In our modern world, preppers need to be concerned with guns, ammunition, food, gasoline, medical supplies… the list goes on and its daunting. But don’t forget about the family pets. An often overlooked and very helpful resource to your preps is a dog. In our everyday lives, a dog is a loyal companion, an early warning system, a vermin eradication system, a pack animal, and much more… in a SHTF scenario, a dog can be a life saver for all those reasons but to a much greater degree. There is also something very comforting about having your best friend by your side in a disaster knowing they will do their best to take care of you… you owe it to them to take care of them in return. With some basic preps, you can do just that.
First and foremost, pick up some basic supplies for your dog. Food is number one… you may have a years’ worth of freeze dried food in your basement for each person in your house, but how much do you have stored for your dog? I suggest picking up a minimum of six months worth of food and store it in a cool dry place. Rotate it the same way you rotate the human food you have stored (first in, first out).
My food is stored in buckets and Rubbermaid containers next in my pantry… I even built a cabinet to fit dog food storage under it. Next, get a kennel that you can transport and house your dog in. In a
Involve your dog in outdoor activities.…
especially activities where he has to pull or carry more than his own weight
This brings us to the next topic, you should include your dog in your buggout training. An untrained/uncooperative dog can make a bad situation much, much worse. Imagine trying to leave your home because of an impending brush fire only to have Fido not willing to get into a car because its new and scary… leaving him behind would break your families hearts. Get him used to jaunts away from home… go hiking, for long walks, camping, boating, etc. with your dog and make him a true part of the family. Get them used to car rides, either in a back seat or in a kennel. Some dogs hate to be in a car… they are only in them to go the vet or the boarding kennel or other unhappy places so it makes sense. Take them on car rides to fun places and this aversion should subside. If they are severely averse to car rides,
Make your dog a part of your preps… and take steps now to ensure you will both be safe and sound if a catastrophe strikes.