Comments (93)

• 7

  KKW - August 11, 2020

  Great question. I have 3 big dogs and am definitely not prepared to go anywhere on foot with them. Could y’all carry them in a pouch in front and have your backpacks in the back?  

   
  • 10

    Scott P - August 11, 2020

    Yes, though I think we would try to use their carriers as long as possible.  It gives them some continuity of something that is ‘theirs’, and contains them if it turns into a multi day by foot situation.  

     
• 11

  Watermelon Samurai - August 11, 2020

  Some suggestions:

  • For a litterbox, I have a plastic jug of cat litter, a box of litterbox liners and a scoop. These all go in a plastic tote just large enough to hold them. That way I can dispose of the used litter and pack it all back in the same container. I’m assuming I’m not going to carry these in a backpack – they go in the car.
  • Make a list of the phone numbers and addresses of the pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation routes. As soon as you know you’re going to be evacuating, call a friend or family member who lives out of the area & ask them to call ahead and get you a reservation (or two). If you’re stuck on the road with hundreds of other cars, the cell phone service may get overloaded. I can say from experience that this is a really useful plan & a huge stress saver.
  • Don’t forget the water dish & water.
  • For our dog, I portioned-out a couple of medium-sized amounts of food and vaccuum-sealed them in separate bags. It was easier to pack this way and it kept the food fresh & bug free. This would obviously work for the cats’ food too (and in fact, I need to do this!)
  • I don’t have much experience with cats on a leash, but I wonder what kind of progress you would actually make if you had to walk with them. Perhaps one of those folding wagons would be a better idea? Keep the cats in the crates & put the crates in the wagon along with the heavy food & water.
  • As you’ve already seen, cats are actually pretty resilient travellers. Give them lots of attention during the trip, and they should be ok.

  Hope that’s helpful.

  – WS

   
  • 11

    Scott P - August 12, 2020

    Thanks.  Very helpful.  I will look into the vac sealing partitions and the pet friendly hotels.  That is a great idea.  As far as the leash I don’t expect to walk them there, we would never get anywhere, more a comment on things we have/how they behave.  So in camp or hotel they might get leashed, otherwise crate.  

     
  • 9

    Alicia - August 14, 2020

    This was helpful for me as well.  My husband and I have had similar questions as Scott for our pet rabbits.  We’ve had to evactuate via car with them before which went pretty smoothly.  Vacuum sealing their food is something I’d not thought to do as it is pretty shelf stable but that would definitely ensure it’s dry and keep it fresher – thanks!  In a bugout scenario, the animals are likely to not be themselves as they key off of atypical sounds/smells and your behavior which will also be out of the norm. So assume they won’t behave as they normally do.  The carrier is likely your best bet, but hiking with it will be difficult.   I’d not considered the foldup wagon for the carrier – brilliant idea.  And I have one already.  It would also permit us to add some Aquabricks of water in with them and still make progress.  I know from vet visits that we wouldn’t get far otherwise as the ergonomics would wear on us quickly even without a heavy pack on our backs.  

     
  • 8

    Watermelon Samurai - August 17, 2020

    Glad to hear that was helpful!

    FWIW: when I vacuum seal the pet food, I put the food into a ziplock bag first. But I don’t fully zip the bag closed: I leave a small opening for the air to get out. Then I put the ziplock bag into the sealer bag, and then vacuum & seal.

    When it’s time to open the sealed bag, the food is already contained in a ziplock bag that I can dispense a bit of food from and then reclose. No need to scrounge around for something to keep the pet food bag closed.

    -WS

     
  • 6

    Dusty Phillips - October 30, 2020

    Re: pet friendly hotels….Don’t forget Airbnbs.  I have a pet friendly Airbnb and get lots of one night drive throughs.  I also board dogs in my home.  So in some evac situations taking a pet a few hours away to safety and boarding them is an option. 

    In true, shtf situations I don’t even want to think about pet ownership. Kudos to those you you who have. 

     
• 10

  Essie Carroll - August 13, 2020

  My 1st thought was making sure you have enough water for them. It’s more weight for your packs in addition to what you’re already carrying bear in mind. For dogs it’s an oz of water per lb of dog. Not sure what the conversion is for cats…

   
• 3

  Jay ValenciaContributor - August 13, 2020

  A little off topic but how hard was it leash training your cats? Do certain breeds take to it easier? I’ve seen videos of it but always struggled to call it legit.

   
• 6

  Rita Colgan - October 10, 2020

  Hello. If you are concerned about having to ditch your car, it may be a good idea to look into a backpack or vest you can wear, in order to carry your cats. They come in different colors and styles. Then you can use your hands to carry your B. O. B. (Bug Out Bag), in an emergency.  

  If your cats’ crate is collapsable, you may tie that to your B.O.B., until you reach your campsite or destination. Then: 1. Set up the crate for your cats. 2. Immediately set up your camp tent, etc. 3. Walk your cats to calm them, fill their water and dry food.  4. Clean their bowls and put their (and your) food in a safe tight container. 5. Don’t let them wander because they may fall prey to: injury, stray dogs, coyotes, or mean people. 

  * Dog owners may need to look into a back pack their dogs may carry. They come in All Sizes, and colors…camo-style, too.  Go to Amazon.com, and look under Pet Supplies. Type in:  dog backpacks.   Chewy.com also carries them, as does Baxter.com.  

  Best wishes for you and your cats.

   
  • 8

    Rita Colgan - October 10, 2020

    I I just remembered to mention that Pet shops or Amazon.com sell large or small collapsable pet bowls for B.O.B., also!! I have two of them. 

    Good luck everyone.

     
• 9

  A2 - October 11, 2020

  I have a Maine Coon cat, which means she’s big and weighs about 16 pounds. We’ve taught her to ride on top of our backpacks. She’s leashed to the pack via a soft halter vest.  If it’s raining, we have pack covers and she can peek out. Alternatively, we can carry her in a Cat-in-the-bag carrier sling (below). GoTags stainless pet ID tags w/microchip info are on her halter, her go-bag duffle, and on her hard sided carrier if we’re evac-ing by car.

