With the current pandemic taking place, I would like to get information out to all of you that I hope will be of some use.
First and foremost, do not panic. With everything evolving and changing daily, panic would be easy, but panic only gets us more panic. Panic clouds our judgements and can result in less than smart and productive decision making. Please try and push whatever panic you are feeling aside. Focus on what you should be doing right now to make sure that you and your dogs get thru this current crisis with your health/your dog’s health intact.
It’s okay to feel stressed. It’s okay to worry. Don’t let emotions deter you from making decisions that are important to you, your family and your dogs.
I know that I sound like a broken record here but being prepared for ANY disaster (even this one) takes some thought and some planning. I would encourage you to look at the information already posted on our website. (https://bullmastiff.us/health-rescue/disaster-preparedness/) There are some really useful lists. Some items you might not have thought about before to have on hand.
- If you do not already have a supply of food/water/medications and other essentials in your home. PLEASE try and do so now. You should have at least a 2 weeks supply of water for you, and your dogs on hand. You should have food/medications on hand for at least 2 weeks. If you can have more than that, it is certainly better.
Because I live in a major earthquake area, I’ve already gathered my 1-month supply of things. Yes…you read that correctly…ONE MONTH. That means food for the dogs/parrots/chickens and us. Despite what you have previously been told 2 weeks is simply not enough to survive (if you must) on your own. Don’t forget to fill the pet’s prescriptions! My vet filled for three months.
I added more water and nonperishable food/dog food/chicken food/parrot food so that now, if needed, we will be okay for 2 months. I urge you all to do the same thing.
I DO NOT advocate panic shopping. There are many people who need things too. These are our neighbors, and they are just as stressed (and yes, as scared) as some of us are. PLEASE BE KIND. Don’t take away from your neighbors but do buy a few extra items as you can. Put them away, don’t use them unless you really must. Get that extra bag or two of dog food, buy those extra few canned items or dry goods! Make a list TODAY of items that you can pick up this weekend.
Don’t be jerks who fill their carts with things because they are scared out of their minds and have no thought to their fellow human beings. Just be sensible and get what you can, set the things away and HOPE that you won’t need to use them.
I have seen over the past few days things that I never thought I’d see. At work, new protocols are in place to monitor our health throughout the day. In public, things like bare store shelves. These visuals can be truly scary.
- Please…take a deep breath.
- Get your plan in place, get your supplies in
- and do that with compassion. Take what you need, leave the rest for your neighbors.
It only takes ONE day for panic to set in (the empty shelves at the stores) this is because…. PEOPLE ARE NOT PREPARED. This information is not to alarm people but make your plan for sheltering in place. IF you have your plan and supplies in place, while scary, this is something that we can all get through.
I am always available for questions via e-mail: Taif1995@comcast.net
Be safe. Be good neighbors. Be prepared. We will all get through this!
– Shanita Duke
About Shanita:
I am the Disaster Preparedness Chair for the ABA. I have been in the bullmastiff breed for almost 30yrs now. For 16yrs I worked as a Vet Tech in Arizona, both in private practice and in a large shelter medicine setting. When I left Arizona to move north, I took a job as an Animal Control Officer here in Washington State. I work directly out of a Police Department there. In addition to my Animal Control duties I am also responsible for other duties inside the department. These past 15yrs working in this job has given me a lot of insight into all that goes into being a first responder.
