A sudden hospitalization creates an immediate, time-sensitive problem for pet owners living alone: who feeds and cares for your pet today, not next week.
The essentials
- A designated emergency pet caregiver who has a key or access, and has already agreed to the role
- A pet care card (feeding schedule, medications, vet contact) posted at home where a first responder or that caregiver would find it
- Your pet's information included in your own emergency file, so anyone responding to you also knows to arrange for your pet
Some Area Agencies on Aging and local shelters offer emergency pet fostering specifically for hospitalized owners — worth researching and saving the contact number in advance.