  I have a small go-bag duffle for her that I can hand carry or clip to the bottom of a pack with carabiners or lash to the back of a pack. It contains–

  DUFFLE (16″ x 9″ x 9″)

  Halter & leash
  Carrying sling (cat-in-the-bag: confining & comforting)
  3-days kibble in ziplock
  Filled metal water bottle (24-32 oz.)
  Food & water bowls (collapsable)
  3—pee pads
  Travel towel (can double as sleeping pad)
  Swiss Safe Emergency Mylar Thermal Blanket
  Contractor’s garbage bag (use as a rain cover, etc.)
  Petsfit foldable, waterproof, fabric litter box
  Ziplock w/… oz. clumping litter + 3 disposable gloves to remove clumps
  Poo bags and/or small bagged trowel for burying
  Comb or brush
  Cat First Aid Kit (see below)
  Flea & tick medication
  Bach Flower Remedy & Feliway spray
  Toys (incl. catnip)
  Document ziplock bag + thumb drive (see below)
  Paracord bracelet by The Friendly Swede

  DOCUMENT BAG

  Ziplock or other waterproof bag (all info also on thumb drive)
  Vet, pet sitter, neighbor info.
  Photos—front and side views
  Pre-made posters for missing pet
  Wallet photos w/pet name to show rescue workers
  Proof of vaccinations, medical records, microchip info
  Proof of ownership
  Window rescue sticker for house: “PET TYPE” / “NAME”

  CAR EVAC

  Airplane-approved carrier
  Carrier ID tag & document ziplock bag & thumb drive
  Stake-out
  Cat Go-Bag (if flying, use as ‘personal item’)
  Pee pad as top layer + extras underneath sleeping pad
  K&H Pet Products self-heating sleeping pad as bottom layer
  Small litter scoop
  Fur & disinfectant wipes

  CAT FIRST AID

  –INSIDE CAT GO-BAG
  Clotit blood clotting powder
  Cotton balls & swabs
  Gauze pads, non-stick
  2—Cotton undercast padding 3”x12”
  2—Gauze rolls 2” wide
  3M Medipore bandage tape
  Medi-First triple antibiotic packets
  Ocusoft eye wash / flush—then >
  Systane Ultra lubricating eye drops
  Tick remover
  Benadryl, 25mg
  Digital thermometer
  Dyna Lube individual packets
  Space blanket
  Nylon cat muzzle (restain when freaked)
  2—Nitrile gloves

  –INSIDE CARRIER
  Wahl trimmer, AA-battery-powered
  1—SuperBand Instant cold pack

   
  • 6

    A2 - October 11, 2020

    The Wahl trimmer is because she’s a Maine Coon, furry, and gets knots. ONLY carried in car evacs. Otherwise I’ll just cut them out.

     
  • 11

    Gideon ParkerStaff - October 12, 2020

    This would be an AWESOME kit on ThePrepared’s Kit Builder https://theprepared.com/kits/. I’d love to see it on there someday!

    I had a Maine Coon cat growing up. We had to shave it sometimes because it did get very long hair that would knot up if we didn’t brush it every day.

     
  • 5

    A2 - October 12, 2020

    Done!  Wow, that was a labor of love…took forever!

     
  • 5

    Gideon ParkerStaff - October 13, 2020

    You made a kit!? Can you share it here? I would love to see it!

    Let me know if you need any help. 

     
  • 6

    A2 - October 13, 2020

     
  • 9

    A2 - October 13, 2020

    I created a series of bags: go-bag, first aid bag, and auto/airline evac items. Not inexpensive, but I already owned almost everything on these lists, so it wasn’t painful 😉

     
  • 5

    Gideon ParkerStaff - October 13, 2020

    Wow A2! This is very very impressive! Thank you so much for taking the time to make it. I am sure it will be a great guide to many others. 

     
  • 6

    pnwsarahContributor - October 25, 2020

    This is awesome— now we need one for dogs! (I’ll make one if I can find the time.)

     
  • 6

    A2 - October 25, 2020

    Actually, I’m working on one! It’s similar to the cat version, but with some very canine-specific items and concepts. 

     
  • 7

    pnwsarahContributor - October 25, 2020

    Awesome! I actually got into prepping when I got my dog (suddenly, I was responsible for someone other than my own relatively agile self), so I’ve given dog preps a lot of thought. There are still some things I’m wrestling with, though, mainly with respect to food in a bug out situation, and I’m sure you’ll have thought of things I haven’t, so I’m looking forward to seeing your kit.

     
  • 7

    A2 - October 25, 2020

    I use dog food tubes for my dog’s bug-out scenario. Sort of a doggie version of food bars! You can find them on amazon and at a lot of pet food outlets. My dog kits should be ready tomorrow or so…

     
  • 9

    pnwsarahContributor - October 25, 2020

    Okay, I’m intrigued. Just did a search on Amazon and the things that came up seemed to require refrigeration, but I’ll await your list for product details. I’ve been thinking about using freeze-dried raw, since my dog eats it as a topper on his kibble anyway (so he’s used to it) and there are more size/packaging options than for regular kibble, and at least it’s lightweight. I’ve also considered ordering a tube of this stuff for the BOB in case I end up rationing his food, but I haven’t taken that leap yet.

    For now I just try to keep two extra bags of kibble around the house aside from the bag we’re feeding him out of— one 40-pound (for sheltering in place) and one 5-pound (to bug out with)— and rotate through them. I’d store another bag (85 lbs would feel better than 45) but we’re quite space-limited right now…

     
  • 4

    Gideon ParkerStaff - October 25, 2020

    For our dog food storage, we have Vital Essentials Freeze Dried food. Our dogs have loved it both dry and wet. Super great basic ingredients. 

     
  • 8

    A2 - October 25, 2020

    Redbarn Naturals Grain-Free Dog Food Rolls don’t have to be refrigerated until opened, which is why I usually pack a 10.5-oz. roll per day. YMMV depending on size of dog, etc.

