5 Tips to Prepping Your Pet For Tornado Season

by Rita Brhel

Published: April 15th, 2017

TopFeatures

5 tips to prepping your pet for tornado season

If the siren is sounding, it’s too late to prepare your pet for a tornado warning. With storm season approaching, keep these five tips in mind to keep your pets safe the next time you need to take shelter..

Living in the Midwest, we never make it through a spring without heading down to the basement at least once. A year ago, a rather benign-looking storm dropped a twister just a mile from our house. My kids and I ran downstairs, wondering too late what to do about our two house cats, a snake, a couple rabbits outside, and caged birds.

Fortunately, while the local school didn’t fare so well, our home was spared. But the whole experience was a little too close for comfort. I resolved to be ready next time. Here are my five tips to preparing pets for a possible warning when a tornado watch is issued:

1) Know where your pets are

A pet that spends most of its time in a cage or tank is easy to locate. But cats, rabbits, and other animals that roam free in the home can find tight spaces to sleep. And pets that spend part of their day outside in the backyard, like dogs, cats, tortoises, and rabbits, are safer if they’re inside with you when the clouds darken.

2) Keep emergency pet supplies in your storm shelter

Just as your family should have bottled water and snacks available in the shelter area, so should you do the same for your pets. If you live in an apartment or trailer home where you will need to leave your home to find shelter, pack a designated bag with emergency items to bring with. Otherwise, just keep your in-home shelter stocked. Must-have items include:

Pet first aid kit, which will vary depending on your pet species
Bottled water
Pet food and treats
Disposable bowls
Sanitation items, such as a litter box or puppy pads
Plastic bags for poop pickup
Favorite blanket or toy
Harness, leash, and muzzle
Any medications
Veterinary vaccination records
Crate, unless you will be bringing your pet in a travel carrier

4) Have appropriate travel carriers on hand for your pets

Some cats or dogs become nervous during storms and may not do well being carried by hand or called to the shelter. Know your pet! Also, for other pets — from snakes to parrots to fish to tarantulas — plan ahead about whether you can bring the animal’s entire habitat into the shelter or if you will need to use a travel carrier.

4) Hold mock tornado drills

It’s helpful for humans to practice the drill for when a tornado siren sounds. When pets are involved, it’s crucial to practice the process of not only gathering emergency supplies ahead of time but also how you will be getting your pet, yourself, that emergency kit, and any other items you deem necessarily in your shelter. Review what part of the process you can do ahead of time, when a tornado watch is first issued, and what has to wait until a warning is sounded. Consider how you would change the process depending on how much warning time you’re given for a specific storm.

5) If your home is damaged by a storm

Hope for the best, and plan for the worst. I hope you are never the victim of a tornado. But if your home is hit by a twister, its important to be ready for that. Your emergency supply bag should have enough items to tide you and your pet over until help arrives. Once you’re free of the shelter:

Keep your pet on a short leash. Don’t allow your pet to roam free. A storm can turn a familiar landscape upside-down, and your pet can get lost easily. Debris, such as broken glass and downed power lines, can also injure your pet or worse.
Comfort your distressed pet. Animals, like us, desire the familiar. A home damaged by a storm may look nothing like the home they were used to. Plus, the emergency situation may necessitate transportation to a temporary emergency shelter. In the least, your pet’s routines will be disrupted. This will be unnerving for your pet, which will be expressed through problem behaviors. Try to be patient and understanding at this time. Aim to get your pet to its normal routine as soon as possible.

Rita Brhel

Rita Brhel is a freelance writer with a huge heart for animals that she's passed on to her 3 children. Rita herself has a cat named Tippy (in photo) and 4 finches. Her 3 kids and husband share an additional 3 cats, 3 small parrots, 3 rabbits, 5 pigeons, 8 chickens, and 2 ducks on their acreage near Hastings, Nebraska, USA. She has experience with a lot of different species of pets of her own, has worked a 1-year stint in a vet clinic as part of a hands-on journalism project, and has been a foster pet parent for an animal shelter. Each of her children dream of careers working with animals, and Rita wholeheartedly supports them!

