Pet Product News Staff May 19, 2020 / — To help pet owners prepare for unexpected events or a crisis, Independent Pet Partners (IPP) has launched the “Things My Human Knows” custom caregiver guide.
The customizable manual—created in collaboration with pet owners, veterinarians and other professionals—is a sharable “pep prep” guide for pet owners to document pet information such as name and nicknames; feeding directions related to food and nutrition; exercise routine and bathroom habits; commands, house rules, social skills and temperament; and playtime preferences and toys. Owners are also prompted to fill out important information such as veterinarian contacts and microchip details.
“Our pets are a valuable part of our lives and families yet having a plan in place for their care during unexpected or even expected circumstances is often overlooked,” said Tricia Nichols, chief marketing officer of New York-based IPP, which is comprised of Loyal Companion, Chuck & Don’s Pet Food & Supplies, Kriser’s Natural Pet and Natural Pawz. “The best time to make a plan for who takes care of your pet, and how, is right now. To help, we created a customizable guide that can hold all essential information so pet parents can ensure familiar routines are kept and stress is reduced.”
As part of the guide’s release, IPP has launched a #petprep marketing campaign. In addition to completing the manual, IPP officials recommend pet owners take the following preparedness steps:
- Identify a caregiver—Identify someone who is willing to provide pet care and provide codes/keys for this caretaker to access the home, and a copy of the care guide.
- Have a backup—Always have a secondary caretaker. This could be another person that is familiar with your pet, the breeder or rescue or a pet shelter in times of crisis.
- Display “Pet Inside” stickers—Alert emergency personnel that pets are in the home by placing “Pet Inside” stickers on doors or windows. IPP is providing complimentary stickers that can be picked up at any local store.
- Stock up on essentials—Always have a 2- to 3-week supply of food, medicine, supplements, treats and any other pet essentials on hand.
- Keep identification current—Engraved ID tags are the fastest and easiest way to recover pets. Pet families are also encouraged to contact their microchip company to ensure their information and subscriptions are up to date.
- Build an emergency kit—Build a grab-and-go emergency kit, which can include an extra leash, waste bags or litter, a toy, five days of food and treats, collapsible bowls, medicines and supplements, and a blanket.
IPP has also put together a variety of wellness resources and practices to help pets thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, the company recently launched a new shopping option for pet owners to buy online and pick-up orders in-store or curbside to make sure customers can get all their pet essentials and still adhere to social distancing policies.
IPP’s recent wellness series includes at-home guides on grooming, stress relief, nutrition, indoor play and mental health. The series was inspired by IPP’s “5 Pillars of Pet Wellness,” which was developed through a collaboration between IPP and the University of Denver.
“Things My Human Knows” can be found here.