    Freeze-dried takes water to re-hydrate and/or the dog will need more water to digest it. And dogs already drink at least one ounce per pound of weight, per day.

    As far as 5 pounds of kibble is concerned—who’s carrying it? If it’s the dog, dogs shouldn’t carry more than (max) 15% of their body weight, and they’ll still need at least 32 oz. water (for a 60-lb. dog, I’d figure closer to 60 oz.) + first aid kit + other misc.

     
  • 5

    pnwsarahContributor - October 26, 2020

    @A2, I will check out Redbarn— thank you! And @Gideon, we already do Vital Essentials for training treats; I didn’t realize they made complete meals! That’s great!

    My dog can easily carry 5 lbs of weight (he’s a husky mix, so medium/large and very high energy— we give him weight to carry on hikes just so he’ll actually be tired at the end of the day); it’s the volume and packaging that poses the problem for having him carry his own food— i.e., given the need to distribute the 5-lb bag between two dog pack saddle bags in order for him to carry it. I always figured that I would just carry the 5-lb bag, myself, which would be fine for a relatively relaxed bug out. For a more serious stealthy/speedy bug out, I have some vacuum-packed long-shelf-life kibble in my BOB, but it’s not his kibble, so I really see that as a nuclear option: My dog is strong in paw and heart but weak in gut.

    This is why freeze-dried is appealing: He already eats this exact stuff every day. We also live in a wet part of the country and have multiple purification options, a lot of water without walking distance, and a lot of stored water for sheltering in place, but that’s not to say that the water factor doesn’t bother me at all. Tubes could be an ideal solution if I could find something that meets our ingredient specs such that I could feed him that same food regularly.

    I’ve been thinking for a long time that what I really need to do is start vacuum-packing his kibble myself; figuring out what that would take in terms of supplies and skills has been on my to-do list for a while. I almost started a thread a while back asking for advice on this, actually… I’m still getting used to the fact that I’m not the only person out there who obsesses over this sort of thing. 😀

     
  • 6

    Cia - November 6, 2020

    AZ,

    I’ve looked for your Kit Builder lists for dogs and cats here several times in the last few days, but they are no longer here. Would it be possible to put them back, or give a link to where they are? Thanks!

     
  • 8

    A2 - November 6, 2020

    I’m updating both kits because I tried to use the clone feature on the kit builder to create my dog kit and it destroyed my cat kit.

    Behind on the project due to election-watching, but almost done.

     
  • 4

    Cia - November 8, 2020

    Thank you, I appreciate the effort you put in. I already used your links to buy several items on it, just in general, not for a BOB. We have an Aussie and two originally stray cats.

     
  • 3

    Cia - March 12, 2021

    A2,

    would it be possible for you to email me your list of supplies for dogs, or a link to it? I bought our dog two orthopedic dogs from the German company you recommended, I’d like to check your other recommendations. Thank you! I’m ciaparker2 and I’m at Gmail.

     
  • 1

    M. E.Contributor - January 22, 2022

    First, can we have a pic of the Maine Coon on top of the backpack? OH PLEASE OH PLEASE? Maine Coons are the BEST.

    Second, I am impressed with your preparedness! As the former owner of a Maine Coon, I’m guessing the cat bossed you into it 😉

    Third, one thing I learned the hard way is to always carry a copy of my pet’s rabies certificate with me (paper or electronic).  My cats refused to wear collars, so I didn’t have rabies tags, and many hotels, shelters, and out-of-town vets will NOT allow an animal without proof of rabies vaccination.  You did say “proof of vaccination”; rabies in particular is critical. 

     
  • 2

    A2 - January 22, 2022

    I got Covid in May 2020, then Long Covid ever since. Yep, like for over 18 months I’ve been battling this. Biggest symptoms are exhaustion, weakness, dizziness.

    So, much as I would love to strap on my pack and plop her on top for a photo session, no can do. Here she is, though. 

     
  • 1

    M. E.Contributor - January 23, 2022

    Oh she’s pretty and she KNOWS it! Thank you for sharing. And sending healing wishes your way…..

     
• 4

  Sorcer Gamble - October 21, 2020

  I practice walking thru the woods with my dog.  But if we had to bug out for any reason I dont think he would get very far being an english mastiff.  He gets tired and needs to rest.  His water needs are high.  I think my wife and I could go 5x to 10x as far as him without stopping.  Bugging out would be the last thing on my to-do list however.  In the meantime I stock up on several months worth of dog food.  Make sure he is not choosy about leftovers.  And hope to take advantage of the feral hog population in texas if the shtf.

   
• 6

  kharlan - October 26, 2020

  This is a basic list of what I have for my dog so far. It’s definitely light on first aid supplies. she does have more pressing medication needs than the humans so that was some of the most pressing items to include.

   
  • 9

    Gideon ParkerStaff - October 26, 2020

    Awesome kit! Thank you for taking the time to make it! I definitely want to make a kit like this with my next dog. 

    I do have a suggestion! Maybe type some care instructions and put it in your dog’s backpack as well. It can just be a one page paper folded in 4ths and put inside a ziplock baggie. And could be something like:

    “Hi! My name is Rover, if you are reading this I must have been separated from my owner. Her name is Jessica, she is a great owner! Her phone number is 888-888-8888, her email is [email protected] and she lives at 88 Main st.

    If you can’t get a hold of her, can you please watch over me for a bit? I eat 1 cup of food twice a day, and I need a pill of medicine from each of those bottles with my dinner.

    Thank you for helping me out! I promise I’ll be a good boy. WOOF!”

    I know you will watch over your dog and do your best to take care of him, but things happen, and I would feel more comfortable if someone had instructions on how to take care of my dog if we ever did get separated.

    Again, great kit!

     
  • 6

    kharlan - October 28, 2020

    That’s a really good suggestion. I was also thinking about the way we feed her her pills (usually in wet food, but for this i’m considering putting in some pill pocket treats).

