Pet owners seldom want to think about it—what if something happens to my pet? Oftentimes, they are unprepared for emergency situations because they never want to envision them.
Property teams never want to encounter an emergency situation, either. But they can take steps to ensure their residents have resources in the event of an unfortunate situation. Lost pets, injuries, and ailments all can occur, particularly at communities with robust pet populations.
As winter approaches, here are a few tips for property teams to ensure they are fully prepared for any pet-related emergencies:
Ensure Lost Pets Can Be Located
While microchipping is always recommended, there are some challenges that do not make them foolproof. For example, a pet’s finder must be willing to take the stray animal to a local veterinarian or shelter just to access an RFID hardware device required to locate and read the microchip. Even good samaritans can take pause in trying to capture, contain, and transport a stray animal. Oftentimes, pet owners forget to update their personal information with their microchip provider and must contact them to initiate a search, which can complicate things if they are not immediately available. More recently, pet owners have begun to use air tags, as well. Properties can include them as part of a welcome package for pets or have them available for a small fee.
Properties can also recommend free services such as FidoAlert or TabbyAlert, which utilize a customized tag with a QR code and unique 9-digit ID, making it simple for people to instantaneously report any found pets by contacting the pet’s owner via text message. Anyone with a lost pet can trigger an alert, which generates and texts a digital lost pet flier to anyone in the alert network within a few miles of where the pet escaped. Time is of the essence when dealing with lost pets and sending text messages ensures instantaneous and real-time communication with others nearby.
Make Sure Pet Owners Are Aware of Local Emergency Services
Injuries can range from minor to critical, but either way residents should know where they can take their pets for emergency care. Properties should make certain that pet owners are aware of any options in the area and even pass along recommendations for a preferred service. They can partner with local veterinarians as well and encourage residents to use them for routine services. Teams can also point pet owners toward online resources such as BetterPet, which discusses the most common pet emergencies and how pet owners should approach them. Of note for property owners, the platform also offers tips for how to be a good pet owner in an apartment setting.
Provide Resources for Any Seasonal or Mystery Illnesses
The term “mystery illness” might seem daunting and a little hyperbolic. But it occurred in 2023, when a respiratory illness later determined to be Atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (ACIRD) began affecting dogs in the United States. The origin of the multi-symptom ailment is unknown but believed to be related to a bacterium. In the event of a countrywide illness or something more localized, property teams should equip pet-owning residents with resources to ensure they are aware of its presence and can look for any signs. Partnerships with local vets can assist in procuring relevant information to pass along.
Issue Vaccination Reminders
Even good-intentioned pet owners can forget when vaccinations are due. Properties can promote a pet-responsible environment by creating a detailed profile for each pet when it arrives on-site, then reminding pet owners when any vaccinations or other important veterinary needs are upcoming. Digital pet profiles can be prompted to notify teams when any key dates are upcoming, ensuring team members never have to manually scour the profiles. A vaccination timeline in itself doesn’t constitute an emergency, of course, but it can help prevent severe ailments down the road.
No matter how healthy the pet or responsible the owner, emergencies happen. The steps taken immediately after can help determine how severe the circumstances will become. Property teams can help by being a key resource for pet owners whenever an adverse situation arises.
