By KRISTEN LEVINE
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA - Imagine having to describe your pet with enough detail to identify it among thousands of lost family pets.

That’s what happened last year to survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

After reading “The Sorrow Is in the Details,” by Nancy Lawson in April’s Animal Sheltering magazine, I found myself trying to recall - without looking - every little mark, bump or imperfection I might use to describe my beloved dogs, Zeke and Buck.

Here are some excerpts from lost reports submitted to animal-rescue workers, reported by the magazine:

“Has a white smiley patch on the tummy.”

“Wearing light purple bows on the ears.”

“Has a crook at the end of her tail.”

“Hawaiian flowers on the collar.”

Details such as these may be the only key to finding your pet, unless you prepare.

Unable to imagine the heartache so many pet owners suffered after Katrina, I knew I needed to revisit our family disaster plan.

In all honesty, my husband and I have indignantly stated we will never evacuate without our dogs, but, I realized, we didn’t have a plan. We do now. So should every pet owner.

Hurricane season began Thursday, so if you don’t have a plan, it’s time to make one to protect every member of your household: human, furry, finned or feathered.

Never Leave Pets At Home

Those words sum up the most important message. An estimated 600,000 animals died or were left without shelter because of Katrina, the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus reported. The lack of pet-rescue planning also endangered pet owners.

The first step is to find out if your residence is in an evacuation zone and, if so, which level. This will determine if and when you would have to leave your home when a storm approaches. County emergency management offices will provide this information.

You may be able to wait out the storm in a public shelter, but very few shelters allow pets. Hillsborough and Pinellas counties each have only one shelter that allows pets, and reservations are necessary. Also, most animal shelters won’t accepts pets; they already have hundreds of homeless pets to protect.

There are basically two choices to make when evacuating: Take the pets with you or arrange to keep them at a safe haven until you can be reunited.

Ideally, pets should stay with you whenever possible. Plan to go to a friend’s or relative’s home, making sure in advance you and your pets are welcome. An alternative might be pet-friendly hotels or motels outside the evacuation zone. Call now to make tentative reservations pending a storm evacuation. Check hotel policies on accepting pets and any restrictions regarding the size or species of animals allowed. For information, go to http://www.petswelcome. com or http://www.spcatampabay. org.

If you have difficulty finding a place to house you and your pets together, make arrangements at a veterinary office or boarding facility near your home, but be sure it is outside the evacuation zone. The closer you can stay to your pet, the better. This way, if you cannot return home for days or weeks, you can visit the pet regularly to reassure it.

Get Pets Ready Now

Once you decide where to take your pet, put together a pet survival kit to keep in a portable, waterproof container (see accompanying list).

Be sure each pet is current on vaccinations, and obtain copies of these records from your veterinarian’s office. Put records in a sealable plastic bag for safekeeping. Take an updated photo of your pet, and include the picture with the health records. It’s a good idea to write your pet’s name along with your name and contact information on the back of the photo.

Have your pet microchipped at your veterinarian’s office or a chipping clinic. This is the best permanent identification you can provide your pet. However, it is not a replacement for readily identifiable tags on your pet’s collar (be sure they are readable).

Provide your pet a secure carrier or collapsible crate roomy enough for it to comfortably stand up and turn around. In extreme cases, the pet may spend several hours at a time housed in a crate for safety. Pack leashes and collars, making sure ID tags are secure.

Store a sufficient supply of food and potable water to last at least two weeks for each pet. Keep food and medication in watertight containers and place them in a cool, dark, dry place for storage.

Storm Safety At Home

Even if you are not required to evacuate, you must plan for your pet’s care - you may not be permitted to leave your home for several days or weeks after a hurricane.

Keep collars with current identification on pets at all times and, again, have plenty of food and potable water. Provide the animal a secure environment, such as a crate or kennel in a safe, quiet part of the house. Pets become stressed easily during trying times and will appreciate a private spot to relax.

During and after a storm, always accompany your pet when it goes outside to relieve itself. Normal landmarks and scent trails may be altered, causing the pet confusion and anxiety.

Horses And Livestock

The safest place for large animals to weather a storm is in a large pasture - not inside a barn. The pasture should have no overhead power lines and be free of debris that can become airborne in high winds. Ideally it should be fenced with woven wire fencing instead of dangerous barbed wire or boards that can loosen and be blown about.

If you do not have access to a large, clean pasture, there are evacuation parks set aside for horses. Space is limited, so horse owners are encouraged to evacuate early to ensure availability. Additionally, horse trailers are considered high-profile vehicles; they are not safe on the road if winds exceed 30 mph. Pay attention to weather advisories before transporting horses.

The Sunshine State Horse Council offers a searchable database of evacuation sites at http://www.sshc.org.

Write to pet-lifestyle expert Kristen Levine at Fetching Communications, P.O. Box 222, Tarpon Springs FL 34688; e-mail ; or fax to (727) 934-6451.

PET SURVIVAL KIT

A disaster planning brochure is available online at http://www.spcatampabay.org or http://www.hsus.org. Pack these items in your pet survival kit (place proper ID on belongings):

Collar with tags and sturdy leash (for dogs)

Harness with tags and leash (for cats)

Medical records and vaccination history

Medications and specific dispensing instructions

Current photo of pet with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address on back

First-aid kit (available at most pet-supply centers)

Carrier or crate for transportation

Food (two-week supply) in an airtight container

Potable water (two-week supply)

Manual can opener (if you feed canned food)

Plastic, sealable bags for treats, medical records, etc.

Cat litter, liners and pan

Plastic trash bags for waste

Newspapers and paper towels for cleanup

Brushes for grooming

Toys and special comfort items

Muzzle, if necessary

Important contact information

Sources: SPCA Tampa Bay; Humane Society of the United States

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Hillsborough County Emergency Management: (813) 272-6900; http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/ home.cfm

Pinellas County Emergency Management: (727) 464-3800; http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/default.htm

Southwest Florida Water Management District (for flood plain information): 1-800-423-1476; http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us

Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (for storm-surge maps): http://www.tbrpc.org

ANIMAL SHELTERS

Note: These shelters are not for pet evacuations.

Hillsborough County Animal Services: (813) 744-5660, http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices

Humane Society of Pinellas: (727) 797-7722, http://www.humanesocietyofpinellas.org

Humane Society of Tampa Bay: (813) 876- 7138, http://www.humanesocietytampa.org

Pinellas County Animal Services: (727) 682-2600, http://www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices

SPCA Tampa Bay: (727) 586-3591, http://www.spcatampabay.org