EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — As storms and other extreme weather hit the Borderland, El Paso Animal Services is urging pet owners to plan ahead to keep animals safe and prevent them from getting loose.
Julie Newbold, public affairs coordinator for El Paso Animal Services, said preparation is key because “once weather hits or any sort of disaster, you know, you can’t think straight.”
Newbold recommends putting together a pet “go bag” in advance with important paperwork, including vaccine records and microchip information, along with a few days’ worth of food and a bowl.
She also suggested keeping pets ready to move quickly by having them wear a harness and keeping a leash at exit points so owners can clip them on and leave quickly if needed.
For families sheltering at home, Newbold said pets that are anxious during thunderstorms may do better with a designated safe space. She recommended setting up a “safe room or a safe place” away from exit points or areas that could flood, and using calming distractions such as music, favorite toys and treats.
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Turning up the TV can also help drown out thunder, she said, adding that owners should stay with their pets and try to keep them calm during inclement weather.
El Paso Animal Services also sees an increase in missing pets during severe weather, Newbold said, often because fences or gates get knocked down. When pets are let outside, they may bolt due to fear and anxiety from the storm and run farther than they normally would, she said.
Newbold said lost pets found within the city often end up at the agency’s main shelter at 5001 Fred Wilson.
She also encouraged people who find a stray pet to consider temporarily keeping the animal, if they are able, through the shelter’s finder-to-foster program.
Newbold said people can bring the pet to the shelter to register for the program and receive support including food and medical care. Keeping the pet in the neighborhood where it was found can improve the chances of reuniting it with its owner, she said, because most pets do not wander far from home.
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