PETM (MM)

Keeping Pets Safe During the California Wildfires Public Service Announcement PHOENIX, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- To keep pets safe and to prepare for a potential evacuation during the California wildfires, PETsMART recommends that pet parents: * Know where to go: Not all emergency shelters accept pets -- and animal shelters and boarding kennels often have limited space. Contact local humane societies such as the San Diego Humane Society at 619-654-6658, or local chapters of the American Red Cross for a list of emergency shelters that accept pets. The evacuation center at QUALCOMM stadium in San Diego has vets and pet supplies on hand. Families should also keep a list of nearby shelters and veterinarians in an emergency kit. * If at home, bring pets indoors: Even if a pet is the outdoor-type, we recommend bringing the pet inside to keep them safe and away from smoke and ash. And, if the pet seems afraid or anxious while indoors, consider housing them in an appropriate-sized pet kennel to help them feel more secure. When kenneling a pet, be sure to include bedding, a small bowl of water in a no-spill container, some food and a few favorite toys. * Create a "Pet Preparedness Kit": The kit should contain bottles of water, extra food, extra blankets, a soft muzzle, collars, leashes, a first-aid kit and a week's supply of any special medication (especially asthma or allergy medication) and dosage instructions. * Keep medical records on hand: Many kennels and shelters will not take pets without proof of vaccinations, and if a pet is injured or becomes ill, access to medical records will help vets provide better care. * Make sure pets wear ID tags or have Microchips: If a pet does become lost, proper identification can increase the chances of a safe return home. And, almost every animal rescue agency can scan lost pets for microchip identification. * If traveling, get a pet carrier: An individual carrier for each pet in the family can make transporting pets safe and gives them a feeling of security. * Make sure fresh water and food are on hand: Stock up on drinking water for the whole family -- try storing fresh tap water in jugs or buy bottled water. Just in case a pet parent gets stranded at home, make sure there's plenty of human and pet food available. For more information on pet care, contact any PETsMART store or PETsMART's customer service line at 1-800-738-1385. PETsMART, Inc., (NASDAQ:PETM) is the largest specialty retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company operates more than 600 pet stores in the United States and Canada, as well as a large pet supply catalog business and the Internet's leading online provider of pet products and information ( http://www.petsmart.com/ ). PETsMART provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and supplies, and offers complete pet training, grooming and adoption services. Since 1994, PETsMART Charities, an independent 501(c)3 organization, has donated more than $26 million to animal welfare programs and, through its in-store adoption programs, has saved the lives of more than 1.6 million pets. DATASOURCE: PETsMART, Inc. CONTACT: PETsMART Media Hotline, +1-623-587-2177 Web site: http://www.petsmart.com/

Copyright