ohmidog!

How hard Hurricane Irene might hit North Carolina and the northeast is impossible to predict at this stage, but, given its whopping size, animal welfare organizations are recommending preparing yourself and your pet for the worst.

If you haven’t put together an emergency kit for your pet, now would be a good time.

Here’s what the Humane Society of the United States recommends you include in it:

• Food and water for at least five days for each pet, bowls and a manual can opener if you are packing canned pet food.
• Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container and a first aid kit. A pet first aid book is also good to include.
• Cat litter box, litter, garbage bags to collect all pets’ waste, and litter scoop.
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets can’t escape. Carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around and lie down. Your pet may have to stay in the carrier for hours at a time while you are away from home. Be sure to have a secure cage with no loose objects inside it to accommodate smaller pets. These may require blankets or towels for bedding and warmth, and other special items. Newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags are a good idea.
• Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated and to prove that they are yours.
• Pet beds and toys, if you can easily take them, to reduce stress.
• Information about your pets’ feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care.

You can find more information from the HSUS here.

PETA’s website also offers some valuable information on protecting your pet in a disaster. PETA’s home office in Norfolk, Va., is in one of the areas potentially in the hurricane’s path. Cats who live at the organizations headquarters have been evacuated, and all PETA vans have been moved to high ground and stocked with food and water to help animals in crisis during and after the deluge. Extra staff and volunteers are on call.

As for what steps you can take at home, PETA has a list of emergency precautions that can be found here.

Petfinder.com is reminding pet owners to make sure all cats and dogs are wearing securely fastened collars with up-to-date identification.

If you are forced to evacuate, check beforehand to see which community shelters accept pets, or make other arrangements.

Petfinder.com offers disaster preparedness tips in English and Spanish here.

A Hurricane Irene Animal Rescue Resources page — allowing people who need help with their pets to hook up with people willing to provide it — has also been posted on Facebook. It can be found here.