Earthquake Safety for Pets

In light of the recent earthquake activity here in Southern California and around the world, some people may be wondering what the animals could possibly be thinking with all the shaking and rumbling going on. Since a client of mine contacted me this week about this very topic, I'd like to share my thoughts on what our pets may be experiencing during these moments.

Generally speaking, animals respond much like children: they look to their "parents" for ideas about what to do in certain situations. In Human Development terms, this is called "social referencing." When a parent is insecure or lacking confidence about something or someone, the child (and in this case, the pet) will pick up on this and follow suit by also displaying insecurity or discomfort from the situation. So, my advice to pet owners during times of natural disasters, or any other unnerving situation, is to stay calm, find the best place for safety, and always have an emergency plan in place. Many of us Californians have been told time and time again to be prepared and have a good supply of emergency items, such as a first aid kit, extra clothing, a cordless radio and batteries, food, and water. The same holds true for our pets: it is critical to also keep on hand extras of whatever your pets require (food, water, animal first aid kit, etc.).

To find out what the animals felt and thought about our recent earthquake, I decided to "interview" some animals. A beautiful 11 year-old horse--whose owner was with him during last weekend's EQ--told me he thought he was going to fall down, but he knew he'd be safe because his "mom" was with him; he also mentioned he had a dream that night about being swallowed up by the earth, but he knew he'd really be ok. My own dog, who is usually extremely sensitive to his environment, responded with: "what earthquake?" While many pet owners have witnessed an animal's nervous behavior prior to an earthquake, there are other animals who accept it without concern.

If you do find your pet acting strangely--and only you as a pet owner can distinguish what would be "strange" for your pet--I'd like to suggest that you observe and wait a bit before jumping to conclusions. Remember, the more frightened you become, the more your pet will feel cause to worry.

If you have further questions about this topic or other safety issues with pets, or if you have related stories to share, please feel free to contact me.