Pet Disaster Preparedness Tips + Upcoming Faceobok Live Event

The following content is being shared in partnership with the Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. All thoughts contained below are original and property of Momma Told Me Blog 2017.

Did you know June is National Pet Preparedness month?

More than half of U.S. homes have a prepared emergency evacuation kit in their home but most do not have a plan in place for their own family pet.

Having a pet, or multiple pets, in your home is much like having a child during an emergency. Unfortunately, while you can educate and practice escape routes and procedures with your children (especially as they grow) pets cannot benefit from the typical preparedness of such verbal skills. However, they can benefit from some advanced planning on your part, a little extra care and attention to emergency kits, and even from mock drills.

I recently had the chance to attend a YouTube live session with Dr. Kurt Venator, Purina Veterinarian, and pick his brain on safe practices, and what to expect, during an emergency with pets.

One of the first thing people think of when it comes to preparing their home and pets for an emergency is supplies- something we often leave out of emergency kits without a reminder such as this. It can be hard to know exactly what, and how much, to pack away for pets but Dr. Kurt Venator had some key insights to share:

-When it comes to water for your pets the general rule of thumb is to reserve 1 gallon of water for every 3 days for cats and dogs, compared to 1 gallon a day for humans. However you will want to research exact quantities for larger breed dogs, elderly pets, and medical issues, as they pertain to your family's exact furry composition.

-Always date pet food when stocking your family's emergency kit. Canned, or 'wet' food will keep longer than dry food and be less susceptible to spoil should they come in contact with water (say, in a flood.) Switch out the food in your pet's emergency supply every 6 months, or as needed by date for canned foods.

-Include a nylon leash and harness for your dog- you may not be able to, or thinking to, grab your pet's leashes and gear during an emergency. Keep a separate set inside your emergency kit just for this.

-Be sure to include any pet medications, enough for 5 days to a week. Your veterinarian should be able to write and fill an emergency prescription for this purpose, in advance. Be sure to put all pet medications in a bag that is clearly marked with the pet's name, dosing instructions, your contact information, and your vet's contact information. You never know if a neighbor, or first responder may be the one to initially handle your pet in an emergency.

-Store your supplies inside a hard shelled carrier with your pet's name and your contact information written in waterproof marker. If your pet is too large for a carrier a large seal-top bucket will often do. Don't forget to pick up an emergency litter pan for the cats- they make disposable ones that are intended for temporary use which work perfect in a pinch.

Gathering supplies is a great start, but not the only thing you should consider when preparing your pets for an emergency. Dr. Kurt Venator notes:

"Being able to help your pets transition and move in an emergency situation is really important."

Naturally the size, age, health, and temperament of your pet/s all play a big role in how well you will be able to effectively evacuate in an emergency. You will likely panicked, and animals are great at picking up on their owner's emotions. Remaining calm is the first key to keeping your pets calm and cooperative.

Keep small cats and dogs in their hard-shelled emergency kennel at all times while moving. Cutting a slot in the top of an old blanket so you can toss it over the crate and still carry your pet may help with some of the anxiety and confusion for your pet.

For larger dogs, you are unable to carry, always use a harness to avoid choking scared and disoriented pets. Make sure their ID is attached not just to a collar, but the harness as well. The more identification on your pet in an emergency, the better.

Elderly pets may be less mobile and require assistance in and out of buildings or cars. You can use an old sheet or blanket ran under your dog's hind quarters with a light lifting motion to help ease some of the weight off of dogs with joint and back problems. It's even better to have a lightweight ramp on hand.

Naturally knowing the types of disasters that are local to your area will help you best prepare for how to handle them. Natural disasters are just one form of an emergency to prepare for but you should always consider the potential for fires, terrorist attacks, and more.

Talk to your personal veterinarian about local disaster preparation and identify pet surrender facilities, emergency veterinarian contacts, and any special things you may need to watch out for specific to your breed or pet. If your pet is prone to panic attacks or high anxiety consider asking for an anxiety medication you can put in your emergency kit- just be sure to try the tranquilizer with your pet prior to an actual emergency so you can know exactly what to expect.

