June is Disaster Preparedness for Pets month ? but if you're a pet-care business professional it's always a good time to make sure you've got a plan in place to administer to the needs of all the pets in your care when and if a disaster strikes.
Whether you live in a rural township that is prone to flooding, hurricanes or snowstorms, or you live in a metropolitan area that is prone to the above or may one day be a target of a man-made disaster, having a plan to help your clients and their pets is invaluable. Remember, you'll want a plan that encompasses all the types of animals you care for - including livestock!
If you're ready to create your own pet-disaster-preparedness plan - use these resources to create a plan custom-fitted for you and your clients:
? The Humane Society of the United States (http://www.hsus.org) has a myriad of resources, including brochures and a Disaster Center that can educate you on the best ways to prepare for a disaster.
? Your local Emergency Response Team can assist you in locating animal-friendly shelters in case of evacuation. They will also be able to provide you with any and all requirements necessary to house animals in such a shelter. (In most cases pets will need to be crated and will need to bring copies of their immunization records).
Spend some time researching and then create a plan that will work for you and your clients' pets. Items to include in your plan: ? Maps for your sitters delineating which pets they are responsible for in case of an emergency;
? A waiver from your clients granting your company permission to transport their pets to the closest animal friendly shelter in case of evacuation;
? A waiver from your clients who do NOT want you to transport their pets in cases of disaster - letting you know that you are to leave their pets in place;
? Reminders for your clients to keep their pets' vet records taped in or near their crate. Additionally, each pet should have up to 2 weeks of food in air- tight containers and easily accessible water containers so that you can find everything when you need to move swiftly;
? An understanding with each client where they can be found if an evacuation takes place and cell phones are not operational. Many families have an agreed upon meeting place - make sure you know the 'meeting place' for each family you work with so you are able to find them when the roads become passable.
A disaster preparedness plan is certainly something you hope you never have to use, but something that you must have to be a responsible pet-care business provider. Your clients will be grateful that you've gone the extra mile to ensure the safety and well-being of their pets.
Use your plan as a marketing tool. Once you've assembled your plan, why not write an article for the local paper about effective disaster preparedness for pets? How about offering a free tip- sheet on disaster-preparedness for pets for every potential new client who subscribes to your e-zine? Or, simply post your disaster preparedness tips on your website and offer it as a free article on the web - make sure you include a great resources box that gets folks to head to your website! Finally, you can expand your disaster preparedness research to create an offer a free seminar on the topic - either in conjunction with your local shelter, police and fire department or the local school.
However you position it - once you've done the homework - make sure you are providing a benefit to the largest amount of people. They will begin to immediately associate you as an expert. And the best clients always are willing to pay more money to work with the expert!
Peggie Arvidson-Dailey, is the founder of Pet-Care Business Success University. Go here (http://www.peggiespets.com/wst_page9.html) for a copy of her free report "243 Tips for Starting a Pet-Care Business."
(c) 2005 Peggie Arvidson-Dailey. You absolutely may use this article in your e-zine or other publication as long as you keep the resource box and all links intact. Please forward a copy of your publication that contains this article.
Rolling Meadows Cadillac Escalade rental .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareYou can look at westhighland terriers and know if it... Read More
Fleas belong to the insect order Siphonaptera. They are common... Read More
The 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With... Read More
1. Accidents and medical emergencies in the home happen frequently.... Read More
Bark CollarsMany pet owners become lost as to what to... Read More
If there is an art to getting horses to load... Read More
Herbology, basically, is the use of herbs in the treatment... Read More
Clone a Cat, Go To Jail ...or at least... Read More
Of the thirty-three terrier breeds (most of which were first... Read More
Part2: Does your puppy want to be crate trained?Yes! in... Read More
It's been weeks since you went riding. Now you have... Read More
The 4th Of 6 Keys To Building A Life Long... Read More
Any person, whether a minor or adult, having been bitten... Read More
You can't imagine the kind of varieties of Goldfish there... Read More
Pet adoption is a fabulous option if you're seeking a... Read More
Small dog breeds are great pets, but since their personalities... Read More
Animal lovers come in all shapes and sizes. Undoubtedly if... Read More
"On Trust" & "Paid For" for are one of the... Read More
This is a very controversial topic which has a lot... Read More
Canine Diabetes: A Serious Dog Disease That is Completely ManageableCanine... Read More
If you are considering opening a dog day care, then... Read More
Potty Training Your Puppy:Make sure you feed your dog at... Read More
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at... Read More
The act of offering Christmas gifts is always enhanced if... Read More
It was the Saturday morning of August 20, 2004 and... Read More
Des Moines rental limo ..Is your bird a seed only eater? Did you know... Read More
Dog training can provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Every... Read More
Many pet owners often wonder if it's worth it to... Read More
Do I Need A Quarantine Tank?Ah, yes, the often dismissed... Read More
As we find ourselves in the middle of winter, it's... Read More
Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits... Read More
Some say it started with the Taco Bell dog. A... Read More
What's the best food for your Goldfish?Goldfish need food that... Read More
All dogs bark, it's their way to communicate a message.... Read More
As dogs grow older, their senses become less sharp and... Read More
Among the most well known cat lover gifts are photo... Read More
You are ready to bring your Boxer home? First, you... Read More
According to holistic veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks, the maximum life... Read More
Buy or Adopt - That is the question.If you intend... Read More
For those pet owners who do not know what a... Read More
Having a dog is a little like having a baby.... Read More
Animal lovers come in all shapes and sizes. Undoubtedly if... Read More
Pets are family members and should be treated as such.... Read More
Show an uninformed dog lover a photo of a Westie,... Read More
Betta fish, also called Siamese fighting fish are one of... Read More
Whether purely for looks or for a bird's home, bird... Read More
Because your dog lives with humans, he's going to have... Read More
While excitement and anticipation will be at the top of... Read More
Are you thinking about getting some discus then and want... Read More
Can cats and dogs live together without constantly being at... Read More
Pet |