Prepare for your pets, too

Hurricane forecasters are predicting that this season won't be as devastating as the 2004 and 2005 seasons, but residents still need to prepare with their pets in case a storm strikes.

Some counties in Florida have pet-friendly hurricane evacuation shelters, but Lee County doesn't maintain its own. Neither does Collier County.

Although the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers was selected last year as a pet-friendly shelter, it didn't open when Wilma came through.

According to Emergency Management and Animal Services officials, pet owners should create a checklist of sorts when assembling their hurricane supply kit.

They also suggest helpful tips on what we should do in the event a hurricane threatens Southwest Florida, and residents may need to evacuate:

**Make sure your pet is updated on vaccinations.

**Take pets with you and your family when evacuating. Local hurricane shelters don't permit pets. Check out pet-friendly hotels and motels in Florida and throughout the country at www.petswelcome.com/welcome.html or on www.hotdealsonhotels.com/pets/sitemap.html. Make sure you pick a site well clear of any potential hurricane's path.

**Arrange for family/friends to shelter you and your pet inland away from the storm if you cannot leave, or cannot find alternative pet-friendly lodging.

**Bring extra food, water and medications, enough to last several days to three weeks, for each pet.

**Include pictures of you and your pet in the emergency kit.

**Bring an appropriately sized carrier for your pet, and put identification information on the sides. Keep pets in separate carriers, and confine smaller animals away from larger ones.

**Carry any important paperwork/veterinarian records in plastic, water-tight bags.

**Bring food and water dishes, a can opener, utensils, cat litter, litter box, pooper scooper and bags, first aid kit, leashes, dish soap, paper towels, blankets, some favorite toys or treats, flea collars/drops.

**Ensure that your pet is wearing a collar with identification tags.

**Consider micro-chipping your pet.