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Training a dog can seem intimidating, and doesn’t always yield the expected results. Luckily for all dog owners out there, a new study has found another way to train your four-legged companion. Scientists at Aberystwyth University, located in Wales, United Kingdom, have discovered that scent training could improve pet dogs' behavior. The study shows that pet dogs trained to detect scents have a better mental ability and capacity to carry out certain tasks.Previous research only compared highly trained working dogs, like assistance dogs or search and rescue dogs, with untrained pet dogs. Now, for the first time, the researchers have tested the effects of scent training on two groups of untrained dogs. A research team from Aberystwyth University led the study in collaboration with Emma Stoker, owner of Puppy Plus, a dog training company based in Newton, Wales.The study involved 40 dogs of varying degrees of training, whose owners were asked to fill out a questionnaire with basic information about their pet. Researchers gave the dogs two tasks, both requiring impulse control. In the first test, called the “detour task”, the dogs needed to navigate a transparent barrier to get food. The second “A not B task”, tested the dogs’ ability to switch their choice from one pot to another, depending on where food was placed. Researchers separated the dogs into two groups to see whether their ability to detect scents would improve their cognitive ability. The dogs in the first group were given the “detour task” and had to navigate around a transparent barrier to get a treat. In the second group, the researchers said “Look” to the dog to get its attention and then showed it a treat before hiding it under a pot. Dogs in the second group underwent scent training, separated into three phases - familiarization, training, and test phase. In the first phase, only one pot was used. In the training phase, two pots were used, and in the final, test phase, three pots were used.Pate scent was rubbed on all pots to make it harder for the dogs to sniff out where the treat was hidden. If the dog didn’t respond within 20 seconds of being released to find the treat, or if it picked the wrong pot, the dog was shown the treat but wasn’t rewarded. Researchers discovered that dogs who received scent training performed the tasks more efficiently than those who weren’t trained. The study also showed that scent training improved dogs’ inhibitory control and helped them focus on completing a specific task. What’s important for dog owners to know is that poor impulse control is believed to be the main cause of a lot of unwanted behaviors in dogs, such as house soiling and destructive behavior. This new study suggests that scent training could help owners improve their dogs’ behavior. Dr. Sarah Dalesman, the co-author of the study, said: “This research shows that dogs that train primarily in scent work have stronger inhibitory control, suggesting that this training can have a positive effect on their behavior.”“Scent training is offered by a lot of dog trainers, and easy to practice at home. It might offer a great way for owners to improve their pets’ behavior, and we’re aiming to test this theory in future studies.”If scent training isn’t compatible with the way your pup learns, you can try agility or puzzle training. Puzzle training provides mental and physical stimulation and can come in handy when a dog needs to stay home alone or confined. Agility training is another option. Agility is a sport in which you direct your dog through a pre-set obstacle course allowing them to gain problem-solving skills. Try different training activities with your dog to find out what you and your pooch enjoy doing together the most.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

The Latest Pet Industry Trends from Global Pet Expo 2024

On March 20-22, 2024, pet industry professionals from across the globe gathered at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, for the Global Pet Expo. Presented by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), the exhibit floor showcased 1,100+ companies, including 300 first-time exhibitors. This included 1,000+ product launches, the latest pet industry news, a packed New Products Showcase, and more! But what did we discover while attending the show? Here are some of the hottest trends in the industry, as seen at this year’s show: Mind the BudgetIn the last decade, we have seen a growing interest in spoiling our pets regardless of the cost. However, following the events of 2020, many pet parents are feeling the pinch that is society’s current financial state. So, how do we reconcile the two? Many brands came into this year’s show with a focus on providing high-quality pet care with a budget-friendly mindset. This included two distinct approaches. Some companies focused on finding ways to keep the price point low. This included changes to production, simplified designs, and sourcing quality supplies at a fraction of the cost. They then transferred these savings directly to the consumer, allowing you to spoil your pets without breaking the bank. The other trend we saw was to create premium products that, while requiring an upfront investment, are designed to last for years to come. By not having to replace them repeatedly, you will save money over the product's lifespan. Overall, we were excited to see so many ways pet parents can improve their pet’s quality of life, even when finances are tight. Sustainability for the Future A growing understanding of the impact of our pets on the environment has put pressure on the pet industry to find ways to prioritize sustainability. Some experts say that caring for a medium-sized dog can have a similar carbon footprint to driving a large SUV. How do we address this without giving up our pets? We saw several brands rising to the challenge! There was a growing number of companies creating adorable and functional toys from recycled materials. Snugarooz had a wide assortment of brightly colored, crinkly, and squeaky plush toys made from recycled water bottles. WestPaw added more products to their popular Seaflex line of 100% recyclable toys made with recycled ocean-bound plastic. We also saw a focus on sustainability in pet food and treats. One company that really stood out was Arch Pet Food. The company previously demonstrated their commitment to eco-friendly pet ownership by introducing alternative proteins in their food and treats. One product that we found very impressive was the Dehydrated Copi treats, made from an invasive species in our waterways. Other shifts towards sustainability included changes in packaging to reduce unnecessary plastics, the use of hemp-based bedding for small animals, and more sustainable decisions being made during production.

