What about your pets in a bug-out situation?

[Preacherman]

I've been reading accounts of the vast numbers of dogs, cats and other pets abandoned in New Orleans - many of whom have died, or will soon die, as a result of malnutrition, disease, etc. As a pet-owner, this is heartbreaking news.

However, I also have to be realistic. My two cats are indoor animals, with no front claws (no, I didn't de-claw them - I got them that way), and would be completely unable to cope in an outside, bug-out-camp situation. Unless I knew I had sheltered accommodation for them at my bug-out destination, it would probably be kinder for me to put them down before leaving, rather than leave them to starve.

How about you folks? How have you planned to cope with your pets if you have to bug out? What preparations/plans have you made?

 

[MaterDei]

I have 3 dogs, 1 cockatiel, 9 hens, some fish, 6 rabbits and 10 acres. I don't plan on having to bug out. In fact, I know that people will come here if TPHTF. If I had to leave though, depending on how quickly I had to go, the dogs, hens and rabbits would come with me. The fish and bird would be left with a lot of food but they are expendable and would be on their own until I returned.

 

[Sam]

That would be a rough call Preacherman. I have 10 Australian Shepherds.
They could cut the mustard but there is no reasonable way to haul them, or the livestock. I could crate them all and throw them in the truck and shoot the stock but that isn't comfy either. Lot of food on the hoof to waste.

Guess I'll bug in. Me and the dogs and the sheep and the ducks will stay right here thank you.

If I was the kind to not take proper care of my animals, no one would want me around anyway.

Sam

 

[Moondoggie]

We will take all 5 (4 cats, 1 small dog) along for the ride. No matter what! We have enough pet carriers for the cats.

That's non-negotiable. I am responsible for their care and I take that responsibility seriously.

My wife & I discuss these situations frequently. I don't know what kind of long term disaster would cause us to bug out. Bugging in is our primary mode.

I keep enough spare fuel on hand to make it to friends/relatives from 100 miles to 900 miles away, depending upon the situation in the 4 dr pickup. If we bugged-out in the 18 wheeler (our primary mode) we'd have 1400 miles of range plus a roof over our heads whatever direction we headed.

 

[CentralTexas]

.

We'd no more leave any of our dogs as we would leave children. We also are prepared to defend them the same also.
CT

 

[Tokugawa]

I only have cats and I'll bug in. A good dog IS mans best friend- In my opinion, you would be nuts to leave a good dog behind. A dog will be loyal to the end. A dog will cover your ass no matter what the odds. A dog will let you sleep secure. As a matter of fact, maybe I should get a dog!

 

[XLMiguel]

Very tough call. It's been so sad to see all those animals just waiting for their owners to come back. I feel worse for them than I do for some of the 'human victims'.

I'm in the same boat as the Preacher, but just one very nice house cat who is clueless when it comes to the outside world. I guess we'd do our best to take him along if we had any time at all to get organized (he's pretty manageable and good at minding), but I could see a .22 behind the ear if there was a true catasrophy that meant we had to abandon him with a very low chance of survival. I've had to put down two old cats who had been with us 16 & 18 years, and that was tough enough, but it was the right thing to do at the time.

 

[JamisJockey]

My wife and I already discussed this. Bugging out by vehicle they go with us. In dire conditions like in New Orleans, I'll have to put them both down before we go. I'm not leaving my pets to starve.

 

[boofus]

My cat is family. 'Nuff said.

 

[Pilgrim]

My two whippets are my 'kids' and my best buddies. I raised them from puppies (9 years old) and got them when the PMS moved out on me four years ago. I would no more leave them to fend for themselves than human kids.

Pilgrim

 

[Art Eatman]

Planning on how to deal with pets is just part of the process. Boxes/cages, truck, trailer. If I'm smart enough to plan, I'm smart enough to figure out how to take the "necessities".

So, wife, kids, dogs, cats, clothes, papers, guns, as many of the mementos of our family's history as possible--and hit the road. Houses and furniture are replaceable, and there's a reason for insurance.

So it might cost extra to rent a truck and trailer? So what?

Art

 

[Preacherman]

Folks, I see a lot of sentimental replies along the lines of "My pets are family - where I go, they go". I fully agree with the sentiment - but the question is, will it be possible for them to go along? What if you don't have a secure bug-out location to go to, with facilities for them? If you take Tinkles the kitty-cat into the same house as Mongo The Barbarian Wolfhound, you might have Tinkles' company for a much shorter time than you'd planned... and you'll piss off your host by shooting his dog, into the bargain!

The point of this thread is about practicality. Do you have the necessary facilities, destination, etc. to take your pets along? What about food, medical care, etc.? If these are not available, or you're not sure, or you have to bug out in a hurry and can't reach a pre-planned safe destination - WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

I look at New Orleans today and shudder. If I'd had to go at the last minute, and depend on a Government shelter (which Heaven forbid), I suspect I'd euthanize my (indoor-living, de-clawed, defenseless-outside) cats as painlessly as possible, rather than leave them behind, not knowing when or whether I'd see them again, and whether or not they'd be able to get enough food and (fresh) water to survive. It would break my heart to do so - but it's in their best interests.

