In Case of The Worst!!

It's not only these economic times that are threatening dogs' homes, but other circumstances also threaten the stability of our canine companions' safe havens. Divorce, injury, homelessness, relocation, death, fire, earthquake, physical injury, and other things can become devastating situations for human owners, family, and their pets.

We have a client now that has moved into a shelter, where they were unable to take their dogs. Mannerly Mutts is happy to help out in these situations. Not everyone can find a willing party to hold onto their dogs until life stops kicking them around. Sometimes, it's better for the dogs to, at least temporarily if not permanently, get out of the environment.

When circumstances like the economy step in, it can be even harder to find a place that you KNOW your pets will be safe and taken care of in. What sort of things can you do to prepare for the worst?

1) Do your research BEFORE this happens, It's good to know what facilities are around you. Most of us need to take a trip or vacation sometime, get to know and research what type of kennels, daycare, and other boarding services exist around you.
2) Find out if your Veterinarian has boarding services that would be at least available for a short time, while you could relocate your pets.
3) Make sure your pet is trained for house and basic training. An easy guest is a more welcome guest. Perhaps even a guest that family members could help with. However, if they are going to mess in the house, and not come when called, this could be way more than you can possibly expect from your family members.
4) Make pacts with other dog people and friends. Perhaps make a network of people that are used to looking after each others pets, and would be available in an emergency.
5) Know what hotels closest to you take dogs or other pets. Realize that you are expected to go there with them .
6) Know what shelter policies are around you, and which ones do the best job. For instance, Doberman Rescue in Sandown NH would do the very best job at taking care of my dogs (in event of our death) and placing them.
7) Keep a listing of your dogs traits, personality, issues, medication, food, amount of food, exercise needs, ways to exercise, and any health problems. I need to do it again, but I used to keep an emergency page online that friends and family could refer to (so they wouldn't need to search my house). You could also e-mail this periodically.
8) If you take a trip, and are boarding your animals, let your friends and family know where they are currently boarded in case of an accident.
9) Identify how your family can get funds to take care of your pets and place them in caring facilities, in case you are not around. If you have pet health insurance, let your family and friends know about that.
10) Keep a listing for your family and friends about where you feel comfortable with them staying.
11) Keep vaccination records and health information somewhere easy to find. Let your family and friends know where that is.
12) Keep a record of what commands and training your dog knows, so that the next caregiver knows what to say to them (and/or how to handle them) so that everyone is comfortable and happy in their new arrangement.
13) Be sure that your pets have been spayed or neutered, unless you have bigger plans for them. Keep this information available to interested parties.

All of this documentation will keep people informed and best able to place your dog temporarily or permenantly in case of the worst.