In many cases micro-chipped pets will alert the veterinarian on file if found separate from their owner. Ensure that your microchip information is up to date annually and add an emergency contact (such as a friend or neighbor) to your personal contact list directly with your veterinarian.

One of my personal favorite pet preparedness tips applies to human safety as well- in an emergency do not rely on electronic communication, records, or maps. Make sure to keep a local map in your emergency kit, sealed in a waterproof bag. Write ON the map your pet's emergency contact and veterinary info, as well as points of interest such as shelter and surrender points.

Again, and I cannot stress this enough, make sure everything attached to your pet is clearly identified with contact information. While you may have a microchip do not rely on it to reunite you and your pet. It may be some time before your bet would wind up at a facility able to scan the chip and that's precious time in a disaster. Furthermore, add your emergency contact, when possible, as you may not always have a method of contact in the event of a disaster.

One of the things many of the participants of our YouTube chat felt strongly about was how to prepare for the event that pet and owner would be separated during an emergency.

Dr. Kurt Venator was quick to urge that not only pets wear and have several forms of emergency identification, but your home should as well. As scary as it may sound you may not always be home with your pets when disaster strikes. The ASPCA, your local veterinarian, pet supply stores, and more carry a variety of Emergency Alert decals to notify first-responders of your pet's presence. Display this decals in multiple windows around your home and be sure to check them regularly for fading and legibility.

Lastly, DO get your pets involved in your family's disaster preparation. While your pets may be unable to speak for themselves they CAN benefit from simple practices such as acclimating them to emergency carriers and harnesses. Involve every member of the family with not only building your pet's emergency kit but the evacuation plan and any special care/handling your pet may need to get them ready to go in an emergency. And remember, if your plan involves using a sedative for transport- do a trail run prior to an actual event so you know how your pet will react!

Naturally nobody can ever be truly prepared for a disaster but many of these steps can help you and your pet feel more calm and prepared should one hit. I really enjoyed picking Dr. Kurt Venator's brain during the YouTube live session and I'm especially excited to share yet another informative Purina event coming later this month. Join Purina and their veterinarian specialists on Facebook Live June 29, 2017 at 12PM CT, 1PM ET for a special discussion about calming pets during travel, tornado season,  fireworks, and more. Both Nora and Truffles are especially anxious over the 4th of July holiday so I'm quite looking forward to attending! Now, tell me a little bit about the disasters you might need to prepare for in your area.

10 Habits of Highly Loved Pets + $10 Gift Card When You Spend $40 at PetSmart Deal

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurinaMysteries #CollectiveBias

If someone came to me and asked me to draw my family tree it's no mystery who would be in my closest branches- the cat and the dog. It may sound silly to some, but for the better part of the pet loving population pets ARE family and they most definitely get treated as such. For better and for worse, as Truffles reminds me every annual vet checkup.

But we, as humans, don't just care for our pets- animals of all shapes and sizes play a vital role in the happiness, and even well being, of their owners. You wouldn't be surprised to learn that those who have pets in their home often benefit from reduced stress, increased physical activity, and potentially longer (certainly happier) lives. So it's also no mystery why we spoil our pets- something Purina and PetSmart know all about.

If you've ever walked into a PetSmart you know it's much more than a pet store- it's an entirely different experience than walking down the pet care aisle of your local grocer. Every single person working is dedicated to, and passionate about, the happiness and well being of pets. Not only are you welcome to bring your well behaved, leashed, pet in shopping with you but you'll find aisle upon aisle of the newest, most popular, and even specialty toys and food to truly spoil your pet.

Our local PetSmart also offers full service Banfield® Pet Hospital and Grooming departments, as well as obedient and agility training classes for dogs. I love that I can go in with Nora, get some shopping done, discover a few new treats and surprises, and pick her up fully groomed with a smile on her face! The staff truly is wonderful and welcoming, making the choice to shop for all our pet's needs there a 'no brainer'.

