CLEVELAND — As coronavirus concerns continue to grow, the Cleveland Animal Protective League wants you and your furry friends to be prepared.
The organization is urging all pet moms and dads to create a precautionary plan in the event that "they are diagnosed with the virus and cannot care for them for a period of time,"a press release read.
“The best thing pet parents can do is not panic and stay healthy for your pets by practicing good preventive measures, such as hand washing and avoiding close contact with other people,” sad Cleveland APL President & CEO, Sharon Harvey.
Like any other major decision or occurrence, there are things to consider and things that you should do to prepare. On Wednesday, the APL released a list of guidelines to help with the process.
- Identifying a friend, family member, or pet sitter to take care of your pet(s) in the event you cannot;
- Have crates, food, and extra supplies on hand in case you need to move pets quickly;
- Research boarding facilities now and make sure your pets vaccinations are up to date in the event boarding becomes necessary;
- Prepare a list of the medications your pet takes including dosages and administration instructions. Make sure you have enough medication on hand for at least a two-week period of time, if not more;
- Make sure your pets are wearing an identification tag or are microchipped. In Ohio, the law requires that dogs are licensed in your county – now would be a good time!