    I’ve also been thinking about things like sunscreen (we live in the south and it gets very sunny), and dog first aid (clotting powder particularly but I want to ask the vet at her next appointment).

    Thank you!!

     
  • 4

    kharlan - October 28, 2020

    Also, having it all fit in a backpack that she can carry (but that also has a good handle so we can carry or clip it to our bags) is super useful. They’re pretty pricey though, we had a spare because we used to have two dogs.

     
  • 4

    Cia - November 8, 2020

    Thanks for this list, I’ve bought several things for our pets from all of the lists posted here so far!

     
• 5

  Sorcer Gamble - November 25, 2020

  I noticed after a hike thru the woods that my doggy got a couple stickers (they are abundant in north texas) and that would slow us down quite a bit if ever we had to ‘bugout’ so I picked up some extra large dog shoes (mastiff) with rubber soles.  Will practice with these once or twice so I know he’s good to go if need be.  Probably help quite a bit in snow and ice as well.  They are Kong brand off eBay for like 30 bucks.

   
  • 8

    pnwsarahContributor - November 25, 2020

    Do yourself a favor and have some kind of video recording device handy the first time you put the booties on the dog. They get used to it, but the first 5 minutes to quarter mile is usually pretty hilarious.

     
• 8

  LBV - November 26, 2020

  I’m still putting my stuff together, but I have chickens which will not be the easiest animals to move, but I have some crates and a pet carrier. I thought that putting them in that and tying onto a hand trolley would be a means of evacuating them if I need to go on foot. Car would be easier of course. My dog would be slow on foot. Dog diapers would be a good thing to have in a kit. Might make it easier to get accommodation if you made sure they won’t pee inside.

   
  • 11

    Gideon ParkerStaff - December 23, 2020

    We need to get you some of these! haha

     
  • 4

    Alisa Felix - June 1, 2021

    Saw this cute guy (the chicken, not the bald guy) on Facebook today and remembered this post about chickens and wanted to share it here.

     
• 9

  Jonnie PekelnyContributor - December 22, 2020

  I’m late coming to this discussion. I’m kind of struggling to figure out how to accommodate BOB supplies for both me and my small  dog (~20 lbs.) I am packing her preps with my own BOB, but I’m finding that it’s rather space and weight consuming, which is becoming a problem for me in general

  The items that are the most hassle are:

  1) Water for her. I carry a separate small plastic water bottle filled with water that’s separate from my own emergency water. Water is heavy!

  2) 3 day food rations — compressed kibble in a package that I bought from a pet emergency site and

  3) A rain and cold weather jacket. This may seem too froufrou for emergency gear, but it’s not about vanity. My dog is a short hair and I’m worried that we might have to hike somewhere in the winter in the rain. I live in a moderate climate, but it still gets wet and cold enough in the winter (upper 30s sometimes). But the coat is bulky and heavier than I want and I would gladly get rid of it at this point.

  Other items in the dog prep list are minimal and don’t take up much room or weight.

   
  • 6

    pnwsarahContributor - December 22, 2020

    I had the same problem with my dog’s supplies— and I think I had those same compressed kibble packets, too. The food is the main source of weight in our case now, since I have those Redbarn rolls recommended above, but I have him carry most of his BOB contents in his hiking backpack, but I realize that’s probably not a great option for a smaller dog.

    FWIW, I don’t carry water for my guy, just a filter, purification tablets (for me), a Kleen Kanteen with water dog and me can share (I have a bowl for him in his BOB), and then I have a bunch of stored water at home and a Blue Can six-pack in my car. 

     
  • 4

    Robert LarsonContributor - December 23, 2020

    Jonnie, this is great that you are planning and trying to incorporate a small BOB for your dog. 

    I’m not sure what the compressed kibble is that you have, but is it the freeze dried kind? I’ve gotten that for my dog for it’s food storage as it has a long shelf life, can be eaten dry, or you can add a bit of water to it to hydrate it. It is super light.

    I don’t think that a rain/cold weather jacket is froufrou at all. I’ve had some short hair dogs and they have had to wear coats in the cold winter months. It is smart because that will make them more comfortable, prevent shivering which will burn calories, and dogs will eat more when they are cold to warm themselves up metabolically. So having that jacket, will also allow you to maybe go further without having to pack more food.

    Just another random idea is to make sure that the food you carry in your BOB is something a dog could eat in an emergency. If you are bugging out for a couple days, and it eats all of it’s kibble, having a human meat meal or something could be a way that you share a few pieces.

     
  • 5

    LBV - June 6, 2021

    Part of my prep is a hand trolley. My dog is 15, so alot slower. Having him along with his and my gear on a hand trolley if I have to evac on foot.

     
• 9

  Dog lover - December 23, 2020

  I have three full sized dogs.  Shy of a nuclear accident I don’t believe I would consider bugging out with them.  I imagine I’m sticking it out here for better or worse.  Just the logistics of carrying enough food and water for yourself on foot would be tough for most, especially if not used to hiking.  Carrying the extra needed for three large animals wouldn’t be feasible for most.  I have a camper and choice of vehicles to pull it in the case of a forced bug out and that would be ok, but the on foot thing just isn’t going to happen. 

   
  • 7

    Robert LarsonContributor - December 23, 2020

    That is good that you are thinking logically and realistically. From your username, I can tell that you really love dogs. You aren’t going to be one of those owners who ditches their dogs as soon as a disaster hits, but you also are being realistic that it is just not logical to carry food, water, and supplies for three large dogs while on foot along with your own gear.

    I’m afraid my wife would be the opposite. She would do everything in her power and maybe at her own risk to make sure that our dog is cared for. I love her and admire her compassion and care for animals, but I really hope we never have a disaster where we have to bug out, because it will be very hard. Something I need to plan and prep for, because that is going to be our reality and something we need to deal with. 

     
  • 10

    Robert LarsonContributor - December 23, 2020

    In one of the fiction survival book series that i’ve been reading, they give the family dog a few scraps here and there, but for the most part the dog goes off on it’s own everyday and hunts mice and squirrels. I think a dog’s natural instincts will kick in pretty quickly and if given the opportunity, they will be able to hunt for some food.