The US National Park Service is Being Sued Over Stray Cats

The US National Park Service was sued by a non-profit organization due to its controversial plan to remove the famous stray cats of Puerto Rico, a historic district in the US territory. The lawsuit was filed by  Alley Cat Allies, a non-profit based in Maryland, and it comes four months after the radical announcement that left many in shock. The Federal agency revealed that it would contract an animal welfare organization to remove around 200 stray cats that live in Puerto Rico’s historic seaside fortress in Old San Juan. What the organization still hasn’t decided upon is whether the captured stray cats would be placed in foster homes, kept in shelters, adopted, or face a different fate. What is more, the federal agency did not reveal if a third-party organization has been hired yet. The National Park Service also added that it would hire a “removal agency” if the organization it contracted ultimately failed to remove the cats within a six-month period. The news caught many by surprise, as many locals – and tourists alike – loved the cats, and many considered them a delight and a local attraction. Alas, many considered the cats a nuisance too, as the National Park Service stated in a report in 2022 that the cat population in the city had grown out of proportions and that the smell of feces and urine in the area was becoming too strong.The announcement of their plan roused many animal rights activists, who say that six months is not enough to remove such a great number of cats. They fear that, as a result, many cats would be killed. Ultimately, the Alley Cat Allies filed its lawsuit in an effort to ensure the best possible outcome for the felines in question. They requested additional environmental statements from the National Park Service, and asked that “a judge find its actions allegedly violate acts including the National Environmental Protection Act.” It remains to be seen what will be the fate of these kitties – but one can only hope they won’t be harmed in the process. 

Animal Shelter Has Clever Way to Fundraise for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is for celebrating love, but for some, it can be a reminder of failed relationships. If you’re still feeling bitter towards an ex, you can now take that resentment and transform it into something positive, thanks to a clever fundraiser being run by an animal shelter in New Jersey.“Neuter Your Ex” and Help Stray Cats This Valentine’s Day Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center in Blackwood, NJ has come up with a funny way to raise much-needed funds for stray cats this Valentine’s Day. The campaign is called Neuter Your Ex for Valentine’s Day, and its slogan is “Because some things shouldn’t breed.”It’s simple: when you donate $50 to Homeward Bound, they’ll name a feral cat after your ex and then neuter or spay the kitty before releasing them back to their outdoor colony. If you’re familiar with trap-neuter-return, also known as TNR, then you already know how this works—cats who aren’t adoptable are allowed to live out their lives outdoors, but because they’ve been neutered or spayed, they can’t reproduce and, therefore, won’t contribute to the overpopulation problem.A Big Success So FarThis campaign is already a hit. Multiple news outlets have reported on it, so word has spread far and wide. The shelter states that they’ve received a lot of names (they’ve gotten so many that it will take months to use all of them). And donations have come from around the United States and other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Australia. Want to Help? Here’s HowIf you want to make a donation towards this worthy cause, you can fill out the form here, provide your ex’s first name or a nickname, and make a one-time or monthly payment to support the shelter’s TNR efforts. If you have questions, you can reach out to Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center. Their recent Instagram post provides answers to some frequently asked questions about the campaign, so you can check that out as well.  Keep an eye on Homeward Bound’s Instagram to see photos of the cats that end up benefiting from this Valentine’s Day fundraiser.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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