1. Start with local risks and alerts
Record the local emergency-management office, trusted alert sources, evacuation routes, and household meeting points. Plans should follow current instructions from local authorities, not a static internet checklist.
- Emergency alerts enabled
- Two practical exit routes
- Household meeting point
- Pet-friendly destinations
- Out-of-area contact
- Backup caregiver with safe access
2. Plan evacuation and sheltering
Identify several currently pet-friendly lodging, boarding, family, or community options and verify them periodically. Decide who secures the dog, who carries the kit, and what happens if the owner cannot return home.
3. Keep identification and records ready
Store a paper copy in the kit and a secure digital copy you can reach away from home. A microchip is identification, not a GPS device.
- Legible visible ID
- Registered microchip with current contacts
- Recent face and full-body photos
- Dog description and distinguishing marks
- Veterinary and backup contacts
- Current records required by likely destinations
4. Build a portable kit
Ready.gov and animal-care organizations advise keeping several days of supplies. Tailor quantities to local guidance, storage limits, the dog’s established plan, and the household’s transport capacity.
| Category | Useful contents |
|---|---|
| Food and water | Several days under the existing plan, bowls, and measuring tools |
| Control and transport | Spare leash or harness plus an appropriate crate or carrier |
| Records | Identification, contacts, current care directions, and destination requirements |
| Sanitation | Waste bags, cleanup supplies, towels, and bedding |
| Care | Current medication in original labeled packaging as directed |
5. Plan transport for this dog
Confirm that the dog, carrier or restraint, kit, and household members fit safely in the intended vehicle. Record any existing professional guidance for lifting, stairs, or mobility; do not invent a generic handling technique for every basset.
6. Practice and maintain the plan
- Make the carrier familiar before an emergency
- Label it with reachable contacts
- Keep the kit accessible
- Rotate expiring supplies
- Review after moves or phone-number changes
- Run a calm household exit practice
7. Act early during an event
When authorities advise action, bring the dog indoors early when possible, secure them before exterior doors open, take the kit, and follow current local instructions. Do not delay a required evacuation to finish a checklist.
One plan the whole household can follow.
Review this after moves, number changes, and local risk-season changes. Follow current local-authority instructions during a real event.
Plan
- Local alerts and two exit routes
- Several pet-friendly destinations
- Out-of-area contact
- Backup caregiver and safe access
Identify
- Visible ID and registered microchip
- Current photos and description
- Veterinary and backup contacts
- Private ownership and care records
Pack
- Several days of established food and water
- Bowls, sanitation, and bedding
- Spare leash or harness and transport setup
- Current labeled medication as directed
Practice
- Calm carrier or vehicle entry
- Who secures the dog
- Who carries the kit
- Dates to rotate and recheck supplies
Frequently asked questions
How much food and water should the kit contain?
Ready.gov advises several days’ supply. Tailor the amount to local guidance, storage limits, transport, and the dog’s established plan.
What about prescription medication?
Ask the veterinarian in advance how to maintain an appropriate emergency supply, keep it labeled, and never alter a dose from this guide.
Will an emergency shelter accept dogs?
Not necessarily. Identify and periodically verify several pet-friendly destinations and backup arrangements.
Is a microchip enough identification?
No. Pair current microchip registration with current visible identification and recent photographs.
What if nobody is home during an evacuation order?
Arrange a trusted backup caregiver with the access and written information needed to act, while keeping access details private.
Sources & boundaries
This guide offers general organization and planning information. It is not veterinary, medical, nutritional, behavioral, legal, or emergency-response advice. Follow current facility rules, veterinary directions, and local authorities. Sources were reviewed September 3, 2026. Read our editorial standards and correction process.