SPCA Tampa Bay

Hurricane Preparedness: A Resource for You and Your Clients

As we enter the 2025 hurricane season, SPCA Tampa Bay has created this messaging to support you—our local veterinary professionals—with timely and practical information to help protect pets in our community. This content is designed for flexible use: share it with clients, adapt it for your clinic’s website or social media, use it in your newsletter, or simply keep it as a reference for emergency-related discussions with pet owners.

Key Preparedness Reminders for Clients:

As a trusted resource, you’re often the first person pet owners turn to for guidance. Here are the key talking points to share:

Pet Identification

• All pets should wear a collar with an ID tag that includes current contact information.
• Microchipping is strongly recommended, and owners should ensure contact details are up to date in the microchip registry.
• Temporary ID tags with evacuation-specific contact info are also useful during storms.

Pet Emergency Kit Essentials
Encourage clients to prepare a kit that includes:

• 7 days’ worth of food and water
• Medications and copies of prescriptions
• Vaccination records
• A sturdy crate or carrier
• Familiar comfort items (toys, bedding)
• Litter and cleaning supplies
• A recent photo of their pet (for ID if separated)

Planning Ahead

• Help clients identify pet-friendly shelters or boarding options before a storm hits.
• Remind them to never leave pets behind during an evacuation.
• Share resources to help them “know their zone” and understand local evacuation requirements.

We’ve compiled additional tools and printable checklists you can share or display in your clinic here:
https://spcatampabay.org/hurricane-prep-for-pets

How to Use This Resource:
Whether you’re looking to engage your clients, educate your team, or advocate for proactive planning, this messaging is ready for you to:

• Copy/paste into newsletters
• Print for front desk or waiting area handouts
• Adapt for social media content
• Reference during wellness exams or pre-season conversations

If there’s anything we can provide to better support your outreach—custom versions, co-branded content, or topic suggestions—please let us know. Thank you for all you do to keep our community’s pets safe and cared for.

Cyndi Mitchell, DVM
Executive VP of Programs & Chief Veterinary Officer
Phone 727-586-3591  –  Web spcatampabay.org  
9099 130^th Avenue North, Largo FL 33773