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As many people on the East Coast brace themselves for the impact of Hurricane Irene, it’s important to plan ahead for the safety and well being of your pets. Our Essential Disaster Preparedness Guide is full of information on the things and items you need to include in your emergency kit. However, if you don’t have the luxury of time, here are the basics you need to know.

Take Your Pets With You

If it’s not safe for you to be in your home, it’s not safe for your pets either. The ASPCA is urging pet owners who plan to leave the path of Hurricane Irene to take their pets with them. either to a hotel or to a family member’s home. For a list of pet-friendly hotels you can search by route on the the  Trips with Pets website.

Bring the Essentials

Bring at least seven days of food and fresh water, sealed in air-tight containers, for each of your pets. Also be sure to bring a leash (and an extra if you have it) along with a pet-carrier or crate if possible. Don’t forget to bring any medicine your pet needs as well.

ID Your Pet

In addition to your pet’s regular collar and ID, it’s a good idea to attach a temporary pet ID tag to your pet that has your name, cell phone number, and address of where you are staying while you wait out the hurricane. Make sure you also put ID information on any pet carriers or crates that you have brought with you.

Connect

The Hurricane Irene 2011 Animal Resource page has been set up to help coordinate those who might need help with their pets, fosters, or rescues due to evacuations and for those who might be able to help during Hurricane Irene 2011.

Our hearts go out to all of those affected by Hurricane Irene.

We asked our Tails readers to vote the best animal-related services and products in their local communities for our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. And just like in past years, tens of thousands of enthusiastic pet lovers logged in to TailsInc.com to vote for their favorites.

Of course everyone at Tails couldn’t have been more pleased with the responses — until we realized we had to count all the submissions!

Thanks to lots of calculators, coffee, and counting parties, we plowed through all the entries to present the Charlotte winners of the 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards. Here they are:

BEST VET

WINNER:
North Wake Animal Hospital
(919) 556-1121

RUNNER-UP:
Mint Hill Animal Clinic
(704) 545-3422
MintHillAnimalClinic.com

OTHER FAVORITES:
Newport Vet
Banfield-Knightdale
Blum

BEST DOG WALKING/SITTER SERVICE

WINNER:
Paws, Claws, Fins & Feathers

RUNNER-UP:
Pet Pals of Winchester

OTHER FAVORITES:
Pooch Hotel West Loop
Carolina Critter Sitters
Dog Walk

BEST PET BOUTIQUE

WINNER:
Yuppy Puppy
(803) 980-7387

RUNNER-UP:
Impeccable Paws
(702) 892-6330
ImpeccablePaws.com

OTHER FAVORITES:
Phydeaux

BEST PET PHOTOGRAPHER

WINNER:
Modern Life Photo

RUNNER UP:
McGraw Photography
(704) 726-1233
McGrawPhotography.com

BEST PET-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

WINNER:
Hugo’s
(704) 523-8269

BEST GROOMER

WINNER:
Yuppy Puppy
(803) 980-7387

RUNNER-UP:
PetSmart
(888) 839-9638
PetSmart.com

BEST OVERNIGHT BOARDING/DOGGIE DAYCARE

WINNER:
Suite Paws of Raleigh NC
(919) 231-1112
SuitePaws.com

RUNNER-UP:
Pooch Hotel West Loop

OTHER FAVORITES:
Newport Vet
(803) 366-2123

BEST PET BAKERY

WINNER:
Canine Café
(704) 588-3647
CanineCafe.net

BEST DOG FOOD

WINNER:
Halo
(800) 426.4256
HaloPets.com

RUNNER-UP:
Instinct
(888) 519-7387
NaturesVariety.com

OTHER FAVORITES:
Wellness

BEST CAT FOOD

WINNER:
Halo
(800) 426.4256
HaloPets.com

RUNNER-UP:
Instinct
(888) 519-7387
NaturesVariety.com

OTHER FAVORITES:
Blue Buffalo

BEST DOG TREATS

WINNER:
Buddy Biscuits
(800) 361-9079
CloudStar.com

RUNNER-UP:
Halo
(800) 426.4256
HaloPets.com

OTHER FAVORITES:
Newman’s Own

BEST CAT TREAT

WINNER:
Halo
(800) 426.4256
HaloPets.com

As many pet-owners know, proper pet-care can be an expensive pursuit. For example, I recently took my cat to the vet to treat a urinary tract infection and managed to rack-up a bill to the tune of almost $200.

Currently, pet care costs are non-tax deductible— but under the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act, individuals could deduct up to $3500 a year for “qualified pet care expenses.”

“HAPPY,” or more specifically, “H.R. 3501,” was introduced by Michigan Representative Thaddeus McCotter, and would cover expenses related to pet care as well as veterinary care, but not the cost of adopting or buying an animal, given that your pet is a “legally owned, domesticated, live animal,” according to The Examiner.

Utilizing the tax code properly not only encourages responsible pet ownership by making it more affordable for pet owners to provide adequate veterinary and other necessary pet care, but also reduces the abandonment and unessesary euthanization of pets by people struggling financially as a result of the economic recession.

You can let your representatives know that you appreciate their efforts to support responsible pet ownership by asking them to consider H.R. 3501 favorably.

This bill is currently being considered by the House Ways and Means Committee.

Tucked into a scenic corner of Hoke County, NC, the Haven-Friends for Life shelter adopts out an average of 2,000 animals a year. However, the hardworking folks at this shelter have until September 1 to raise $60,000 to finish renovating the dog runs and shelters to meet state requirements. If the Haven does not meet the deadlines, they could face up to $5,000 in fines.

When completed, the new Haven will resemble a small town.  A warmly painted adoption center will welcome in visitors to view the cats and dogs inside. Around the adoption center, four cat-homes will have attached porches and fenced in yards to allow the felines to come in and out as they please. The facility will also include updated outdoor kennels and a state-of-the-art quarantine center.

The Haven is one of the largest no-kill shelters in the state, taking in animals of all ages and aliments. The Haven’s mission is to end the needless euthanasia of adoptable companion animals and educate the public on proper animal care and responsibility. Through their partnership with animal control and humane organizations across the state, the euthanasia rate in some counties has been reduced by as much as 50 percent.

Since its founding in 1996, the Haven has performed more than 22,000 spay/neuter surgeries and completed more than 25,000 adoptions. The shelter serves more than 3,000 homeless animals each year.

Unlike many no-kill shelters, the Haven takes in special-needs animals, including Emmy Lou, a dog with paralyzed back legs that zips around the shelter in a special-made wheelchair. The Haven also takes in orphaned puppies and kittens that require formula feeding and extra socialization time.

Needing all the help they can get to continue their work, you can make donations to the sanctuary at TheHaven-FriendsForLife.org. –Valerie Lute