First Steps In Preparing for the unexpected --- your sudden death, hospitalization, or incapacitation

Carry A Wallet Alert Card --- Put together a small card with the following

If I am unable to return home to care for my (number) pets because of death or hospitalization, please immediately contact:
(Name #1, Address, Phone #)
Or
(Name #2, Address, Phone #)
To arrange for the care of my pets located at
(Your Address/Phone #)

The named persons should be responsible individuals, willing to provide temporary care for your pets in the event of an emergency. They should have a key to your home and know where to access feeding and care instructions, your veterinarian’s name, and your arrangements for longer care or other permanent provisions. Ideally, they should have each other’s phone numbers, so they can coordinate their help efforts.

Besides naming emergency contacts, keep a readily accessible list of the pets that are at home, so someone will know how to care for them. Put a note on your refrigerator or on a central house message board stating where the Pet ID Files are located

Set Up Your Pet ID System
1. Take a picture of each pet.
2. On the back, write the pet’s name, date of birth, and age at which the picture was taken. 
3. Write down some basics
·         Signalment: Species, Breed, Color, Sex, spayed/neutered?, microchip or tattoo number, distinguishing marks --- especially if you have two pets that look similar.
·         Personality
·         Quirks: important social or behavior issues to note (i.e., thunderstorm anxiety, dislikes [other] cats, litter preferences)
·         Tricks or commands that your pet knows
·         Basic diet and amounts, frequency; favorite treats
·         Medications
·         Health Issues
·         Veterinarian, name, number, address
·         Complete vaccination record
·         Location/existence of leashes, beds, carriers, litterboxes
4. Clip or staple these together.
5. Keep it in an accessible place.

You want to provide enough information to cover basic care, things that could put your pet at ease, and, if needed, allow for a smooth transition to a new or foster home. While you can do this on the computer, make IDs instantly accessible to the computer illiterate with paper records.