AKC REUNITE ENCOURAGES OWNERS TO HAVE A PLAN ON NATIONAL ANIMAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS DAY

RALEIGH, N.C., May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AKC Reunite, the largest non-profit pet identification and recovery service provider in the United States, recognizes today, May 8^th as National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day and we encourage all dog owners to make sure they are ready for the unexpected when it comes to their pets.

As natural disasters increase in frequency and intensity, it's more important than ever to have a disaster preparedness plan in place—for every member of your family, including your pets. Emergencies can happen without warning, and having a clear, pet-inclusive plan ensures your animals stay safe whether you need to evacuate or shelter-in-place.

"When disaster strikes, chaos follows—and in those critical moments, having a plan can be the difference between safety and heartbreak," said Tom Sharp, CEO of AKC Reunite. "National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day is a powerful reminder that our pets rely on us to be ready. At AKC Reunite, we urge every pet owner to build a plan, because in times of crisis, preparation isn't just peace of mind—it's protection."

AKC Reunite encourages all pet owners to review their emergency kits, keep up-to-date ID and microchip information on hand, and work with local emergency management officials to stay informed and ready.

We encourage you to use this day to:

• Review your family's emergency response plans for natural disasters.
  
  
• Share resources with your community about creating a pet emergency kit.
  
  
• Ensure your pets are microchipped and enrolled in a 24/7 recovery service like AKC Reunite. Also, be sure to keep the contact information in the microchip profile up-to-date.

Key tips from AKC Reunite for you and your pets:

• Assemble a portable disaster supply kit including food, water, medications, identification, and important documents for each pet.
  
  
• Identify pet-friendly shelters and evacuation routes ahead of time.
  
  
• Have a printed photo of your pet with you in case you are separated.
  
  
• Practice your emergency plan with your pets.

Find additional resources and a downloadable Pet Emergency Guide at akcreunite.org.

Learn more about pet disaster preparedness at www.akcreunite.org/relief. 

AKC Reunite
The way home for lost pets.

AKC Reunite, an affiliate of the American Kennel Club®, is the largest non-profit pet microchip identification and recovery service provider in the United States. Since 1995 AKC Reunite has helped pet owners reunite with their lost animals via identification and 24/7 pet recovery specialists, enrolling over 10 million companion animals and recovering more than 650,000 lost pets. AKC Reunite microchips are a popular choice of pet professionals throughout the country for permanent pet identification.

AKC Reunite has donated more than $10 million since 2002 for pet-related causes including disaster preparedness and relief like the AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer donation program. AKC Reunite also has the Adopt a K-9 Cop matching grant program to help police departments acquire new K-9 officers.  For more information visit www.akcreunite.org or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/akcreunite).

SOURCE AKC Reunite