What say you?

 

[Len]

Ok, practically speaking...

My wife and I have discussed a basic evac plan, which includes the two dogs. Since one or the other of us is home all the time [working different shifts] whoever is home packs the dogs.

Our experience with numerous camping trips using either vehicle allows us to make the dogs just part of the "normal" travel routine.

The location we'd most likely go to already has all the necessary "dog" gear, i.e., food, dishes, various pet care items we'd need. We're both of a medical background, so our first aid kits take a little veterinary care into consideration, too.

We've also made arrangements with nearby friends, traded keys,in order to pick up their dog, or they'd pick ours up, and meet us at the same place.

If we have to travel separately, we will, leaving messages at home, voicemail and with the friends, too, letting them know we have the "crew."

 

[Pilgrim]

The point of this thread is about practicality. Do you have the necessary facilities, destination, etc. to take your pets along? What about food, medical care, etc.? If these are not available, or you're not sure, or you have to bug out in a hurry and can't reach a pre-planned safe destination - WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

If the choice is leave my 'kids' behind to take gov't transportation, or walk out, I will walk out.

Pilgrim

 

[only1asterisk]

I am reviewing plans as far as to bugging out or holding out. It looks like bugging out will be the new plan. If that ends up being the case, our pets can come if they can keep up. It’ll be tough on the fish.

David

 

[444]

If you ever wondered why all those people stayed on the Gulf Coast when a reported Cat 5 hurricane was coming, just read these threads on this board: No, I will just bug in. No, the thought that my house might be under water never entered my mind, why do you ask ?


I no longer have a dog (he died a few months back), but obviously, he would be going with me. He went all over the western US with me anyway. He and I spent many a night in a tent, in the middle of no where in sub freezing temperatures or 100+ temperatures, driving rain, snow, what have you. What we call SHTF is where he comes into his own. His ancestors campaigned with the Roman Leigions, a little disaster is child's play. He wouldn't have missed running water, TV, and pizza delivery. He would have been in his element.

 

[Dave R]

Bugging in or bugging out, my dog stays with me. 110 pounds of deterrence and early warning is a valuable thing. And she's not hard to care for, either. She could probably even feed herself if necessary.

 

[yorec]

I have two dogs and two cats... What would happen to them would depend a lot on the circumstances - the dogs would be useful companions, defenders and food foragers is many situations. They would go with me unless absolutley impossible. The cats - well, if they can be easily taken care of they come along.

If leaving them behind means a lingering death (NO style) I believe in a 6 cent solution for them all. Animals are animals and thier presence is not worth risking the lives of my human family companions... There would be tears and wailing, a single "Pop!" and life would go on...

 

[Johnny_Yuma]

The Cat

Rides

With Me!

 

[mcg-doc]

My wife will rather take the dogs than me.

 

[crucible]

Practically speaking, or any speaking for that matter, my dog goes where I go if something like this is necessary: if she I cannot go someplace, I won't be going there either. She provides friendship and guards my family, trusts me (and my family) implicidly as her owner and closest friend, and I will not violate that trust and loyalty-especially when it's needed the most.

I'd no sooner leave my dog than any other family member; she means as much, and in some cases-God forgive me-more than some humans. This isn't to say I find animals the moral equivilant of human beings on a general scale as that violates any number of my religious and moral beliefs, but rather one of describing personal worth of my dog, her relationship with me and my family, and a lifelong observation of the human race.

Quite honestly as well, I cannot ever see me saying the same thing about a cat. Not that I hate cats, but having been around them enough, I cannot ever see the bond with them that approaches that of a canine/human realtionship.

Chris

 

[Derek Zeanah]

The dog goes with me. Non-negotiable.

 

[Moondoggie]

Taking ours with would be easily managed. Our friends/relatives in whatever direction we head are pet owners also. If we had to leave on foot, there'd be no point in leaving cuz there's no place within walking distance to go that would be better.

The only event that my wife and I can brainstorm that would cause us to bugout is a nuke strike on Offutt AFB (StratCom HQ). It's 90 miles NE of us, so blast damage isn't a concern and every prevailing wind pattern would carry fallout away from us. That eventuality is pretty remote. None of the other types of disaster apply to us here.

 

[pete f]

the dog would be part of the plan. watchdog. pack animal, he wouldcarry his own food, and like lewis and clark, if worse came to worse, dinner.


some of you just got angry but would you really sacrifice your kids for your dog, no of course not. but if you were starving, can you really say you would not choose to live?

 

[YammyMonkey]

My wife and I have 5 ferrets. Their condo can be broken down to 1/2 height and will fit in the back of our Xterra with room to spare. Food for a month or more fits in a 5 gallon bucket. If we really needed more room we'd use the traditional pet carrier and Puck would just have to get over his dislike of that thing or actually scratch/gnaw his way out.