One of the things you might not already think of PetSmart for is savings- so Purina® and PetSmart are teaming up this Summer with their special Codeword promotion. Taking advantage of amazing savings on your favorite Purina® products is as easy as spending $40 in participating Purina® products, at PetSmart, during June 1, 2017- June 30, 2017. Then, with your receipt in hand head to the Codeword redemption site and upload your receipt before July 9, 2017. In 4-8 weeks you'll receive a $10 PetSmart gift card in the mail as a special thank you!

But wait! You can redeem this offer as many times as you want on qualifying Purina® at PetSmart purchases of $40 or more made throughout June. That means there's no limit to the number of gift cards you can receive! Even more exciting the landing page for the Codeword promotion will feature exclusive deals and savings on Purina products you buy and love already.

All this talk about spoiling, erm loving, our pets and the special Purina® at PetSmart Codeword $10 when you spend $40 deal had me inspired. Not only did we head right to our local PetSmart to stock up on some Purina® favorites, but I've decided to share a fun little look at what I call "10 Habits of Highly Loved Pets". You know, those things you or your pets do automatically because of that unbreakable bond between the two of you? Yea, I bet you can check a few of these off the list.....

#1: Your pets go shopping with you.

This one's pretty self explanatory and if you have a dog at home and a PetSmart nearby it's almost guaranteed you've done this a time or two. If not, what's stopping you? There are many places we would love to bring our pets when we go out and about but let's face it, not all are pet friendly. PetSmart is a fun, judgement free, zone where you can bring your pup or leashed cat (or well behaved anything, really) and have some fun shopping together. It doesn't matter if your 6 year-old dog acts as though she has no training and is as excited as a puppy (*cough* Nora) every time she sees someone, of if your poodle is desperately in need of a good shave. There's always a smiling face and helping hand in the form of an eager associate waiting to help you.

#2: Your pets get 'spa' days.

I'm not talking about bringing your pet to the groomer for a nice touch up trim or Summer shave- I'm talking about all those extra services you add on for your pet you'd never dare pay for for yourself. It has been near half a year since my last professional pedicure and Nora had her nails painted by a 'pro' last month. In fact, I dare say we know our PetSmart groomer better than I know any of the family stylists. Whether you add in a Top Dog spa package, or just tack on the aromatherapy conditioner- your pet deserves a little extra pampering.

#3: Your pet has their own wardrobe.

You may not dress your pet up day in and out but you definitely own a costume or two, a few bandanas, and some coordinating leashes (because hey, you like to match your pet from time to time and they DO have a favorite color.) Whether you've got a tiny dog who feels more comfortable (and warmer) in clothing than their own skin or an ever so patient cat with a collection or designer harnesses, your pet deserves to be just as fashionable, and unique, as you do.

#4: Holidays are just as much for your pets as they are for any children in the family.

And, I dare-say, if you do not have any human children your pets are the full center of attention and spoiling during any major festive holiday. Let's face it, when your chihuahua wore those antlers for the family photo they earned an entire stocking of apology gifts lat Christmas. In our household we like to justify our special pet holiday expressions by saying we are making the holidays safer for our pets by turning all of our decorations into actual treats and pet safe toys. It helps me sleep at night after I've tucked away all of the PetSmart receipts.

#5: You occasionally feel guilty for your pet's 'captivity' so you attempt to bring the outdoors indoors.

For years we lived in a small second story condo with a tiny concrete patio lined with metal rods gaped too far apart to be safe for Nora to play on. We'd attempt to take her out as much as possible but it still never quite eased my own personal guilt for not providing her a large backyard to lounge and roam in. I even had guilt about the cat we'd brought home from a chicken farm and committed to a (rather kushy) domestic life.

If you've ever built a catio, made a custom 2 story dog house, or set up a weekly delivery for a square of sod for the cat to lounge on you're guilty of this habit. Let's face it no matter how many amazing toys and Purina treats a home is stocked with your pet's bound to get stir-crazy now and again. For those times pet parents often bring a little bit of the outdoors, or outdoor enjoyment, to their home.

