas in the US must be going through 😦
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dogdaz
November 1, 2012 at 15:46
Thanks – the big hug helped. We are all good now.
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Tya Khan
November 2, 2012 at 04:06
🙂 yayy
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Tiffy the Yorkie
October 29, 2012 at 05:40
Looks like you are well-prepared. Stay safe.
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:17
Thanks Tiffy, we will.
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Basil
October 29, 2012 at 05:44
Please keep safe, reading this makes me feel a little glad to be in the UK where all we ever get is grey yuck!
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:17
I would take grey skies for sure. I lose power multiple times a year. Oh well, we live, where we live, and I love it here, except on weeks like this.
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Basil
October 30, 2012 at 05:50
Sending hugs and good wishes!
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dogdaz
November 1, 2012 at 15:47
Thanks
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Long Life Cats and Dogs
October 29, 2012 at 05:49
So scary. Whenever I think of things like this, it is always the animals I worry about the most. I truly hope that Sandy has run out of steam by the time she reaches you and that all your preparations prove to be unnecessary. Regarding the cats and ID’s – is micro chipping an option for you. Here it is big and the first thing anyone checks if a lost/stray animal is found.
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:16
With so many animals that pass through our doors, I never thought of chipping the inside cats because of the endless expenses. We are getting steady rain and wind now, but I still have power (that is rare around here). Thanks for checking in.
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Genevieve Petrillo
October 29, 2012 at 06:29
That’s a lot of stuff, but it sounds very well thought out. Mom has a backpack for me with some bags of dry food (that’s all I eat), water bottles, treats, toys, poop bags, and travel bowls. We NEVER EVER want to have to use it!! Stay safe!
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:14
I hope you never have to. But you are very portable Cupcake so you and Mom will be fine.
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Sandy
October 29, 2012 at 07:51
Good luck during the storm. Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express will usually take animals. One time during a hurricane we evacuated to a Holiday Inn. I noticed with this hurricane my cats were very intune to the storm a couple of days before the storm. Instead of going outside they stayed in the house and they were usually in the same room with me. Once it cleared yesterday they all went outside. Stay safe!!!
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:13
How did you get them to name the biggest storm in history after you? I am surprised the Holiday Inn took multiple dogs, or did you have to get multiple rooms? Did you take the cats too?
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Sandy
October 29, 2012 at 12:32
They took 2 dogs – we didn’t have cats then. We had to pay $ for each dog. They put us in a tiled room. Stay safe and dry. When we have hurricanes in our Walmart – we only have one in our little town – the 3 items that are sold out first are water, bread and beer. Keep a sense of humor.
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 12:57
Makes me wish I drank
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Jodi
October 29, 2012 at 08:42
We are getting storm Sandy now, so we did some basic prep too. I’ve been thinking about where we’d go too, I guess worse case scenario we could live out of our car. LOL
Hope you are all safe.
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:12
I figure all the kennels and cages would be in my Ford Explorer. The dogs won’t go out right now and pee. It is going to be a long haul. Stay safe.
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Jessica
October 29, 2012 at 08:57
Thank you for this wake-up call for all us pet parents to always be prepared for the sake of our furry children.
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 09:24
You are very welcome.
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Lindy
October 29, 2012 at 09:58
Stay safe and post as soon after the storm as you are able, so we know how you’re all doing. Keeping all affected by Sandy in my prayers.
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 10:19
Thanks – still have power this Monday morning, so we are happy.
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themisadventuresofmisaki
October 29, 2012 at 10:18
Sounds like you are well prepared! Stay safe and paws crossed Sandy passes quickly
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 10:42
Thanks.
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hutchagoodlife
October 29, 2012 at 12:25
Oh dear. This is so worrying. Great that you are prepared though. Please keep us updated. Whee have our paws crossed for you. And know that if whee lived near you (and not in England!) whee would offer to let you all stay with us. Stay safe.
Nibbles,.Nutty, Buddy & Basil
xxxx
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 12:56
A piggy hug for your kindness and some parsley too
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katiebblogs
October 29, 2012 at 13:17
Wow, that is quite the extensive list. I better get to it!
Stay safe.
Oink oink,
Katie and Coccolino the mini pig
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 14:17
Piggy prep is important
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dogdaz
October 29, 2012 at 16:09
Thanks for the good comments. Appreciate it.
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Misty Shores Chesapeakes
October 29, 2012 at 21:30
Sounds like you are well prepared!! I hope you are all safe through this terrible storm.
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dogdaz
November 1, 2012 at 15:48
Thanks
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Bassas Blog
October 30, 2012 at 02:49
Sounds like you are all well prepared. Stay safe!
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dogdaz
November 1, 2012 at 15:47
Thanks
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Clowie
October 30, 2012 at 07:52
I hope you’re all safe.
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dogdaz
November 1, 2012 at 15:45
Thanks – Thursday afternoon now and finally back on line. Yah!
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