Pets in SHTF: Benefit or Liability?

Right up front, I’m going to say that there is no single, correct answer to the question posed in the title. Before pet lovers descend upon the comments section in true explosive social media style, I am going to say that I am a pet lover myself, albeit a pragmatic and practical one. I am a farm girl, after all!

I know that most pet owners are not going to agree with some of my comments and suggestions here. My advice? Think of this article as a tool, like a whetstone, to sharpen your thinking and your SHTF plan according to your own values. We’re going to take a look at pet ownership according to the four levels of SHTF as described by Daisy in this excellent article. However, I’m mainly going to focus on preparation for an all-out SHTF, because I think that will be most useful to folks.

Level One: Personal Emergencies

As Daisy describes in this article, life happens to us all, and these emergencies are often financial in nature. When it comes to your pets, how well prepared are you to weather a financial storm? Checklist items here could be how much food you have set aside. Are you using sales and any coupons available to reduce your costs? If money is extremely tight, are you aware of food banks for pets in your area, or which food banks carry pet food? It is best to be prepared. If your pet takes any medications, do you have an extra month or two on hand at all times? 

Despite being in a low-income situation, one of my top priorities each month is to build my emergency fund. I can’t tell you how much better I feel having that in place each month, as compared to using credit to weather my storms. Do what you need to do to make this happen. Cut what you need to cut. The time is now.

Level Two: Short-Term Situations

The examples Daisy gives in her article are not life-threatening, but last for a few days: a blizzard where the power goes out or a broken water main that causes you to be without water for a few days.

Consider all of the needs of your pets. Have you factored their water needs into the amount of water you have stored onsite? Have you imagined the worst-case scenario, where the power goes out in the midst of the hottest summer ever, and you are without air conditioning? How much water will you need then? 

If you are well prepared for Level One, then you should have enough food on hand to weather this short term situation. What if your pet has highly specialized medical needs, however? I had a friend who gave her cat IV fluids for kidney disease. Her vet had recommended that she store the bags in the fridge. If you have a pet with specialized needs, what is your plan to keep what you need ready to use over a period of a few days, with no water or electricity available?

Level Three: Manmade and Natural Disasters

What is added at this level, as Daisy describes it, is the potentially life-threatening nature of the situation. You may have massive flooding, or it may be a wildfire, or perhaps a chemical spill. There could be circumstances in which bugging in is safest, or circumstances where fleeing is your only option.

It is worthwhile to run through a number of scenarios to reflect on what you might do. If a disaster occurs while you are away from home, is your rendezvous point for the family at your home, where your pets are located? What if that area is not safe? Does your pet have its own bug-out bag? How many pounds or cans of food is it reasonable to contain in that? Can the pet carry its own bag, or have you spread its materials throughout the family bags? How able is your pet to be on the move? If you don’t know, is there some way that you could get more information on its strengths and limitations? If you have more than one pet, your thinking would need to extend to each of them and their own unique abilities and needs.

Level Four: All-Out SHTF

The nature of an all-out SHTF is its extreme nature and longevity. It could be different things: we are all in a long-term, slow-burning SHTF right now. It could be a hurricane that takes out the power for a year, as Daisy says, or perhaps war or even nuclear winter. What you can count on in this scenario is that your supplies will run out. You must depend on yourself, whether that be raising and hunting what food you need, or trading for it (a risky venture). 

If your pet food stash runs out, how familiar are you with what human foods your animal can eat? 

Dogs can eat most meats that humans can eat, and even grains such as corn and quinoa. Most people know that dogs can’t eat chocolate, which is toxic to them, but did you know that macadamia nuts are extremely poisonous to them? And almonds are potentially dangerous? Being well informed about what human foods your dog can eat could help it survive when standard pet food is not available. Here’s a link to a great article with details about what human foods dogs can and can’t eat by the American Kennel Club. You can also access a free e-book here on emergency first aid for dogs.

Cats can eat fewer human foods, as their diet needs to be mainly meat. Any non-meat treats need to be carefully rationed. For example, although broccoli is known to be a good vegetable for improving their stool if a cat has constipation or diarrhea, you should be aware that just a tiny half-inch square cube once or twice a week is all that is required! And be sure that it is cooked, too. 

Uncooked vegetables that are helpful cooked, like broccoli or pumpkin, could cause an obstruction that could be fatal if they are fed to your kitty uncooked. Check out this veterinarian-authored article to learn more about how to feed your cat human foods, and what foods it absolutely should NOT eat. 

Mental preparedness is key for these higher-level disasters. It is worthwhile to think through various scenarios and the needs of your pet. In a long-term SHTF where you have been forced to flee your home and your beloved preps, what are the advantages and disadvantages of being on the run with your dog, for example? Your dog could provide life-saving protection by alerting you to hostile threats, or even help to fight them off. Have you thought through how you might feed your canine companion in the absence of a pet food store? How much of your own food are you willing to give up for him or her? Keep in mind that you will not know when the disaster will end. 

In terms of a cat, if you are bugging in, they could provide highly valuable vermin control. However, if your cat is declawed or a terrible mouser to begin with (like my Aunt’s cat!), then will it earn its keep in meat? Your cat may be much smaller and eat less than a dog, but it can’t walk along like a dog can if you are on the run. Do you have a way to carry your cat if you need to flee, such as a lightweight fabric pack? Considering the possibility of being on the move or having transportation could help you be better prepared for anything.

Many people will feel that the companionship of their pet more than earns its keep. They might prepare differently than folks who take a pragmatic approach, like on the farm, where everyone earns their keep. Where would you draw the line? Consider if your preps reflect this line and if you have what you need to save the life of your pet in an extreme SHTF. 

Dr. Patrick Jones of The Homegrown Herbalist is a licensed veterinarian and naturopath. His website offers many examples of remarkable herbal canine life-saving treatments (cayenne pepper) and wound healing (comfrey, plantain, and other plants) that you could find both inspiring and informative.  CAUTION: THIS LINK CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES OF DOG WOUNDS 

Final Thoughts

In my own life, I don’t just think about SHTF and live in that. I live for today. Although I choose not to have pets at this time in my life, I have had pets that I loved very much. I believe that being happy today can also be considered a prep. So, having a pet that helps you maintain your mental health could be a crucial prep for many, no matter what challenges are faced during an all-out SHTF. 

SHTF and Your Pets: How Ready Are You?

Whether your pet is a liability or an asset during SHTF could depend partly on how prepared you are today. Are you ready for SHTF with your pet? Why or why not? Do you have a helpful preparation tip you can share with us? Please tell us in the comments section.

About Rowan

Rowan O’Malley is a fourth-generation Irish American who loves all things green: plants (especially shamrocks), trees, herbs, and weeds! She challenges herself daily to live her best life and to be as fit, healthy, and prepared as possible.

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