#7: Humans that don't travel far without their pet/s.

Naturally not all highly loved pets WANT to travel- Heaven knows I've wanted to plop Truffles in a bubble backpack and go for a hike on a few occasions but she's the sort of cat that panics stepping 2 feet outside her backyard door. I daresay it wouldn't be much fun for her.

But for those lucky, and enthusiastic, traveling pets the most highly loved ones travel in style. And the smallest ones have devised a brain-altering technique to convince their humans they must not walk at any expense. Usually this involves some sort of pawing at a human's ankles, or simply offering a 'Puss In Boots' face with a slight whimper. Yes, our highly loved dog is most often carried, rides in her own open-air backpack, or strolls in her own stroller. We pay extra for her to fly on planes, and stay in hotels. Can you say spoiled?

#8: Getting away with murder.

Barring a horribly 80's cinematic comedy, we certainly hope not pets are getting away with actual homicide- BUT there certainly have been a few plants, sofas, and other household 'accidents' our cat's planned through the years. She's even developed a sort of 'What are you going to do about it?" face that slightly unnerves me. But, at the end of the day we chalk it up to her raging catnip addiction and repair the damage as though the 'incident' never happened. That's the sort of brainwashing power highly loved pets have.

#9: Idle paws are best kept busy.

Which brings us to number 9. If you've ever had the bright idea to turn an otherwise human activity or tradition into a pet inclusive one then this one's for you. Whenever I know I will be going away for a few days, or simply unable to offer extra attention due to a busy schedule I always find one-on-one things for the pets and I to do. Honestly, I think it makes me feel better more than them- but we always have fun. Hey, we even made a work of art once!

#10: Everything the human buys MUST be for the pet. It's only logical.

The cat, more so than the dog because of her mobility, is pretty convinced every item which passes through our home requires a thorough inspection. Furthermore the vast majority of these things could only be present for her benefit, and her benefit only. The only exceptions being things which do not generate enough interest to pass her test- which much be destroyed or removed immediately. Either one- she'll help if needed.

We recently switched Nora to the new Purina® Bella Dry Small Dog Food and Truffles has NOT let a day pass without showing some very special attention to the 2nd bag. The first day I was sitting on the couch typing up a post when I heard some loud rustling behind me on the photo table. I didn't think much of it until it was still continuing, even escalating, 10 minutes later. As it turns out Truffles things Bella must be the best cat food ever. She has proceeded to roll all over the bag multiple times a day for nearly a week since. I don't have the heart to tell her that's the dog's food, or to put the bag away.

So there you have it, 10 Habits of Highly Loved Pets- and a few of them you can begin instituting this month with a little help from PetSmart and Purina®. At the very lest you need to stop into PetSmart just to browse the adorable range of Summer toys and accessories- We HAD to take a pineapple, dog beer, and a watermelon teether home. I couldn't get enough of all the bright colors and fun characters! And, while you're at PetSmart remember they are currently running a very special Buy A Bag, Give A Bowl charitable promotion where they donate a bowl of food to an animal in need for every bag of dry food purchased. That's any size, any brand- of course we're a little partial to the new Purina® Bella, which just so happens to be participating in the Purina® PetSmart Codeword promotion as well!

Oh- And I guess there's one more way to tell you have a highly loved pet...sometimes its literally spelled out in writing....on your wall.

Make sure to spoil your pets a little extra this Summer and take advantage of the Purina® Codeword at PetSmart promotion by uploading your participating receipts to the Codeword website by July 7th, 2017! For more fun ideas on how to spoil your pet check our the Codeword Social Hub! Now, tell me, what are some of the things you do to spoil your pet?

Living Bigger Lives With Pets + The Purina Better With Pets Summit

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BetterWithPets #LetsLiveBig #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: We may make their world's bigger, but they make our lives grander.

