Food processing made the list of those industries that are lagging behind. People will go completely nuts if their pet cant eat. In the depression, people turned thier pets out to survive on thier own. There is a real possibility that the sudden turn of events will make cat and dog food unavailable. People treat thier pets like one of thier own children. It will be a freakout for those affected. There will be stockpiles for some weeks, but after that, as the senate report clearly indicates, these kind of problems are very possible. YOU prepare if you have one.

-- bill burke (bburke@rocketmail.com), September 29, 1999

Answers

Prepare anyway, for the sake of the strays that irresponsible owners will "turn out".

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), September 29, 1999.

Store food for yourself. Dogs and cats can eat the same food you do. There's no magic ingredient in pet food that they need in order to survive.

Besides, if things get THAT bad and you're feeding your animal when there are hungry kids doing without then you are twisted.

-- Gus (y2kk@usa.net), September 29, 1999.

great idea. We had bought cat food (for our 4 cats) for a years worth. Figure, if we did it for ourselves, gotta take care of the little critters. Guess we'll go out and buy some extra. Maybe make it a project for the kids.

-- thomas saul (thomas.saul@yale.edu), September 29, 1999.

Bill, we've discussed this question on the Preps forum as well. See "About," where you'll find a hot link. Also see recent threads about "The storm that keeps on giving," which explains how to help the "Floyd pets." The Floyd-affected areas are flooding again and animal shelters are being evacced to Raleigh.

Don't know about dogs, but cats require heavy doses of a vitamin (mineral?) called taurine, which is not found in great quantities in the human diet. Also, despite neeiding high-protein diets in younger years, senior cats require a low-protein diet (such as Hill's Science Diet KD), again not easily achieved via human food. I like Hill's regular dry for my younger cats because it has a long shelf-life--about 18 mos, if I remember correctly. I think Iam's has long shelf life too.

Hint: buy canned food from a place like PetsMart. It's a very good price (small Friskies, 25c/can) and people don't look at you funny when you buy several cases.

Now that we have mice in the attic, I'm really glad we have the watch-cats down here to keep them out of the living area. Yes, action is being taken against the intruders up there.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 29, 1999.

Who will need petfood, what with wall-to-wall dead pollies?

-- Y2KGardener (gardens@bigisland.net), September 29, 1999.

Don't forget to keep their vaccinations current, *especially* if they'll be coming into contact with vermin and/or other animals (we always keep new rescues segregated from our other cats until they're checked by the vet for feline aids, etc.)

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), September 29, 1999.

"Besides, if things get THAT bad and you're feeding your animal when there are hungry kids doing without then you are twisted."

At this time, millions of children around the world are starving and I would like to know what you are doing to feed them, no need to wait for things to get "that bad". Do you have any animals now? Anybody that has animals should be prepared to take care of their own.

-- BiGG (supersite@acronet.net), September 29, 1999.

I am a spoiled dog... my master feeds me table scraps mixed with my food, which by the way, I have a whole section in the pantry just for me....(grin)

here kitty, kitty...

The Dog

-- Dog (Desert Dog@-sand.com), September 29, 1999.

Rumor has it that the military, if martial law is declared, will order it's troops to shoot on sight any dogs encountered running wild. Apparently, when they get hungry they revert to pack behavior and become very dangerous. ( The dogs, not the military.....hmmmm.. on second thought maybe this would apply to the military as well?)

-- Ralph Kramden (and@awaywego.com), September 29, 1999.

During Floyd, I had a big problem with neighborhood dogs being turned out to weather the storm loose. After a couple of my chickens were killed, the remaining dogs were put back up by their owners. I am preparing by buying more buckshot, I told the neighbors that I was no longer going to use rock salt in my shotgun. You can flame away if you want, but I just happen to think that my chickens and cows are more important to me than some dog belonging to an irresponsible neighbor. If they really love their dogs, then they will keep them away from my farm and my animals. I love my animals and I will kill other animals to protect my own. My neighbor is lucky I did not call the law after I shot his dog. And the law is on my side. If you love your pet, then keep it off my property.

-- chicken farmer (chicken-farmer@ y2k.farm), September 29, 1999.

Dogs make great Early-Warning Systems.

