Sunday, December 7, 2008

Wag’N Enterprises Defines Pet Emergency Management

www.wagn4u.com


Wag'N Enterprises, LLC is the first and only dedicated Pet Emergency Management Product & Services Company in the World!

What Is Wag’N Enterprises About?

Hurricane Katrina and the Pets Act of 2006 have given life to a new breed of pet care
Wag'N Enterprises came to life to fill a void in the pet industry: Pet Emergency Management.
Pet owners are indeed Pet Parents and/or guardians and therefore have great responsibilities to ensure the safe & healthy development and care of their furry companions.

What Are The Wag'N Goals?
Ultimately, we might consider resting once all pet owners, care givers and first responders are all given the skills and incentive to learn and apply measures that can help them mitigate, prepare and respond to emergencies impacting pet health and safety.

Wag’N makes every effort to ensure that first responders carry pet oxygen masks in their vehicles in order to provide the right response during rescues involving pets. The Wag’N O2 Fur Life program provides 3 methods for first responders to acquire these life saving kits.

Wag’N believes that all pet parents ought to acquire pet first aid skills and keep pet first aid kits with them to better respond to their pets’ emergencies when they arise. To that end, we provide comprehensive pet first aid classes and safety workshops and sell fancy pet first aid kits to ensure that a fashion statement doesn’t stand in the way of responsible pet parenthood.

Wag’N raises awareness to ensure pet parents make emergency plans involving their pets. No pets should be left behind during an emergency! Promoting the No Pets Left Behind and providing tools such as free evacuation cards, pet passports for easy pet record keeping and various pet evacuation kit models help pet parents be prepared

Wag’N provides the most and all encompassing pet safety service to animal parents ensuring that their animals are taken care of should something unexpected temporarily unable their guardians to do so. This service is Wag’N Rover Respond’R

We strive to educate pet parents about pet safety driving skills to help protect drivers, pets and the public. Buckle up! It’s the Wag’N Law!

WE are here to help YOU help YOUR pets.

Happy Healthy Pets Are Wag’N It!


So Why Should I Have a Plan?

…Besides Logic & Common Sense…


  1. Failing To Prepare Is Preparing To Fail
  2. Murphy’s Law (…The “Whatever Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong” Theory…)
  3. Because MY pet(s) deserves it!
  4. Because I really care about my pet(s)!
  5. Because I am smart!
  6. Because I am the Responsible/Superior being in charge of the well being of my pet
  7. Because there should be a waiting list for people wanting to be my pet!
  8. Because I know I am my pet’s 911!
  9. Because if roles were reversed my pet would do it for me!
  10. Because I know that being ready before something happens is better than waiting for it to happen. Don’t wanna “coulda shoulda woulda” my pets life!

Something To Be Brag’N & Wag’N About

Wag’N is dedicated to keeping Your Pets Safe and Wag’N it! We your pets to keep Wag’N, Purr’N, Sing’N, Jump’N, Nibbl’N happily and safely!

Wag’N products are affordable and specifically designed for urban, back country and emergency use.
Wag’N products and services are all encompassing as they provide practical solutions and tools that will help you appropriately prevent, prepare and respond to a wide range of emergencies.
We want your recovery to be as swift and short as possible.We are constantly Wag’N to make the process as fun, interactive, fashionable and educational as possible.
Our background is Risk, Crisis and Emergency Management. Our dedication is pet safety. Our goal is to keep you Wag’N it! To get ready now visit us online at www.wagn4u.com .
To find out more & sign up for the all encompassing Wag’N Rover RespondR service visit www.RoverRespondR.com. To learn more about emergency management visit the Emergency Management Network www.EmergencyMgt.net To get free and essential pet safety Twits follow ‘wagn4u’ on Twitter.

Friday, October 31, 2008
NEW Wag'N Publications
With hurricane season upon us, Wag'N would like to share pet evacuation tips and information with you! Here are two invaluable documents for pet owners:

(Click Image to Download)

Wag'N has prepared an All-Hazards Preparedness Checklist for Cats & Dogs - This checklist will help you prepare for evacuations and shelter-in-place situations with your pets.

(Click to Download)


Are there birds, reptiles, ferrets, hamsters or other small animals in your household? Make sure to safely prepare the smallest members of your family for disasters with this evacuation checklist designed with them in mind!

Thursday, October 30, 2008
NEW! Wag'N PetTech Pet First Aid Classes
Hello Waggers!

We would like to introduce to you a NEW Wag'N Experience,
PetTech® Pet First Aid Classes!



There may be many programs out there, but only PetTech offers you an 8-hour class covering:
* Restraining & Muzzling
* Primary Assessment
* Rescue Breathing
* Canine & Feline CPR
* Chocking Management
* Bleeding & Shock Management
* Snout-To-Tail Assessment for Injury & Wellness
* Assessing the Pet’s Vitals
* Insect Bites & Stings and Snakebite
* Heat & Cold Injuries
* Seizure
* Caring For Your Senior Pet-izen
* Dental Care for your Pets

And more!

Give your pet a great gift this holiday season - prepare yourself to be your pet's 911!
Responsible pet ownership starts with knowing basic emergency procedures and symptoms. Learn more
HERE.


Read our PetTech® Pet First Aid Press Release HERE.

Schedule IDDate and TimeInstructorClass Status
Session A

January 31, 2009

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ines de Pablo
CLOSED
Session B
February 28, 2009

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ines de Pablo
CLOSED
Session C
March 28, 2009

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ines de Pablo
CLOSED
Session D
April 25, 2009

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ines de Pablo
CLOSED
Session E
May 30, 2009

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ines de Pablo
Open
Session G
June 27, 2009

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ines de Pablo
Open
Session H
September 30, 2009

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ines de Pablo
Open




Don't forget that Wag'N also offers PetTech® Workshops, available to schools, pet clubs, humane societies, church groups and other organizations:

* Caring for Your Senior Pet-izen™
* Dental Care for Your Pets™
* Knowing Your Pet’s Health™

And for first responders, Wag'N offers the Wag’N O2 Fur Life™ Workshop

The O2 Fur Life Workshop will provide first responders with the skills necessary to appropriately respond to an incident scene involving pets. The main focus of the class is to provide information on how to use the Pet Oxygen Masks, how to approach, control and safely restrain distressed pets in order to provide them with the appropriate first aid response. Learn more HERE.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Pet Emergency Management

Concept and Background

Emergency management is the discipline of dealing with and avoiding risks. Pet emergency management is the application of such practices in regards to pet safety. It involves mitigation, preparedness for disasters before they take place, an appropriate response (evacuation, sheltering, etc) as well as recovery efforts.
The catastrophic events of the 2005 hurricane season, and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, fueled intense activity around improving local, state, and national preparedness and response planning for biosecurity and the handling of animals in disasters. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of pets died, many as a result of poor planning, others because their owners were not allowed to evacuate with them. Because current pet emergency management policies are not all inclusive, it is up to pet owners themselves to create a plan of action.



Mitigation


Personal mitigation is mainly about knowing and avoiding unnecessary risks. This includes an assessment of possible risks to personal/family health and to personal property.Pet mitigation efforts may include finding the proper placement for a doghouse, so that it is not inundated in the event of heavy rains. It is also helpful to learn about what might harm a pet (poisonous foods, plantsand such), dangerous situations such as driving with unrestrained pets, and how to prevent aggressive behavior through training. Pet proofing a home to prevent pets from getting into sharp/breakable objects, medication cabinets, holiday hazards is recommended. Ensure that storage units and garages are locked, that antifreeze, gasoline, pesticides, pool cleaner and other dangerous chemicals are properly stored. Without a doubt, pet insurance and microchips are great mitigation tools, as they help lower ownership cost and locate lost pets. Pets should always carry proper ID and tags, and health records should be kept accessible and up-to-date. Balconies should have safe railings, doors and windows should be locked. Finally, emergency numbers to a 24 hour veterinary clinic and the National Animal Poison Control Center should be placed by all phones.
Owners need to know their pets and pet behavior in general to avoid risks. By learning the threats, it is possible to prevent accidents from taking place.



Preparedness


This involves creating a plan for the entire household and practicing putting it into action. The following is a list of important issues to consider:
• Learning human and pet first aid: Basic first aid is invaluable during emergencies. Pet and human first aid classes are available locally through PetTech and the Red Cross.

• Finding a safe evacuation locations along evacuation route: A safe place must be established for the owner and their pets. A large number of shelters (Red Cross included) do not allow pets during emergencies. With this in mind, owners should find "pet friendly" hotels and motels located at a reasonable distance. Also, it’s important to remember that during emergencies many establishments that do not usually welcome pets may temporarily change their policies. The best way to find out is to visit them or contact them by phone or email.

• Purchasing crates and getting pets used to them: Most "pet friendly" establishments require that animals are crated when they arrive, and those that may welcome pets and their owners during an emergency will likely require a crate as well. Furthermore, a crate is a safe place for pets to sleep in, and make transporting easier. Owners may get their pets used to crating by using them during car rides or by having their pets sleep in them when visiting relatives or friends.

• Relying on a neighbor: It is possible that due to a disaster or emergency owners may be unable to return home to care for their pets. During these types of situations it’s helpful to have a neighbor or friend care for their animals. It’s important to ensure that this temporary caretaker is someone who their pet is familiar with, and that they are left with detailed instructions for proper care. Owners may want to consider leaving a signed authorization for veterinary care, as well as financial limits to the procedures.