     
  • 10

    Dog lover - December 23, 2020

    Two of my dogs are real dogs and would likely be able to help fend for themselves some.  The third dog is more of an in your bed spoiled pooch that doesn’t even know she is a dog.  I figure her survival rating to be at 0 at best and likely a negative rating…..  

     
  • 3

    Gideon ParkerStaff - December 23, 2020

    That made my day! haha

     
  • 8

    pnwsarahContributor - December 23, 2020

    “Real dogs” 😀

    My dog certainly looks like a “real dog” and he has a high prey drive, but every time he has actually cornered or caught something, he has been shocked into a couple of seconds of non-action which his quarry has used to escape. He also has terrible recall, which is not great for emergencies. I’ve had him for many years, but we continue to work with a trainer, and I consider that part of our “preps”.

    To your and Robert’s points that bugging out on foot with a dog is unlikely and would often be unmanageable, probably my favorite dog prep is just keeping a lot of extra kibble around. We have the large bag I’m feeding him out of, an additional large bag, a 5-lb bag, and various toppers, plus Redbarn rolls in the BOBs. The most likely emergency scenario is always going to be sheltering in place, and the second most likely is always going to be driving out of town, and I can feed and water my dog for a long time with what we have on hand in both of those circumstances. That doesn’t mean we don’t have booties and a backpack (we do, and when he gets old I’ll buy a freaking baby carriage or burly wagon to drag him around in, if I have to), it just means that I’m focusing on what’s most likely and most likely to be successful.

     
  • 5

    Dog lover - December 24, 2020

    I have two metal garbage cans with 50lb bags of food in them.  Keeps mice out of them in the detached garage.  I would keep more but don’t want it to get too old and begin to mold or anything.  I agree with your thought on a wagon or whatever it took to drag them in.  Just no way I would ever abandon any of them.  Bugging in would be the most likely plan for me here too.  Luckily my dogs will eat just about anything if they think it’s people food.  I could get them to eat vegetables from the garden pretty easily.  
    I hear lots of people saying they would hunt squirrels and rabbits and such.  The problem is in a real shtf here everyone has guns and would be hunting.  The local wildlife would be wiped out in a matter of weeks.  With no wildlife management the animal populations wouldn’t recover until the event was over.  Hunting would be a short extension to keep your meat supply.

     
  • 5

    pnwsarahContributor - December 26, 2020

    Re: wagons/carts, to the extent that I’ve been thinking about it (which isn’t a lot, since my dog is still in the age bracket where having too much energy is the main issue we contend with), I’ve been envisioning one of those bike trailers (usually used for kids) and wondering if there are models that are easier to tow by hand when detached.

    Thinking about kid conveyances more broadly is a useful vein… in the town where I used to live, I had a favorite state park in which I’d do a long trail run every weekend. Nine times out of ten I’d be up there in the steep stuff, totally alone except for the occasional mountain biker, and then round the bend and there would be this older woman pushing a baby carriage with treaded tires and her elderly dog inside. When I was younger and dogless, I thought, “Bless her heart, but she’s got to be a little batty.” If I saw her now, I’d ask the make and model of the stroller. 

    I once saw a picture on social media of a man who trained his pitbull to lie in a large satchel (with his legs poking out of holes in the bottom, I think?) so that he could take it on the subway in NYC. That’s tempting, but my dog’s weight is more than 40% of my body weight, so I think we’re better off with the trail pram or bike trailer approach.

    Best off, though, is the bug in plan. Wherever we go, we go together, so probably better to avoid having to go anywhere.

     
  • 9

    Dog lover - December 24, 2020

    My two ‘real’ dogs live outside. They have a bedroom in the laundry room in the detached garage, but roam free all protecting the property.  They are pretty good hunters, and bring their kills up to me usually.  I’ve picked up many rabbits, a ground hog, a couple squirrels (they are fast and hard to catch) and even a baby deer once.  I didn’t tell my wife about that one as she would have a hard time forgiving the boys…. they don’t try to eat any of the prey currently, but of course are well fed now.  Mostly they are just protecting from the trespassers. I not only would cook their occasional prey but might even share it with them in a pinch!

     
• 7

  Sorcer Gamble - December 23, 2020

  I encourage my dog to catch and eat crickets and grasshoppers.  At 150 lbs. that isnt much of a help.  But I also have a collapsible fishing gear type net in my gear for catching these types of insects in a shtf type of scenario (among other things).  In the summer months I think you could do pretty well to supplement that way.  Though I would be cooking them first.

   
• 10

  LBV - December 29, 2020

  Is anyone familiar with this product? https://www.k9sportsack.com/products/rover

  I have an old (14 1/2years) border terrier who is big for his breed -12.5 kg. There is no way I would leave him behind, but if I had to walk he would tire out – probably at the same time as me, but he at least would have an excuse. I was looking at this mainly as it has the option of additional storage, so essentials could also be carried. Any thoughts?

   
  • 4

    pnwsarahContributor - December 29, 2020

    Wow, thanks for finding this. Definitely something I would consider getting for my guy, especially as he gets older…

     
  • 10

    Dog lover - December 29, 2020

    I was thinking I would get something for me to ride in and let the dogs pull it as I get older!

     
  • 7

    pnwsarahContributor - December 29, 2020

    😀 😀 😀

    Get a husky. It’ll want to bug out every day.

     
  • 7

    LBV - December 29, 2020

    Check out a dog sledding club. There are also options for warmer weather. It’s probably the best way to ensure safety for your dog.

     
• 4

  Jonnie PekelnyContributor - March 12, 2021

  What kinds of carriers are folks using for bugging out with their dogs and cats? I am on the fence about whether or not to get a soft carrier. It would take up less room in my bug out foldable wagon. Those plastic carriers are very bulky. On the other hand, it seems less stable for the pet and also may leave the pet somewhat less protected.

