How to keep pets safe during an earthquake

Unlike other natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes, earthquakes can happen at a moment’s notice with no warning. This is why it’s so important to be well-prepared at all times, especially if you have furry friends to think about.

Here’s what to keep in mind should you ever experience an earthquake with your pet.

1. Research your area — Look into the fault lines around where you live. Certain parts of the country are more prevalent to earthquakes while they rarely occur in others. Knowing your likelihood of facing an earthquake can help you prepare better.
2. Pack a pet emergency bag — Put together a disaster bag specifically for your pet. It should include a pet first aid kit, a week’s worth of your pet’s food and water, any medications they’re on, a temporary litter box or pee pads, a collar and leash, a bed and toys, and any other essentials they may need. This is something you can easily grab should you and your pet be displaced from home after an earthquake (or any other disaster or emergency).
3. Have a disaster plan — Along with having “grab-and-go” bags for both you and your pet, having a full plan in the face of an emergency is vital. Work with your family, friends, and neighbors to have a collaborative plan in place; where you can all meet up (especially if phone lines are down), who can take care of someone else’s pets if they aren’t around, where to go if it’s not safe in the area, etc.
4. Make sure your pet has a microchip or ID tag — Earthquakes can be terrifying for pets since they don’t understand what’s happening. In a lot of cases, it’s safer for them to find their own shelter, which might mean running off. If your pet has identification (an ID tag or a microchip), you have a much higher chance of being quickly reunited with them after the event is over. Tags like FidoAlert and TabbyAlert even come with a scannable QR code on each tag that immediately texts you if your pet has been found, and you can alert people around you if your pet is lost via their app.
5. Know where your emergency vets are — Have the names, addresses, and phone numbers of local emergency vets nearby. If your pet has been injured during an earthquake, you can quickly get them to one of the emergency vets without wasting time by looking them up — especially if phone or internet lines are down.
6. Keep your pet up-to-date on vaccines — Falling debris can leave behind rusty metal, contaminated water, and other potential threats to your pet. This is especially dangerous if your pet gets loose during the disaster. Make sure your pet has all the necessary vaccinations updated to prevent the spread of diseases like leptospirosis and heartworms.

If you are indoors

If you’re at home (or anywhere else indoors) when an earthquake hits, let your pet run and hide on their own. A lot of animals become frightening when the shaking starts and can become aggressive trying to get away if restrained. If your pet does allow you to hold them, get under a table or desk and cover your head and neck until the shaking passes. Or, if you don’t have anything nearby to crawl under, crouch next to a wall, making sure to avoid any that have objects that could fall on you.

If you are outside

If an earthquake starts while you’re out walking with your pet, immediately crouch down, crawl to an open area away from trees, buildings, or power lines, and cover your head and neck. You can try to hold onto your pet’s leash during the shaking, but allow them to run off for safety if necessary. Animals are great at instinctually finding their own shelter during disasters. Once the earthquake has passed, you can start looking for your pet.

Earthquakes can be traumatic both physically and mentally on a pet.

Once the shaking has stopped (and after you find your pet if they’ve run off), do a thorough hands-on inspection to check for any injuries. Along with the risk of being hit by falling debris, disasters can sometimes lead to anxiety or even aggression in animals, so watch for behavioral changes, too. If your pet shows any signs of injury or issue, have them seen by your vet as soon as possible.

During the aftermath of an earthquake, it’s also important to keep your pet away from any contaminated areas that could have dirty water or debris to prevent additional injuries or illnesses.

We may not know when an earthquake is going to hit, but having an action plan for you and your pets is the best way to keep everyone safe during these natural disasters.