• Preparing evacuation kits for pets: They should include food, water, medicine, vaccination and health records, a current photo and information about pet insurance if applicable. Ideally, a worn article of clothing belonging to the owner should be included to comfort the pet. They should also feature a pet first aid kit (They are available for purchase online, and veterinarians may advise on what their contents should be) and extra gear such as an extra collar, leash, feeder, etc that might be forgotten or lost during an emergency. Include a flashlight, can opener and duct tape. Purchasing items made from reflective material and labeling them is also a good idea.

• Creating a detailed plan: The plan should be detailed and allow for alternative routes and solutions. It should practiced with the entire family and pets.


Remember:

The food and medications in evacuation kits will expire – Monitor the dates to make sure they are still usable. Water may eventually begin to taste like the container it is in; switching it out every month will help avoid issues. Because of changes in weight or size, dogs may outgrow their crates, collars or leashes (they are designed to support a maximum weight). Hotels and motels may change their policies on pets therefore pet owners should contact them on a regular basis to stay informed.



Response during the emergency


• Bring all pets inside immediately.

• If instructed to evacuate owners should make ALL efforts to take their pets with them.

• Have newspapers available for sanitary purposes - also feed the animals moist or canned food so they will need less water to drink.

• If applicable, separate different types of animals, even if they normally get along. The anxiety of an emergency situation can cause pets to act irrationally.

• Implement evacuation or shelter-in-place plan.


Response after the emergency


• After the disaster, leash pets when going outside. Maintain close contact, as pets may be confused due to changes on what used to be familiar landmarks and scents.

• Keep an eye out for snakes or other animals that might have been brought into the area by flood waters. Be aware that wildlife has likely been affected and displaced - Raccoons, gophers, deer and other wild animals might confront pets.

• Monitor pet behavior. Normally quiet and friendly pets may become aggressive or defensive after an emergency situation. Remember that emergency services might have been interrupted - Be aware that in case of injury it may take days for services to be fully restored and available

• If pets cannot be found after a disaster, contact the local animal control office to find out where lost animals can be recovered. Bring along a picture for identification purposes, if available.


Recovery - Lost or Sheltered Pets


There are Interim Guidelines for Animal Health and Control from the Disease Transmission in Pet Shelters. These are the guidelines shelters should abide by however in time of emergency guidelines may vary depending on the staff/resources and current situation:

1. Animals must be examined, with a focus on hydration status, cuts and abrasions and paw/hoof/foot health. Other important examinations include ear health, oral injuries, vomiting and/or diarrhea, respiratory disease and evidence of parasite infestation.

2. Animals should be bathed upon admission, Dawn dish soap may be used to remove toxic chemicals and petroleum.

3. A health record and history should be established and updated as needed. Owned animals should be marked to avoid mix-ups with abandoned/unidentified animals.

4. Animals should be scanned for microchip information with all available scanners. If ownership of the animal is not established through microchips, it should be checked for tags or tattoos.

5. Animals of different species should not be housed together.

Note:

These are the basics of the Pet Shelter Guideline, listed here with the purpose of informing pet owners of what their animal may go through if surrendered at a pet shelter during an emergency, or if it is found by rescuers. Shelter employees or those needing to prepare an emergency pet shelter should refer to the source of this information for details.

There are many website where you may report a lost pet:
Findtoto.com - Pets911.com - RoverRespondR.com - PetFinder.com - MissingPet.com



Precautions for Livestock


In addition to the suggestions for pet owners, livestock owners should follow these recommendations:

• Make sure all animals have a durable and visible identification.

• Ensure that poultry have access to high areas in which to perch if located in a flood-prone area, as well as access to clean water and food.

• Reinforce barns with hurricane straps and similar measures.

• Remove all barbed wire, and consider rerouting permanent fencing so that animals may move to high ground in case of floods.

• Secure or remove all items that may become debris, fill any large containers or boats with water to prevent them from blowing around.

• Label all hazardous materials and place them in a safe area.



Where to find supplies

Finding emergency supplies for pets is not difficult, but it is a time consuming endeavor. Ready to go solutions are offered by companies such as Wag'N Enterprises, which carry first aid kits tailored for dog or cat owners that are practical. Wag'N also specializes on evacuation kits with supplies for the pet owner. It’s possible to put together an evacuation/first aid pack with the guidance of a first aid book and a veterinarian. In order to better safeguard their pets, owners may consider a pet recovery system, such as Wag'N "Rover Respond'R" (advanced solution).



Conclusion


Pet owners need to implement a plan for the unexpected. Plans will vary greatly depending on location; types of pets and owner, but the basics should be similar. By securing the appropriate knowledge and supplies, pet owners will be better off and their pets will be less likely to end up lost and injured.