FIDO/FLUFFY: Most of the country is ready in case there is an emergency — ready in regard to the humans in their home, anyway. How many are ready in an emergency with all their pet might need? Below are a few pieces all pet parents might want to begin gathering and adding to the family emergency stash. Supply kits for pets should include the following items:

Pet food and water

Copies of vaccine records and medical history

Leashes and collars with up-to-date information on tags

Kitty litter and litter pan

Blanket that smells like home

Another good piece of equipment to have on hand, a sturdy crate or carrier that the furbaby feels safe inside.

While we are on the topic of pets and keeping them safe, pet parents should know the signs of heatstroke as summer moves into the area. AAA East Central lists the following symptoms for dogs and cats:

Excessive drooling

Reddened gums and tongue

Wobbly, uncoordinated movement

When it is 90 degrees outside, inside a vehicle, in the sun, temps can exceed 130 degrees. Please, do not leave four-legged loved ones in vehicles; even leaving them in a vehicle while running errands, taking a break at a rest stop during a road trip or for any other reason, can have deadly consequences; according to AAA.

“Animals left in hot cars can face irreversible organ damage, heat stroke, brain damage and, in extreme cases, death…are also at a more severe rate of risk with factors like age (very young, very old), obesity, poor heart/lung conditioning, short-nosed or flat-faced breed, or have a thick hair coat.”