When Disaster Strikes: Your Dog's Safety Depends on Your Preparation
Living here in Harrisburg, we've all felt the ground shake during those unexpected earthquakes, watched floodwaters rise along the Susquehanna River, and seen severe thunderstorms tear through Central Pennsylvania. As someone who's lived through power outages that lasted days and watched neighbors scramble during emergency evacuations, I can tell you firsthand: having an emergency plan for your dog isn't optionalâit's essential.
Whether you're in Midtown Harrisburg or out in Camp Hill, your four-legged family member needs the same level of emergency planning as everyone else in your household. If you have a plan in place for you and your pets, you will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and worry when you need to make a decision during an emergency. If local officials ask you to evacuate, that means your pet should evacuate too. If you leave your pets behind, they may end up lost, injured or worse.
Know Your Local Emergency Veterinary Resources
Before any emergency strikes, you need to know exactly where to take your dog if they're injured or need urgent care. Here in the Harrisburg area, we're fortunate to have several excellent emergency veterinary facilities:
24-Hour Emergency Veterinary Hospitals
Shores Veterinary Emergency Center at 835 Sir Thomas Ct, Harrisburg, PA 17109 (717-798-8500) operates 24/7, 365 days a year and serves both cats and dogs. I've heard consistently good things from neighbors who've had to use their services during off-hours emergencies.
Hershey Animal Emergency Center at 1251 E Chocolate Ave, Hershey, PA 17033 (717-298-7883) is another 24-hour option that's about 20 minutes from central Harrisburg, making it accessible for folks in Hummelstown and eastern Dauphin County.
Daytime Emergency Options
During regular business hours, several local practices offer urgent care services. Animal Hospital of Dauphin County provides emergency care during regular business hours and can be reached at their Harrisburg Clinic at (717) 853-3581 or their Linglestown Clinic at (717) 864-4572.
Colonial Park Animal Clinic also provides emergency care when possible during their operating hours, and they recommend calling ahead to see if they can accommodate an emergency appointment.
Creating Your Dog's Emergency Supply Kit
Just like you keep emergency supplies for your family, your dog needs their own disaster kit. Think first about the basics for survival, such as food and water. Have two kits, one larger kit if you are sheltering in place and one lightweight version for if you need to evacuate.
Essential Supplies for Your Dog's Emergency Kit
Keep several days' supply of food in an airtight, waterproof container. Store a water bowl and several days' supply of water. I recommend at least a week's worth of both food and waterâyou never know how long you might be displaced.
Keep an extra supply of the medicine your pet takes on a regular basis in a waterproof container. This includes heartworm prevention, any prescription medications, and flea/tick preventatives.
Include a collar with ID tag and a harness or leash. Include a backup leash, collar and ID tag. I always keep an extra slip lead in our emergency kitâthey're lightweight and take up almost no space.
Additional items to include:
- First aid supplies recommended by your veterinarian
- Current photos of you with your dog
- Copies of vaccination records and medical information in waterproof containers
- Portable crate or carrier
- Waste bags and cleaning supplies
- Comfort items like a favorite toy or blanket
Identification: Your Dog's Ticket Home
Proper identification is absolutely crucial for reuniting with your dog if you become separated during an emergency. Make sure your pets are microchipped and have proper identification. This is the single most important step you can take to ensure that you and your companion animals will be reunited if you are separated.
Make sure your dog's collar has current ID tags with your cell phone number, and consider adding the number of an out-of-area contact. If you're staying at City Island during Kipona and severe weather hits, local phone lines might be overwhelmed, but that relative in Philadelphia might be reachable.
Keep your microchip registration current with your contact information. Many lost dogs end up at local shelters, and once animals are located and secured, they are transported to the Humane Society. The City of Harrisburg pays a fee for each animal turned in by the police, animal control officer, or citizen.
Evacuation Planning for Harrisburg Area Dog Owners
If you need to evacuate your home, your dog comes with youâperiod. The best way to ensure the safety of your pets is to EVACUATE THEM at the same time you evacuate. It is simply too dangerous to leave companion animals unattended during natural disasters.
Pet-Friendly Evacuation Destinations
Research pet-friendly accommodations before you need them. Many hotels along major evacuation routes like I-81 and I-83 accept pets during emergencies, even if they normally don't allow animals. Call ahead and ask about their emergency pet policy.