   
  • 3

    Alicia - March 12, 2021

    I have a smaller hard carrier for my furbaby.  I have a larger one for day to day trips to the vet and such.  Frankly, I had this already or I don’t know what I would have chosen.  It fits in my fold up wagon if we need to leave on foot for some reason. 

     
  • 4

    pnwsarahContributor - March 21, 2021

    I have a large (well, really, a tall and leggy) dog and a large hard-sided carrier, the latter in the event that we bugged out to a shelter where he’d need to stay in it. I have a hard time imagining that we’d ever use it for that purpose, though. Besides the fact that any crate big enough for my guy would be awkward and hard to move, we have a BOV we can sleep in, and I’d much rather have my family together in the BOV in a parking lot than be sleeping on a cot in a HS gym with my poor dog in his crate in an anteroom with 30 other miserable and confused crated pets. In an on-foot bug out, my dog is walking, and he has booties to protect his paws.

    I did have a soft-sided crate for him when he was a puppy, though. I remember feeling like it wasn’t very durable. But, if I had a cat, I’d probably get one of those over something hard-sided just for ease of transport… 

     
  • 2

    Essie Carroll - March 22, 2021

    

    I’m a fan of the collapsible metal cage dog crates. They collapse to nothing and are sturdy and strong enough to protect the dog inside from breaking out or from things breaking in. The one downside and a big consideration if you were bugging out though is weight. They are much heavier than a fabric carrier.

     
  • 2

    JohnM - March 28, 2021

    Great point about how this could keep out predators. I have one and they are pretty strong. Raccoons might be able to operate the latches.

     
• 3

  JohnM - March 28, 2021

  I read an article about animal rescue after hurricane Katrina. The rescuers said that the cats did best. The owners locked them in a high room with a bunch of kibble, water and litter boxes. The rescuers said the cats were mainly just lonely.

  How do rescuers knew a house contains an animal waiting for rescue? Please tell us.

   
  • 7

    Essie Carroll - March 28, 2021

    One thing I’ve done is put a Pet Rescue sticker in the windows of my house on all four sides. Not sure if it helps, but it makes me feel better that they are there. Hopefully if my house was on fire while I was at work, then a neighbor or fireman might see the sticker and try and rescue my pet.

    

    

    

    You could also use it as a deterrent for burglaries. A burglar trying to break into that window will look down and see that you have two dogs inside and may second guess his life’s choices. If you have said that you only have a cat though, then he for sure is breaking in. A cat won’t protect your house.

     
• 6

  MainPugh - January 19, 2022

  I just came across this news story about how 10 guinea pigs survived the recent Marhsall Fire in Colorado and thought to share it. I used to own two piggies myself and I don’t know how I would have reacted to that situation.

  https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-01-18-12-guinea-pigs-survive-marshall-fire-freezing-temperatures-in-superior/

  In short:

  • The owner had 10 guinea pigs (8 were hers and 2 that she cared for).
  • She was forced to evacuate suddenly. She wasn’t given the time to gather them all and managed to grab only one of them.
  • Her house didn’t burn down but was left without power. The owner was not allowed back to the house for security reasons. As far as I understand it shes actually still not able to enter her house.
  • The piggies were left alone in the cold and without food and water for at least 15 days.
  • She called various animal rescue and emergency services to try and pull some strings and after 15 days a rescue worker was able to get inside and recuse the piggies. They all survived.

  As I said above I don’t know how I would have reacted. If I were to prepare for guinea pigs I would have had a couple of crates ready and a backpack or tote bag stuffed with hay, food, and water but she was forced to evacuate immediately and don’t know if even having a couple creates ready would have made a difference. She probably would have not been given the time to gather them all even if they were all in their pens. Or maybe that would have made a difference, I don’t know. But I think that the main lesson here is that she contacted animal rescue services and did not give up until someone managed to get inside. The thought of losing a pet because you are forced to leave them behind is just heartbreaking. Has any of you been able to evacuate immediately and safely take their pets with you? How?

   
  • 5

    Cia - January 19, 2022

    It would have been heartbreaking if they had died. We had three guinea pigs, not more than two at a time. I would not have left these nine guinea pigs. She could have put them in three paper grocery bags. We have several somewhat stronger bags in the coat closet that would have withstood chewing a little longer. Though I don’t think terrified guinea pigs would have chewed. Any bags which zipped shut would have held several, just not zip it shut. If she escaped in a car, even loose in a car would have been better than a burning house. She could have filled the rest of the bags with hay and then evacuated carrying them in bags. I’d rather leave with no supplies than leave my pets.

     
  • 4

    Alicia - January 19, 2022

    I have a couple of pet rabbits and had to evacuate but not so immediately as for the Marshall fire (thankfully).  I now have a BOB for the bunz that is stored with their travel carrier not far from the human BOBs so I hope I could get them in an immediate departure scenario.  I didn’t have that when we were evacuated.  I have used tips from this forum for building it.  

     
  • 4

    Essie Carroll - January 20, 2022

    My first thought when you said ‘BOB for the bunz’ was a little bug out bag strapped to each rabbit. 

    

    That’s wonderful you have the resources to build a bug out bag for them. What are some of the things you have included in their bag? 

     
  • 1

    MainPugh - January 20, 2022

    OMG this is so cute!!

     
  • 2

    Alicia - January 31, 2022

    Sooo funny!  I can’t even get mine to tolerate a harness for a leash which would be a good thing in an evacuation situation.   List is below.  I’ll put it in the Kit builder eventually.  