If you've been wondering where we've been, well, the answer's all over, really. Most recently we drove 14 hours up the Pacific Coast, and 14 hours back down, just to hop on a plane to New York after a quick visit with Momma. I say 'we' because Nora travels well- Truffles the Tuxie, not so much. In fact, travel is always less stressful WITH my pets than without. I'm the sort of pet parent who has to Face Time with her pets when she's apart for more than 12 hours. But travel's not the only thing made better with pets...

Recently Nestlé Purina invited Nora The Morkie and I to Brooklyn, NY for their annual Better With Pets Summit. To be entirely honest, they invited Truffles, too, but I didn't think she was quite ready for the glitz and glam of a big city experience. I mean, just look at that view from our room at The William Vale- breathtaking, right? For those who have never been to urban New York, it's a different pace of life with buildings that disappear into the clouds and a constant ambient outside atmosphere that literally buzzes with it's own life. There are million dollar waterfront views, a feast of architecture and art (physical and performing), and nearly any type of food you could possibly want for delivery 24/7. It's the perfect example of 'living big.'

Our stay wasn't intended to be long- just a taste of New York living before we really got down to business. After riding 7 hours in a carrier under an airplane seat Nora was happy to soak up the afternoon sun on the down comforter as I pondered what to wear to the evening welcome reception. As cool, calm, and collected as I come off online you may recall I have a bit of intense anxiety in public social situations. Having Nora by my side truly helped me relax and feel like myself during the entire trip.

Of course, being a little nervous didn't sway me from my classic loud and unique style- I'd picked up a 'hidden paw prints' Carly 3 months back just for this event and I daresay I was the loudest person in attendance at the welcome reception that night. A good pet parent can't forget about all of her fur-kids, so, of course, I finished the look with an ode to Truffles- hand painted tuxedo cat flats!

I wish I could say someone appreciated my 'fashion' but it's hard to be even a moment of focus when you're rubbing shoulders with some of the most inspiring innovators in pet-human relations and welfare. And did I mention that Nora got to share sidewalk with Pet-Celebs like Turbo Roo and Winnie the Therapy Dog? Of course I'd be lying if I said we didn't get our fair share of attention- having this maltese-yorkie cutie on your arm all night is the perfect ice breaker!

Speaking of the comfort pets bring in stressful times- One of the very first people I bumped into was a volunteer from a local URI NYC project. URI, the Urban Resource Institute, provides a  comprehensive shelter and care program for families displaced by domestic violence. Can you imagine having to leave your memories and home behind simply in search of a safe place to lay your head at night? Now imagine having to leave your pet behind because the only safe place you have to go doesn't allow pets.

URI NYC, in partnership with Purina, has actually helped create one of a kind urban facilities that are not only pet friendly (fur, paws, or scales) but pet safe for victims of domestic violence. And safe doesn't just mean for the pet, but private, clean, maintained, sheltered areas in the middle of a sprawling urban city, where pets can be walked and recreate without fear of compromising the owner's location or identity. Because pets are part of the family, and a family should never have to be broken up as a compromise for safety.

The evening's reception left Nora and I with a lot of food for thought. I could hardly sleep that night in anticipation of the following day's events. So I rose before the sun to pack up and head over to the Brooklyn Convention Center- while Nora imagined she was a Celebri-dog and slept in.

The day's events opened with a breakfast reception, though Nora and I found ourselves too fascinated by the interactive screen exhibits and fellow attendees to actually sit down and eat. And let's talk about those attendees really quick- we were rubbing elbows with everyone from Purina executives and Insta-famous pet parents to philanthropic innovators and quite literally the father of modern veterinary medicine. It could have been quite intimidating, but in truth it really only served to amplify the day's message of how we live bigger alongside our pets.

What does that mean, exactly? It's much larger than the simple concept that having a pet makes life more awesome- true as it might be, this year's summit hoped to inspire a diverse community of animal lovers to truly challenge what it means to Live Big with pets.

