Your hurricane plan should include your pets as pets are people too. Before a hurricane nears, decide where your pet will stay and determine the items needed and map out a plan.Our family has a small dog, a black and white Boston terrier named Isabelle. We consider her a member of our family so if a hurricane or storm prevails she is safe inside, probably watching television or playing cards with us, sitting under my writing chair or curled up against my daughter while she does homework or recreational reading.

Many pets, especially dogs, seem frightened of thunder and lightning so you may need to give your pet extra emotional support and comfort by stroking and keeping your pet near you.

If you plan to stay with family, friends, or in a hotel, make sure your pet is welcome. If you plan to bring your pet to a veterinary clinic or boarding facility, be sure to contact them early enough so you can reserve a space for your pet.

Make sure to have your pet vaccinated by mid-May, and gather all vaccination papers and identification, including pictures of your pet.

If you are considering spaying or neutering your pet do so before hurricane storms generally occur - between June 1 and November 30.

Plan Ahead: Be sure to stock up on food, pet treats, medications your pet may need, in addition to pet toys or accessories. For example, Isabelle has two thin cotton baby blankets which I picked up at a garage sale and she loves sleeping on them. She is forever walking around the house with them on her back like a little horse.

If your pet is small, you should have a carrier ready for transporting it. Always keep a collar with an ID on your dog or cat; and keep a leash nearby. It is also a good idea to keep updated pictures of your pet with your hurricane supply kit.

During the storm:

It isn't necessarily safe to leave your pet home in a secure room. Some experts say that if you must, confine it to a pet carrier in a bathroom. I would leave it in the bathroom totally unconfined. Be sure to leave plenty of food, water, and other toys your pet feels comfortable with.

After the storm:

Use caution when allowing your pet outdoors. Any scents that were familiar before the storm may be different or unnoticeable. There may be downed powerlines, broken glass or other hazards that could present real dangers to your pet. Beware of food or water outside your home which may be contaminated.

When we walk Isabelle along the shore she is forever attracted to sniffing old dead fish that's washed up especially if it is entangled in a batch of washed up rope.

If you have lost your pet, act quickly by contacting veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, and the SPCA. This is why those pictures of your pet are very important. Be sure to do the same if you find someone else's lost pet.