Earthquakes are natural disasters that can cause an extreme amount of damage. Unlike other natural disasters, earthquakes cannot be forecasted by weather services and always come without warning.
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If you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes, you are likely knowledgeable as to how to react and what actions to take during the earthquake. You have also likely discussed earthquake preparedness tactics with your family in order to keep them safe.
Get them near you.
Once you start to feel an earthquake, you need to get yourself to a safe area, such as in a doorway. If your dog is near you, it’s a good idea to try and grab them first and then get to a safe area. This way, you know that your dog is safe.
If your dog is not near you but you can see them, you may want to get to a safe area first and call your dog to come to you. Depending on your dog’s level of fear, they may run to you, they may freeze, or they may run and hide somewhere else.
If you are able to hold your dog during the earthquake, you will want to make sure that you hold them tightly. Securely grab on to their collar in order to keep them close. This will help keep your dog from running away in fear during the earthquake and it can ensure that you all stay together.
Put a sticker in your window.
You can get a sticker at your local pet store that can be placed in your window with information about your animals. This way, if an earthquake were to strike and cause damage to your home, the rescue crews will know that there are animals to look for in your home. These information stickers usually contain the dog’s name and breed.
Give your dog identification.
Even if you don’t like the way a collar with a name tag looks, it’s important for your dog’s safety. Make sure that the contact information that is listed on your dog’s ID tag is up to date. This way, if you were to become separated from your dog during an earthquake, you have increased your chances of being reconnected with them.
You may also want to consider having your dog micro chipped. This way, if your dog were to become lost after an earthquake, they can be taken to a vet or police department and scanned for a chip that will contain your contact information. This can also help the two of you become reconnected after an earthquake.
Keep them calm.
The sights, sounds and experiences your dog will witness during the earthquake will scare your dog, so you will want to make sure that you are doing your best to keep them calm. In this instance it becomes very important that your dog respects and listens to you commands well. Make sure that you pet them as often as you can and use reassuring words to make them feel safe. This can help to calm their fears and ease their anxiety during the earthquake.
Evaluate Escape Routes & Training Techniques
Be very careful in providing a path toward the outside that is not secured or hindered by training or containment mechanisms such as an invisible fence. You do not want for your hound to make a decision to stay indoors out of fear.
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Written by Joey Little