Consider making arrangements with friends or family outside the immediate Harrisburg area. Someone in Lancaster, York, or even Reading could be a lifesaver if local shelters are full.
If you're looking for emergency boarding during a disaster, Greenlin Pet Resorts in Camp Hill has excellent facilities and every staff member is trained in Pet CPR and First-Aidâin the rare event that a medical emergency arises, every Greenlin staff member has been trained in animal First-Aid and CPR to give life-saving care until the animal can be brought to emergency medical care.
Know Your Evacuation Routes
From downtown Harrisburg, your primary evacuation routes depend on the type of emergency:
- For flooding along the Susquehanna: Head west on I-76 or north on I-81
- For severe weather: I-283 south to I-83 can get you to York County quickly
- For industrial emergencies: Route 322 west toward State College provides distance from potential chemical hazards
Practice your evacuation route with your dog in the carrier or crate they'd travel in. Many dogs get car sick when stressed, so familiarity helps.
Sheltering in Place with Your Dog
Sometimes the safest option is staying put. If you're riding out a blizzard in your Allison Hill home or waiting for power restoration in Camp Hill, you'll need supplies to keep your dog safe and comfortable for an extended period.
Choose the safest room in your houseâtypically an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows. Your basement might work for some emergencies, but avoid it during flooding. Stock this area with your dog's emergency supplies.
Keep your dog calm by maintaining routines as much as possible. Feed them at regular times, provide exercise in safe areas, and keep them close to you for comfort.
Special Considerations for Central Pennsylvania
Winter Weather Preparedness
Our Central PA winters can be brutal. Keep extra bedding and even dog sweaters for smaller breeds. Rock salt and ice melt chemicals can burn paw pads, so have booties or be prepared to rinse paws after walks.
Power outages during ice storms can last for days. Battery-powered or hand-crank radios help you stay informed, and consider how you'll keep your dog warm if the heat goes out.
Flooding Along the Susquehanna
If you live near the river or in flood-prone areas like Steelton or parts of downtown Harrisburg, have a plan for rapid evacuation. Floodwaters rise fast, and roads become impassable quickly.
Never attempt to walk or drive your dog through floodwater. Just six inches of moving water can knock down a person, and contaminated floodwater poses serious health risks to both you and your dog.
Local Resources and Contact Information
Keep these important local numbers readily available:
Emergency Services
- Animal Control: Dauphin County Non-Emergency at 717-558-6900
- Harrisburg Police Department: 717-255-3131
- Emergency Management: 911
Animal Response Resources
Pennsylvania Animal Response Team (PART) coordinates animal emergency response efforts on the ground among government, corporate, and animal organizations and can be a valuable resource during large-scale disasters affecting our region.
Creating a Support Network
Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
Exchange keys with trusted neighbors who know your dog and can help in an emergency. If you work downtown and live in Mechanicsburg, that commute could become impossible during severe weatherâhaving someone nearby who can check on your dog provides peace of mind.
Consider joining local pet owner groups on social media. During the 2018 flooding, I saw neighbors helping neighbors through Facebook groups, sharing information about road closures, open shelters, and even pet-sitting arrangements.
Testing and Updating Your Emergency Plan
Practice your emergency plan regularly. Try loading your dog into their carrier or crate when they're not stressed. Time how long it takes to gather all emergency supplies. Update contact information and check expiration dates on food and medications every six months.
Review your kits regularly to ensure that their contents, especially foods and medicines, are fresh. I set reminders on my phone to check our kit during the spring and fall time changes.
After the Emergency: Recovery and Reunification
Once immediate danger has passed, your dog may need time to readjust. They might be clingy, have accidents in the house, or show other signs of stress. Maintain routines as much as possible and consider consulting with your veterinarian if behavioral changes persist.
If you become separated from your dog during an emergency, contact local shelters immediately. Check the Humane Society of Harrisburg, post on social media, and contact 717-558-6900 to report animal problems or to contact the Animal Control Officer.
Document any injuries or property damage with photos for insurance purposes, and keep all veterinary receipts related to emergency treatment.
Being prepared isn't about expecting the worstâit's about loving your dog enough to plan for their safety. Whether you're walking the Capital Area Greenbelt or enjoying a day at Riverfront Park, knowing you're prepared for emergencies lets you focus on making memories with your four-legged family member. Start building your emergency plan today, because when disaster strikes, there's no time to prepare.