Animal care before, during and after earthquakes

Apps on your phone can alert you of an impending earthquake, and your pets may have this ability, too. Scientists suggest that animals may sense changes in the earth just before humans.

That said, earthquakes can be even more disorienting for animals than for humans. The best thing you can do as a homeowner is to be prepared before they even feel anything.

Denisse Cobian-Tobler, Vice President of Branding at the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, and Susan Anderson, Director of Disaster Response and National Field Response for ASPCA, explain how protect your pets in the event of a disaster.

Before the earthquake

Your disaster plans must involve your pet. Practicing placing your pet in their respective cages while you and your family members practice your earthquake exercise can help prepare your pet for a potential evacuation. Cobian-Tobler said to train at least once every few months.

When building your earthquake preparedness kit, be sure to include animal-specific items.

For cats and dogs, you need food and water bowls, transport cages, leashes, and waste collection supplies like kitty litter and dog bags. Have lick stones, litter, and supports for hamsters and birds. Creature comforts, such as a favorite toy or blanket, can help ease any emotional stress an animal might endure during an earthquake.

“It’s really about thinking of everything you would need if you were to go out right now and make sure you’ve got everything packed and ready to go,” Cobian-Tobler said. (See below for an example of a checklist.)

Microchipping and registering your pet is vital, said Cobian-Tobler. Without the proper microchip registration, she said, your pet could be lost forever in a disaster. A collar with the appropriate information or other forms of identification on your pet, Anderson said, is an important step in ensuring your pet will return home safely after an earthquake.

Copies of vaccination records and contact details for your animal’s veterinarian should also be included in your important documents.

During an earthquake

When an earthquake begins, as humans we know how to fall, cover and hang on. But what do you do with your pets?

In most cases, let them do their own thing, Cobian-Tobler said.

“Trust your animals – they are really good at finding safety,” she said.

Small pets that can be kept should be kept with you in your safe space, but if your cat wants to hide under the bed, let them.

Other animals, such as caged and tank pets, should be kept in their enclosures and transferred to portable transport cages in the event of damage or the need for evacuation.

If you’re outside with your pet, Cobian-Tobler said, get low to the ground and away from any potential hazards like trees or telephone poles. The best option, however, may be to just let them go and find them later. (This is why the microchip and updating information is so important.)

After the earthquake

Earthquakes can be destabilizing even for longtime California residents. Animals that might not understand what is going on can easily become anxious and show signs of trauma.

Cobian-Tobler said to watch for behavior changes like hiding or hanging on, but not to worry.

“Just be there and support, the same way you would any of your kids,” she said.

Animals are in tune with what is going on around them, including your emotions. Anderson said to be mindful of your emotions and your breathing around your pets after the earthquake. Try to keep a calm demeanor and practice deep breathing.

“Remember, our pets don’t understand what happens when things suddenly change, like they do in a natural disaster,” she said. “We can’t explain to them why we’re in a new place, or why there are new people, or why people are acting ‘weird’. Keeping this in mind will help us bring patience and compassion to our animal’s emotional stress.

As part of your preparation, identify which pet-friendly hotels you can go to in case your home is uninhabitable after the earthquake, Anderson said. Other arrangements, such as taking your pet to a friend’s house, should be made in advance and practiced as well.

If your pet was injured or appears to be seriously ill after the earthquake, contact their veterinarian or the local veterinary hospital (their contact details should be in your emergency kit).