Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Houston SPCA Team Up to Equip Pet Parents with Emergency Preparedness Resources
Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Houston SPCA Team Up to Equip Pet Parents with Emergency Preparedness Resources
HOUSTON, Sept. 19, 2024 – During National Preparedness Month this September, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and its longtime shelter partner, Houston SPCA, are teaming up to share tips to keep pets safe in times of emergencies and to ensure pet owners are properly prepared before disaster strikes. Dr. Rebecca Tremble, Veterinarian and US Strategic Partnership Lead at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Dr. Roberta Westbrook, Chief Animal Welfare and Medical Officer at Houston SPCA, recently conducted a satellite media tour in conjunction with D S Simon Media to discuss how pet owners can prepare for emergencies.
While eight in 10 Americans feel it’s important to have a disaster preparedness plan for their pet, just one third have one, according to a new survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Hill’s Pet Nutrition. This month alone, multiple disasters have impacted communities from coast to coast, underscoring the need for families to create disaster preparedness plans — including a plan for their pets.
Dr. Tremble and Dr. Westbrook provided advice to pet parents to help them act quickly during a crisis. Among these tips, they shared what should be included in a pet emergency kit:
- Basic first aid supplies
- 3-day supply of water and pet food in a waterproof container
- Food and water bowl
- Safety harness and leash
- Waste cleanup supplies
- Any pet medication and medical records
- Contact list for veterinarians and local pet care organizations
- List of your pet’s feeding routine and any behavior issues
- Comfort items like a blanket or toy
One way Hill’s Pet Nutrition helps keep people and pets together during times of need is through Hill’s Disaster Relief Network, established in 2013 as an extension of Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program.
The Network works with animal shelters to coordinate emergency deliveries of pet food to animal shelters, veterinary clinics, state government entities and national nonprofits caring for pets impacted by crises. Additionally, Hill’s Disaster Relief Network supports shelters like Houston SPCA, a leading agency in emergency response for more than 40 years. During Hurricane Harvey, Houston SPCA distributed over 120 tons of pet food, crates, bedding and other supplies due in part to the support of Hill’s Disaster Relief Network.
