Most of us consider our pets to be part of our family. So, what happens to our furry family member if we have to be out of our home for a period of time due to illness, entering a hospital or rehabilitation program, or some other issue? Pets need to be fed, dogs walked, and litter boxes changed regularly. Who will assume responsibility for your pets if you cannot be there? Sometimes people have no plan in place which means that their beloved pet could end up in a shelter (where they might be euthanized due to overcrowding) or, if they are lucky, with a rescue group. Not only is this stressful for the pet, but it also means that when the person returns home, their beloved companion is no longer there.
The time to make plans for such unexpected incidents is BEFORE something happens. Take time to line up someone who is willing to care for your pets in your absence. Friends, relatives, neighbors, members of your church, dog walkers, pet sitters, groomers, boarding facilities, etc. should all be explored in developing your plan. Planning must take place before you are on the way to the hospital!
Once you have found your “back up”, spend time making a list of everything that he/she needs to know about your pet such as contact information for your vet, medications (including flea/tick/heartworm preventative), feeding schedule, litterbox cleaning, outside or walking schedule for dogs, and where everything is kept. This information should be given to the person who will be the temporary caregiver and should also be posted in an obvious place in your home (near where the food is stored, perhaps). Just as some of us have list of emergency contact and medications on our frig, post the name of your back up caregiver and their phone number there too. While none of us like to think that anything could happen, we must be prepared.
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and a 2004 research study (Carlisle-Frank et al) found that almost half of the victims of domestic violence stays with the abuser rather than leave their pets behind. According to Safe Place for Pets (www.safeplaceforpets.org), there are organizations in Maryland that help people and their pets in need of emergency shelter. RedRover (www.redrover.org) has emergency “safe escape” grant programs that help with the cost of temporary pet boarding while a person is in a domestic violence shelter. If you are a victim of domestic violence, you do not have to choose between your safety and your pet. Seek help now!
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