Pet Emergency Kits Barking up the Right Tree

Pet Emergency Kits have Kiwi Start-up Barking up the Right Tree

Two Christchurch women have developed emergency kits for pets to ensure pet owners have all the essentials on hand should they need to evacuate the house suddenly.

Co-founder of Project Sooty Paws, Juanita Farrell says the anxiety of an emergency is considerably heightened by not being prepared.

“Images in national and international media frequently show people and pets being evacuated from their homes: people carrying as little as a plastic bag over one shoulder and their pet over the other. It’s absolutely devastating,” Juanita said.

With fellow-animal lover and business partner Pauline Wright, dog- and cat-specific emergency kits were developed last year after extensive research into the current marketplace, tailored to help alleviate the stress a pet owner is faced with during a sudden departure from the norm.

Both have first-hand experience, Juanita recalling her heavy emergency kit during the Christchurch earthquakes and the 10,000 aftershocks that followed, being a large plastic tub which she still has to this day.

“It was so big I could have taken a bath in it! There is no way I could have evacuated carrying the tub and my dog Bailey. I often used to sit there and think to myself ‘how could I have done this better?’”

Pauline had a similar experience.

“When the Christchurch earthquake struck, I did not have an emergency kit. I remember running around the house preparing for evacuation and ended up with three suitcases for myself plus my cat, which was totally unrealistic as outside of the house, water and liquefaction were up to my knees, so I was only going to be able to evacuate with one bag thrown over my shoulders”, she said.

The kits take the guesswork and chance out of the organising, including essential items such as a pet first aid kit, fold up bowls, pet toys, microfibre pet towel, document pouch, torch and water purifying tablets, all in a distinctive 20lt waterproof bag that can be carried on your back.

“Our catchphrase is ‘Prepare yourself, prepare your family, prepare your pets’. If you are prepared, your pets have a much greater chance of survival,” said Juanita.

The pair has also developed a human version of the emergency kit, and while available already via the Project Sooty Paws website, the kits will soon be available through Amazon USA, Australia and UK. 10% of proceeds from emergency kit sales goes into a ‘Disaster Bucket’ to support pets and fire fighters during disasters, as they are often involved in the actual rescue of abandoned animals.

For more information and images:

juanita@projectsootypaws.org

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