PETA Offers Northern California Tips for Safeguarding Animals During Winter Storm

Group Warns Against Leaving Animals Outside During Freezing Temperatures or Leaving Them Behind During Flood Evacuations

For Immediate Release:
December 11, 2014

Contact:
Lauren Rutkowski 202-483-7382

With Northern California about facing heavy rain, snow, and winds, PETA is offering important advice for ensuring the safety of companion animals should residents experience major snowfall or flooding or be forced to evacuate. Please alert your audience to the following information, which could help save the lives of cats, dogs, birds, and other companion animals who should be included in disaster preparation plans:

• Keep animals indoors. This is absolutely critical when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or a coat on walks.
• Don’t allow your cat or dog to roam outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
• Wipe off your dogs’ or cats’ legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them.
• Have your animals microchipped, and put secure, legible ID tags on them.
• During a flood, never leave your animals outdoors, tied up, or confined in any way, as they will be trapped and unable to flee rising waters. (Please click on the hyperlinks to see photos of dogs who were left outside during past storms.)
• In the event of an evacuation, never leave your animals behind to fend for themselves. Know your emergency destination ahead of time. Shelters for human victims don’t often allow animals, but motels in the area will probably accept them in an emergency. Call destinations in advance, and find out which ones will accommodate you and your animals.
• Watch for other animals in need, including strays and animals who are left behind by neighbors. If you see an animal in distress and are unable to help, note the animal’s condition and location and call authorities for help as soon as possible.

A copy of PETA’s disaster-preparedness public service announcement is available to link to or download here. For more information, please visit PETA.org.