    65L Gregory Convertible Duffel to hold everything as the hay and litter are large
    Gray Medium Carrier with fleece pad – holds 2 bunnies
    Small litter box 19×14″
    28L Compressed block of Paper Litter
    40Oz Oxbow Timothy Hay compressed in vaccum ziploc bag
    1 quart zip lock full of Oxbow Basics T food pellets
    Small unbreakable steel  dish in carrier
    Oxbow Joint glucosimine and Digestive Support supplement cookies – also treats in their minds
    Chewable items – toys and cardboard
    Yellow Microfiber cloth – to dry them if necessary
    Plastic double sided flea comb
    Reflective Leash and harness and cord only harness 
    Medications:  Flea treatment, anti-inflamatory, digestive stimulant, dimethicone – first aid only here as we currently don’t have any geriatric buns.  Many of our older buns were on daily meds.  
    Thermometer
    Heating Pad
    Oxbow Critcial Care and Syringe
    Reflective Leash and harness and cord only harness because we have them. 
    out: Next priority grab 2 fencing if driving.
    Out:  next priority to grab greens from frig

    And if I were to be complete, I’d have sub-cutaneous fluids and the associated syringes/needles. Adding to the list to at least grab them if we have time.   Will add the needles/syringes so it’s just grab the bag of fluids.  Thanks for asking so I’d review this.  

    And for us, the buns are free roaming in half of the first floor of our home. So getting them corralled in a timely fashion is challenging.  Whenever they see the carrier they start avoiding behaviors.  No dumb bunnies here! 🙂 

     
  • 3

    Essie Carroll - January 20, 2022

    Thank you for sharing this story. Having to leave so abruptly without any ability to grab things drives home to me the need to have everything staged perfectly. 

    But like you said, even if she did have pens ready for her guineas, she might not have even had time to load them up.

     
  • 3

    Cia - January 20, 2022

    That’s why I thought even paper bags would do in a pinch. We’ve had three guinea pigs and one rabbit. I can think of a number of ways to get them out of the danger area when necessary.  For guinea pigs, even saucepans. 

     
  • 4

    Essie Carroll - January 20, 2022

    That’s what I would do. Use any method possible to grab them and go. Even if I am running out of the house with them in my arms. They can sit in the back seat of the car and I’ll drive to a Petco and pick up more supplies in a worst case scenario.

    Not shaming the lady in the story though. I don’t know her situation and it sounds like she did the best she could. 10 guinea pigs is a lot of fur to handle.

     
  • 2

    MainPugh - January 20, 2022

    Agreed I was even thinking that I’d rather stuff them in my coat and take them in the car but it really seems that she was not given many options.

     
  • 2

    MainPugh - January 20, 2022

    I mean not all ten of them at once! I meant just to get them out of the house. I don’t think my coat would hold ten guinea pigs lol

     
  • 3

    Cia - January 20, 2022

    We could take out ten at once. Three bags, three or four piggies per bag. With another finger for the food bag. It’s temporary, just to get them to an area not in danger of fire, or whatever. We used to get Timothy hay in large bags and Oxbow pellets. That would all fit in the back seat of the car. Yes, ten piggies is a lot, I wouldn’t have accepted the care of that many, but once you’ve got them, I’d drive them to a safe area, call the humane society or whatever, and reassess. If necessary, walk out: you’d probably run into fellow evacuees who would help.

     
  • 2

    MainPugh - January 20, 2022

    Oh yes, I meant not ten of them in my coat lol

    But I agree there could be so many ways to get them out even if they didn’t have their crates ready: I was just doing laundry and realized a laundry basket would be perfect too.

     
  • 1

    Cia - January 20, 2022

    Good idea! I was just thinking it would have been harder with our rabbit, Seb, a chocolate Dutch, who hopped, but then thought of several board-like things to put across the top of the basket, bag, etc. Or staple the top of the bag and poke air holes. Glad it never came up when we had them.

     
• 1

  mtncats - March 26, 2022

  something I use is Bach Rescue Remedy…it comes in cream, liquid, spray, etc.  It is used for humans and pets, ALL NATURAL FROM FLOWERS, and is carried on a lot of ambulances for trauma……order it online, hard to find in drugstores anymore.

  cream:  put on ears or paws of pets; on human – use anywhere on body (wrist, hand, etc) (DO NOT EAT or use in liquids)

  liquid:  can be used in human food/drink, in pets food/water, can be used on tongue, or on body of human or paws of pets

  spray:  can be used to spray on pet cages, blankets, pillows;  for human, can be sprayed on pillow/sheets etc.  DO NOT SPRAY DIRECTLY ON PETS OR PEOPLE

  have used this for years, keep some in purse, in vehicle etc…..NO DRUGS, doesnt interfere with any meds etc.  TOTALLY NATURAL flowers…….it is calming, but you dont know you even used it….no side effects, nothing, you just feel relaxed (doesnt interfere with sleep/driving etc) and calm.

  use on pets for vets, have moved my cats to 4 different states, worked well for them, before surgeries, doc/dental visits (me), anytime you or pets have anxiety.  use also for pets afraid of storms/loud noise, etc.

   
• 3

  pnwsarahContributor - April 26, 2022

  I just updated my Dog BOB in KitBuilder over the weekend and thought I’d share on this thread. (see down below) Just as a heads-up, the way I use KitBuilder is to add prices ONLY to the items I haven’t yet purchased, so that the “total cost” on the right actually tells me the total cost to me to finish the kit. There is also a particularly expensive item on this list that I am not actually going to buy for my dog’s BOB, which is another reason to just ignore the price. A lot of these items were either extras I had lying around or <$10. The “care instructions” quarter sheet started by copying, pasting, and editing Gideon’s verbiage from the 10/26/2020 post on this thread— thanks, Gideon!

  This is also one place where I do double dip with outdoor gear: Every time we go hiking or skiing, I take the dog’s booties out of his BOB and put them in my backpack, and when we come home, I put them back in the pack. I also unpack the backpack itself when we’re going on a hike where it makes sense for him to carry his own gear, since that doesn’t happen frequently enough to be a pain, and the BOB is very easy to put back together again afterwards.

  This is not the totality of my pet preps— just what I think my dog can reasonably carry in an on-foot BO. One product that I discovered recently that I currently keep in my weekend adventure daypack (and on our “evacuation list” as a “grab if you have 5 minutes” item) is the Fido Pro Airlift rescue sling. The other thing I’m hoping to grab is the extra kibble I keep around.

