00:00September is National Preparedness Month and the goal is to help you prepare for any disasters
00:06or emergencies. For pet owners, that means making a plan to keep you and your pets safe.
00:11It was since 2008 Florida-based Big Dock Ranch Rescue has saved more than 60,000 dogs. Founder
00:18and CEO Lori Simmons joins us now. Yes, normally she has a pet when we checked in with her just
00:25to get the connection. I didn't see, but now we've got a sweet little puppy there for you.
00:29Yes, Lori, we have little Miso joining us today. Miso, love the name. Miso, love Miso. Yes,
00:37yeah. All right, so of course we're talking all things tropics here with impacts from what will
00:43be a hurricane later this week. So how are you all getting prepared and what should pet owners
00:48be doing now to plan for the potential threats? Well, as you know, we usually lead dog and animal
00:56rescue for many national disasters. We prepare year-round to respond wherever we are needed.
01:05Instructing staff that will be deployed in safety during these disasters are key.
01:13And making sure our transport vehicles are in good shape, stockpiling food and medical supplies
01:20to be able to help where needed. But pet owners can prepare themselves for the unexpected by
01:27taking several important steps. First, make sure you have all of your pet's records and vet records
01:36and medications. Second, make sure you have enough food and water to care for your pet
01:43for at least seven days. If your dog's sensitive to loud noises,
01:50look into thunder jackets, blankets that can provide additional comfort during the storm
01:59and maybe have some medication on hand if your dog has storm anxiety in case they need it.
02:07If you're evacuating, choose your destination before the storm hits and get out in time.
02:15If you're evacuating to a shelter or a hotel or relative's home, make sure before you go they
02:23allow pets. Your rescue teams have helped save so many pets over the years. In an emergency situation,
02:32how do they mobilize and help and how do you reunite lost pets with their owners?
02:39Well, if this new storm coming up that's supposed to be going to hit the panhandle as of now,
02:45it looks like it can be a really bad one. We are going to need an army of fosters
02:52because both of our shelters in Alabama and in Palm Beach County are full. With the ongoing
02:59crisis right now, with the economy and inflation, every shelter everywhere in the south, every
03:07rescue is at max capacity. So signing up beforehand to be a foster home for when we do evacuate these
03:16animals is key. Donating to bdrr.org so that we can buy the necessary supplies and pull off the
03:29missions needed are a huge help. Laura Simmons, founder and CEO of Big Dog Ranch Rescue. Thanks
03:37for everything you guys do and thanks so much for joining us this morning. And thank you so
03:41much for keeping everybody informed and let's all hope we're all going to be safe.
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