As the second panel of the day, How A Passion For Pets Builds A Better World illuminated- we, as a society benefit from the human-pet bond in immeasurable ways we don't always detect until that connection is removed or forbidden. In a heartwarming presentation we took a sneak peek inside the St. Louis Children's Hospital where an innovative pet-to-pateint program has been unveiled. This one of a kind program goes beyond the typical 'animal patient therapy' to actually unite patients with their own beloved pets, in a safe, regulated environment for the day. This was followed by insight from Brent Bauer, Research Director of Integrative Medicine and Health Programs (Mayo Clinic), who shared a vision where someday '15 minutes with a cat might actually be a written prescription."

There's no doubt Purina is doing big things to support the people-pet bond nationwide- but their passion stems from much more than philanthropy- as Allentown Purina Factory Manager Jason Christofersen shared, "Pets are more than animals, they're family," alongside photos of his own family, which includes a senior Labrador.

And 'living big' correlates directly with the day's final panel, The Science of Innovative Nutrition For Pets, which introduced a new term to me, therapeutic nutrition. The concept elaborated that what one feeds their pets can directly impact the pet's current physical and mental capacity beyond basic energy and weight. Did you know that their are prescription based Purina formulations designed to treat conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes in cats? In fact, that particular formulation has had success in curing Type 2 Feline Diabetes! Even more exciting, the brand's Pro Plan Bright Mind dog food formulation to help enhance the lifestyle of Senior dogs, has inspired a soon to be released feline formulation for cats 7+ that has, in studies, extended the life expectancy of cats by up to a year!

Yes, there certainly was a lot of amazing innovation to inspire bigger lives with pets, but some of the furrier attendees needed to stretch their paws- Just outside the convention center there was a socializing spot where Nora was happy to make some new friends and lap up the afternoon sun on the unusually hot New York Fall afternoon.

Of course we've talked a bit about some of the canine celebrities, but not every pet present was famous, or a dog. Many of the feline attendees hung out on loungers, and in carriers, as their owners soaked up all the inspiration and knowledge of the day's event. A few very special feline attendees offered their services to frazzled humans, in the exclusive Puppy and Kitten Therapy Booth.

That's right, this event had it's own puppy and kitten hangout- a clear cube where attendees could recharge fora  few minutes while bonding with energetic, heartwarming, puppies and kittens. It would be hard to argue that this wasn't the highlight of the event- I wish I could say all the amazing vendors, sponsors, and speakers, stole the show- but this booth was a constant attraction. Just look at that face as an influencer holds a kitten while learning all about the emotional health benefits of animal-humna therapy!

As the day progressed more and more of the attendees mingled- people from every walks of life, with a passion for every breed and animal. Winnie The Therapy Dog was caught snoozing as the third panel wrapped- or maybe she was just inspiring us all to 'chill.' I, personally, took some of the down time as an opportunity to talk with some oft he attending professionals about pet behavior research and nutrition.

The Purina Better With Pets Summit wrapped with a chance to give back as the entire summit gathered to prepare welcome care packages for URI residents with pets. One-by-one boxes were filled with bowls, collars, blankets and food to help an uprooted family acclimate to their new home. A finishing touch? A hand-written note of well wishes from us, the Better With Pets attendees, signed with love. It was a truly moving experience to be a part of and really summed up the day's theme of "Lets live big."

While I think the day was more about pampering and networking for Nora, I walked away thinking about how I could help inspire my own networks to live bigger with pets. Nora's much too hyper to be a hospital therapy dog- but we do have a local women's shelter I've volunteered at in the past. I'm definitely going to meet with the director and see if we can brainstorm a foster program for pets of women and families in transitional housing. I really felt Purina's work with URI is going to make a huge impact on both the lives of pets and owners going through some really hard times.

Are you inspired too? Share, on social media, how your pet inspires you to live big with the hashtag #LetsliveBig and follow the brand on Twitter and Instagram @Purina!

What Daughter Says: Living big is easy with pets beside us!