How to Prepare Bug Out Bags for Your Beloved Pets

When we consider bug out bags, we often don’t consider that each of our pets need one too. Check out this article to learn how to make your own.

How to Prepare Bug Out Bags for Your Beloved Pets

When we consider bug out bags (72 hour emergency kits) for each of our family members we often don’t consider that each of our pets need one too. Anything can happen at any given time and when that time comes my pets are coming with me…and they’re coming prepared like the rest of the family. Below are lists of things to consider for your pet’s bug out bag.

Items for Your Dog

• Vaccine/medical records with owner contact information
• Dog food with bowl (for canned food, make sure to include a can opener and a spoon)
• Dog treats
• Water with bowl (your dog should have 2.5 oz of water for every 1 oz of food)
• Protective clothing (raincoat and/or regular coat)
• Dog bed (with a blanket for extra warmth)
• Carrier with handle (collapsible if possible)
• Collar with I.D. tag
• Leash/harness
• A tie-out (you never know when you may have to secure your pet)
• Muzzle
• First aid kit
• Daily medications
• Clean-up supplies (baggies, trash bags, etc.)
• Grooming supplies (optional)

Items for Your Cat

• Vaccine/medical records with owner contact information
• Cat food with bowl (for canned food, make sure to include a can opener and a spoon)
• Cat treats
• Water (your cat should have 2.5 oz of water for every 1 oz of food)
• Protective clothing (for example, a cat sweater)
• Cat bed (with a blanket for extra warmth)
• Carrier with handle
• Collar with I.D. tag
• First aid kit
• Daily medications
• Litter box/pan with litter
• Clean-up supplies (baggies, trash bags, etc.)
• Grooming supplies (optional)

A medium-sized bug out bag for each pet will typically fit everything your dog or cat will need (with the exception of the pet carriers). You can even buy a doggie backpack for a bigger dog to carry. You may also consider a single, much bigger bag to include all of the items for every pet in the home. It may seem like a lot of items, but it’s well worth it for the safety and well being of your beloved pets.

For long-term survival situations, consider adding more of certain items such as food, treats, water, clothing, blankets, first aid, kitty litter, and clean-up supplies. Sometimes you don’t know that a survival situation is long-term until you’re actually IN a survival situation, so planning beyond the 72 hours for each family member’s emergency kit is something to seriously consider.

And for those of you who may be interested in self-prepared food for your beloved pets, here is a great article on how you can make nutritious dog and cat food.

Always remember this one important rule when it comes to survival, a motto I live by: it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

For awesome survival gear you can’t make at home, check out the Survival Life Store!