12 best dog essentials for any weather emergency

Check your stock, then check it again. These are the must-have items for pet disaster preparedness.

Especially if you’ve lived in a seasonally fickle region (say, the middle of Tornado Alley or Chicago winter), you’ve been conditioned to expect the unexpected. A flurry of fresh snow can be five feet deep in thirty minutes, and a gust of strong-but-not-particularly-unordinary wind can be fatal in three.

As winter picks up (and the US supply chain shortages rage on), we’re here to remind you to check in on your pet emergency kit. Has it been recently restocked? Does everything still work? Do you have one to begin with? (No judgment in any case.) Before you have to regret having put this rather menial but essential task off — use this list to check your home supply twice.

Enough food and water for five days minimum.

This goes for each pet, plus bowls and any serving utensils necessary (none if you’re feeding Maev). You’ll also want to store at least one gallon of water per head per day. Though your dog likely won’t need that much, it’s good to overestimate in case of other emergencies.

Medication, medical records, and a first-aid kit.

Keep them stored in a waterproof container, and be sure to include any pet-specific first-aid supplies as well.

Dog waste bags and cleaning supplies.

A fresh roll or two, just to be sure. And a collection can of sorts to keep used bags away from your general smelling radius, if possible. Should you have an anxious dog or bathroom-prone dog, it may be smart to stash a bottle of household chlorine bleach too.

A backup leash, harness, and carrier.

These should be separate from your everyday ones, in case you’re in a rush to grab items and run. Be sure your emergency backups are sturdy, on the off chance that your dog has to stay harnessed or inside a carrier for several hours at a time, and that any identifying information (like the collar tag) is updated.

Updated emergency documents.

This includes a current photo of you and your dog with descriptions of their appearance, a written copy of their eating schedule, any medical conditions, and behavior issues, and your vet’s contact information. In a situation where you’d have to board your dog or place them in temporary care, you’ll be thankful you didn’t have to shuffle any papers together last-minute.

A familiar toy, blanket, or personal item.

Especially with anxious dogs, this is critical for their emotional and mental wellbeing. In times of panic, we all require some small means of comfort — a toy or blanket your dog is already used to playing with is perfect. It’ll help tide them through the worst of whatever crisis is at hand, and give you some bandwidth to focus on getting you both through safely.