[October 02, 2015]

PetSmart Offers Tips to Keep Pets Safe and Calm During Severe Weather

While it appears Hurricane Joaquin is unlikely to hit landfall in the U.S., the storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and potential flooding to the East Coast, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, and so PetSmart® and PetSmart Charities™ offer tips to help pet owners keep their best friends safe during severe weather.

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"The best way to keep pets safe during a storm is to be prepared and have a disaster plan," said Robyn Jaynes, DVM, PetSmart's resident veterinarian and pet care expert. "It's common to overlook pets when preparing for a storm, but taking a few simple steps to include your pets' needs in your family plan will help ensure they are comfortable and safe before, during and after a storm."

Jaynes suggests the following:

• Ensure your pets are safely contained. When severe weather warnings go into effect, crate or kennel your animals. Also, have buckets on hand for fish and turtles in the event you need to transport them - this is a safer alternative than transporting these pets in aquariums.
• Look for pet-friendly options for housing your pet should you need to evacuate. Ensure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations, which are often needed for boarding, and that you have enough supply of any medication your pet may be taking.
• Make sure your pet has identification. Countless numbers of pets go missing after storms. Proper ID on your pet is the best assurance you and your pet are reunited in the event you are separated.
• Be aware of paw-level hazards post-storm. Sharp (News - Alert) debris, toxic spilled chemicals, fertilizers and other substances on the floor of the home or ground outside pose less risk to upright humans, but can be dangerous to ground-level pets.
• Severe weather can be frightening to pets. Provide your dog or cat with a familiar toy or blanket or try aids like calming sprays and collars or a ThunderShirt™ anxiety shirt to help ease anxiety.
• Ensure you have a pet disaster supply kit ready for immediate departure. Create a kit including the following in an easy-to-carry waterproof container:
  • One-week supply of food and fresh water
  • Hard copies of each pet's updated vaccination records
  • Extra supply of medication (if refrigeration is necessary, have easy access to a small, insulated bag or cooler)
  • List of regional pet-friendly hotels
  • Bed, carrier or leas for each animal

About PetSmart^®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart's passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they can live more fulfilled lives. This mission impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates, and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 53,000 associates, operate approximately 1,433 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and approximately 202 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp day care services and pet adoption services in-store. Our portfolio of digital resources for pet parents - including PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, Pet360.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com and petMD.com - offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. Through our in-store pet adoption partnership with independent nonprofit organizations, PetSmart Charities™ and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, PetSmart helps to save the lives of more than 450,000 homeless pets each year. In addition, PetSmart supports organizations that make communities a better place to call home through our philanthropy program, PetSmart Gives Back™. By giving back to the communities where we live and work, PetSmart not only celebrates the power of pets to enrich people's lives-we live it.

About PetSmart Charities™

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that helps save the lives of homeless pets. More than 450,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores and our sponsored adoption events. The nonprofit also funds spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. Averaging about $30 million each year, PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, independent from PetSmart, Inc.

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