  I’ve evolved a bit on food since some of my posts elsewhere on this thread. I got a couple of RedBarn rolls, but the seals at the ends weren’t very sturdy; crumbs of food were leaking out and I didn’t trust that the food itself would be good given that weakness. I kept the rolls until they expired, though, and then (when a friend asked for my help prepping) found out that she owns a vacuum sealer. So the next weekend we’re both in town, we’re going to vacuum seal a bunch of food for both our dogs. I feel much better about keeping Ziplocks of kibble in the BOB now that I know that it really is a temporary solution. (I still haven’t taken the plunge on the nutritional supplement; I’d like to do a bit more research on how likely something like that is to be useful.)

   
  • 2

    Cia - April 26, 2022

    I’d love to see it, but it’s not in Kit Builder, and, as you said, the link doesn’t work.

     
  • 2

    Gideon ParkerStaff - April 26, 2022

    I went ahead and fixed the link and it should be visible and working now.

     
  • 3

    Robert LarsonContributor - April 26, 2022

    Very nice kit pnwsarah! Has your dog tried walking with that pack?

    In your kit you ask if anyone has experience with that nutritional supplement, so I asked my wife who is a professional dog behaviorist and is very much into dog health and nutrition.

    She said that the ingredients for that nutritional gel are pretty horrible and a healthier alternative could be a can of sardines which has good nutrition, protein, and fats. Whole foods like sardines are much more easily absorbed by the body than artificial vitamins, corn syrup, and xanthan gum. 

    Continuing with the whole foods train, dogs in the wild will eat the organs of their kill first because they contain the most nutrition. Giving your dog raw beef liver, spleen, heart and such are the best but not easily added to a bug out bag. So getting dehydrated organs in a capsule is something that could be added for healthy and natural vitamins.

    Your vital essentials training treats are just dehydrated chicken breasts and has nothing else added, so that is also a great whole food. 

    I can tell that you love your dog and he/she is living a wonderful life if you take so much care into it’s bug out bag. 

     
  • 4

    pnwsarahContributor - April 26, 2022

    Robert, thank you SO much for asking your wife about the nutritional gel! I wasn’t really sure how I was going to get that question answered, and she sounds like exactly the right person to ask, so that was a big help. I love the idea of replacing it with a more whole food-y product knowing that the nutritional benefits would be comparable (or, it sounds like, better). And since sardines are sold canned, I imagine that they would be pretty portable and have a good shelf life. I also really like the idea of the encapsulated dehydrated organs. Is there one product or combination of products from this company that you (or your wife) recommends for dogs?

    My dog eats a freeze-dried raw topper with his regular kibble which has organ meat and ground bone, but is formulated to be a full diet. I wonder if that stuff would vacuum seal well— or if it makes more sense to do vacuum-packed kibble plus a more concentrated form of organ meat, as in the capsules. If your household collectively has further thoughts there, I’d welcome them.

    As for the pack, he hasn’t gone hiking in this specific model yet because I just bought it, but he has hiked in the pack we had before, which was similar but not as nice (Outward Hound as opposed to RuffWear). Also, it was gifted to us when he still had a bit of growing to do, so the extenders were all maxed out and the load didn’t sit as nicely as I would have liked as consistently as I would have liked. It didn’t seem to bother my dog, but it bugged me enough that I was avoiding using the pack, and I figure that it’s good for him to be in the habit of using it. Another thing that appealed to me about the RuffWear pack was that the hardware and attachment points provide a lot of ways that I could attach it to the outside of my BOB, allowing me to carry his stuff easily. Do you have experience with this pack or dog packs generally? 

    Lastly, thank you so much for the kind words about my dog! He is an extremely important member of our family and we try to give him the best possible life. 

    And thank you so much Cia for letting me know the link didn’t work, and Gideon for fixing it and embedding the kit!

     
  • 2

    Robert LarsonContributor - April 26, 2022

    Message from my wife:

    The majority of Ancestral supplements are just encapsulated organs…organs that dogs would naturally eat when taking down an animal. So almost all of their products would be good for dogs. Variety is important when getting the most nutritional bang for your buck so to speak…if it was me I would do the Beef Organs for that reason. Four Leaf Rover is a very high quality supplement company that sells a powdered version of a variety of organs as well as other supplements that might be helpful to you.

    Kibble becomes susceptible to oxidation pretty quickly after opening it, and more so if you transfer it to another container from the bag it was packaged in. When oxidation occurs the fats begin to get damaged as well as other nutrients in the food. For that reason, I would rotate through a fully-balanced freeze-dried raw in a sealed package, and just use it up before it expires and replace it with a new one. All the moisture, is taken out which in theory means you will have more calories per pound versus the more moisture-dense kibble. Plus everything is all sealed up until you use it which means oxidation is much less of an issue.

    There are many good backpacks for dogs out on the market. What is most important for me is how it fits on my dog. I always ensure that the weight from the pack and the pack itself sits mostly over the dog’s shoulders and not over the mid part of the back. If it is not fitted properly you can put strain on your dog’s back which could lead to potential injury. The maximum weight for your dog to carry should be no more than 10% of what your dog weighs….and ensure your dog builds up to that weight gradually.

     
  • 2

    pnwsarahContributor - April 26, 2022

    Thank you so much, and please thank your wife for me, too. This is incredibly helpful. I felt so much better about the dog BOB after the work I put into it this weekend, and I feel significantly better now than I did before I posted the kit.

    Sounds like beef organs or Four Leaf Rover + a fully-balanced freeze-dried raw is the way to go. I will update the kit on Kit Builder accordingly and to reflect the actually appropriate bag weight.

    I also put the pack on him again, and I was surprised (and relieved) by the extent to which it really does sit over his shoulders. I guess I didn’t notice it the first time, or maybe I was expecting that based on the adjustment instructions that I looked at then but have since forgotten. In any case, I’m glad to know that it’s supposed to wear like that, because it might have seemed incorrect otherwise.

    It looks like I also need to invest in a small kitchen scale or borrow one from a neighbor or work. A lot of the weight estimates in my kit are dubious and I’m close enough to the limits of what he should be carrying that I want to make sure it’s accurate.

    Thank you both and again!