And they don't eat much.

woff woff

nuff said.

-- no talking please (breadlines@soupkitchen.gov), September 29, 1999.

If we ever get REALLY hungry, Fluffy will be lunch. If you don't eat him, your neighbors will.

I've already discussed this with my two kitties, & the dogs on either side of us. They understand.

Anyone ever see/read "King Rat"?

-- you want (fries@with.that), September 29, 1999.

Hey Kids...can you say moving targets?

I knew you could.

People release pets here in the country all the time.

They soon become dog food. Even if I don't shoot them they often become dog food. Weak emaciated and soon put out of their misery by the German Shepards.

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), September 29, 1999.

My 45 pounds on 12 feet of cats are better prep'd than I am at this point.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), September 29, 1999.

Saw on national news last evening the terrible plight of the pets left behind by their owners in NC because shelters wouldn't allow them in. The humane workers said they were hoping that in future shelters would include pets. This sight made me order by phone ID tags for my two house cats, in case we got separated, on the faint hope we might be reunited. (Can put your cellphone # on back of tags too.)

Have read on other forums that wild pack dogs can carry rabies, and that we should all be having rabies shots pre-Y2K for extra protection.

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

When TSHTF, pets will have to start earning their keep. Dogs are omnivores (They eat anything). Cats are carnivores (They eat MEAT. Anything else in cat food is supplemental or just to make their pussy owners feel better. Sorry, any bleeding hearts. BTW, there is no shortage of taurine in MEAT.)

Cats are gonna have to become mousers
Dogs are gonna have to become guard dogs or some kind of hunting dog.

Otherwise, get to know an oriental and learn how to fix up the critters for good eating.

-- A (A@AisA.com), September 29, 1999.

A small-animal vet told me once that foraging on their own, 16 per cent of what cats eat is insects.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), September 29, 1999.

I'm planning on taking in some of the stray cats around here as soon as we see signs of meltdown. They can last a long time without eating and they taste just like chicken. Dogs? ...nah, man's best friend!

-- @ (@@@.@), September 29, 1999.

@:

But there's more meat on them thar dogs. Neighbore of mine up the road lets his Kraut Shepards run all over the place, including my property...when the **it hits the fan, I'll be having some fresh meat for my Korean Buddies. Come to think of it, the neighbore is a pretty dense ol' boy...he might come in handy if I have to feed the Donner party.

-- Z (Z@ZZZZZ.com), September 29, 1999.

CANNIBALS!!!!!

hidin' in the closet...

The Dog

-- Dog (Desert Dog@-sand.com), September 29, 1999.

(1) The Sumo Dog (110#) is part of my protection system. Also a friend.

(2) Dog food is less likely to be taken (especially in large bags) if looters clean you out. Kibble is edible in extremis.

(3) Dog food (kibble) is relatively cheap.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 29, 1999.

As part of my personal security plan, I will definitely shoot strays that come wondering 'round. It is a known fact that a strategy of packing dogs is to send out a 'scout', usually a submissive female, as the rest of the pack moves in for the kill.

If you have a dog(s) that you can no longer properly care for, do everyone a favor - don't turn them loose, put them down.

-- Lee (lchesson@bigfoot.com), September 29, 1999.

Chuck,

Those two cats of yours sound pretty tough, alright!

ATC's (all terrain cats?)

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 29, 1999.

I included a hefty supply of Snausages in my preparations, but I don't have a dog. They're for me. Those things are pretty cheap and awful damn tasty if you squirt a little Cheese Whiz on 'em! Mmmmmmm...

-- @ (@@@.@), September 29, 1999.

If the thought doesn't bother you too much, dog food contains better quality protein that most people food, it contains meat from the heart and lungs of cows (canned or dried) . I secretly tried some dried after reading this in a magazine, not too tasty but could eat if had to. If you have a dog perhaps you and rover could share a bowel.

-- Stanley Lucas (StanleyLucas@WebTv.net), September 30, 1999.

Remember "Cycle" dog food? Cycle 1 for puppies, Cycle 2 for adolescent or adult dogs,.... Well, now an extension to the line: "Recycle".

-- A (A@AisA.com), September 30, 1999.