The mission of the Red Cross is to help our community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. And we do not forget about our faithful four-footed friends.

Now is the time for you to develop an emergency plan for your pets before a disaster or emergency occurs. You can begin by taking some simple steps.

Make sure that your pets are current on their vaccinations. Pet shelters may require proof of vaccines. Keep these records with your personal papers in your home disaster kit. Have a current photograph; you may need to make a “lost” poster or place an ad in the local newspaper.

Keep a collar with identification on your pet and have a leash on hand to control your pet. Your pet may be friendly under normal situations, but in a mass group, even the best pet can become unstable and scared and can act out. Have a properly sized pet carrier for each animal; carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand and turn around. This will protect both your pet and other people.

Plan your evacuation strategy and don't forget your pet. Think strategically about what to do with your pet in a disaster situation. Red Cross shelters cannot accept pets; you need to be prepared. Specialized pet shelters, animal control shelters, veterinary clinics and friends and relatives out of harm's way are all a potential refuge for your pet during a disaster. Pet shelters will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Call ahead and determine availability.

If you plan to shelter your pet - work it into your evacuation route planning. Bring pets indoor well in advance of a storm; reassure them and remain calm. They do not know what is going on and may act out.

After the storm or emergency has passed, walk pets on a leash until they become re-oriented to their home. Often familiar scents and landmarks may be altered or missing and pets could easily be confused and become lost. Remember downed power lines, reptiles brought in with high water and debris can pose a threat for animals after a disaster. Always check out an area before you or your pet goes outside.

If pets cannot be found after a disaster, contact the local animal control office to find out where lost animals can be recovered. Bring along that picture of your pet. A severe storm is traumatic for animals. After a disaster, animals can become aggressive or defensive - monitor their behavior.

Your pet may also need first aid or CPR at some time. The Cayuga County Chapter offers Pet First Aid classes throughout the year. The next session is scheduled from 6 to 10 a.m. Thursday, July 17, at the chapter. The cost is $20 and includes a manual and hands on experience with dog and cat mannequins.

Participants will learn how to recognize emergencies, perform rescue breathing and CPR, prepare pets for disasters and deal with choking, cardiac arrest, burns, eye emergencies, sudden illness and poisoning. Also ways to deal with sunstroke and other heat related troubles for animals will be taught, which is perfect as we head into the hot summer months. There are also Pet First Aid kits available for sale during the class; the cost is $20.

Please leave your buddy at home; this is an intensive course. A trained Red Cross instructor will teach each course. Registration is requested one week before class starts.

Susan Marteney is executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross.