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Did you read in the news recently about a suspected lioness on the loose in Berlin? Residents were warned to stay in their homes and keep pets indoors after reports of a roaming wild animal. In the end the hunt was called off after evidence suggested it had been a wild boar. But it still raised some questions about what you would do in the event of various animal emergencies.
At Loans 2 Go we have an ongoing series of Domestic Disaster articles, about things that can go wrong in our everyday lives. You can see a full list at the end of this article, but in this article we cover a range of animal emergencies that you could be faced with. We will look at what to do if:
It’s horrible to think about your pet going missing but it’s good to be aware of what to do if the worst happens, and to make sure you have all the relevant information you would need. So it’s worth doing a bit of advance preparation for something that will hopefully never happen. Gather together the following contact details so that they are ready to hand if you need them:
As well as contacting these organisations it’s also invaluable to put details on local social media, including pictures and where and when your pet was last seen. This can achieve successful results very quickly. If there is not an immediate result, it can also help to produce leaflets to display on notice boards, trees, lampposts and in vets and local shop windows.
You can also organise searches, starting in the area where your pet was last seen, calling their name. Check any empty properties in the area as cats can often get into obscure places and get locked inside. Also search around your home in case your pet is trying to make their way home. And when you call their name, remember to wait and listen carefully after calling, in case your pet is trapped or injured and is trying to respond.
If you believe your pet has been stolen, as well as doing the above, you should also report the theft to the police as soon as possible. They will give you a Crime Reference Number that will enable you to keep up with any news or developments about your pet.
Whether you are at home or out and about, if your pet becomes seriously ill – for example struggling to breathe or move, badly bitten or stung, wounded and bleeding, or suspected broken bones – you need to get professional help as soon as you can.
If you feel it is safe to move your pet, and you have access to transport, get them either to your vet or an out of hours emergency vet as soon as possible. If possible, call ahead so they can prepare for an emergency case.
If you don’t have transport or don’t want to move your pet, phone a vet for advice. They may either be able to send someone out, or be able to recommend a pet-friendly taxi or pet ambulance.
It’s also a good idea to familiarise yourself in advance with some basic animal first aid for such an emergency. The PDSA has helpful online guides as to how to deal with many pet first aid issues.
Wherever you are, it will be a tremendous shock if your pet dies. And it helps to have some idea beforehand of what to do so that you don’t completely panic. The first thing to do is contact either your local vet, an emergency vet, or a private animal crematorium if this is your preference. They will advise the best way to get your pet to them.
Most vets will keep your pet’s body for a day or two until you decide what you want to do. They may be able to offer cremation or refer you to a private pet crematorium for cremation or burial. If your pet is cremated, you will usually be able to have the ashes afterwards if this is something that you want to do.
Losing a pet is distressing for everyone, and animal professionals are trained to be helpful and sympathetic at this time. But also try to have a friend or family member with you during the process who can help to support you and to ensure that all the logistics are taken care of as smoothly as possible.
If you witness or are involved in an accident with an animal the first thing to do is to stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so. Then stop the engine and turn on your hazard lights.
If the animal is injured, you then need to call a vet or a local animal hospital or animal charity such as the RSPCA or PDSA.
You will also need to contact the police if the accident involves a dog, horse, donkey, cow, pig, sheep or goat.
If you find a lost pet, the best thing to do is to take it to a local vets where they will be able to check whether or not the animal is microchipped. It can also be helpful to contact other organisations to see if anyone is looking for the animal, for example animal charities, hospitals and rehoming centres.
And similarly to when you lose a pet, the organisation Animal Search UK enables you to report online if you find an animal.
It’s also a good idea to use local social media to announce you’ve found a pet, but be careful with sharing too much detail as you or the vet will need some definitive proof of ownership before handing the pet over.
We hope that this article gives you some useful information about what to do in an animal emergency. If you have an emergency situation with your pet and need some extra money to sort it out, remember that Loans 2 Go offer emergency loans that may be able to help.
Previous Domestic Disaster articles include:
For more useful lifestyle and financial tips, visit us here again soon at Loans 2 Go.
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