(PRLEAP.COM) South Portland, ME - August 28, 2007 – It doesn’t matter what part of the country you live in. We can all be affected by disasters - whether it’s a natural disaster, wildfire, terrorist attack, or hazardous spill. National Preparedness Month is a nationwide coordinated effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for these types of emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools.

Pets are abandoned during every major fire, flood, storm, and other disasters that threaten human life. Pet owners’ lack of planning is a big part of the problem. As Coalition Members of National Preparedness Month 2007, TRIPSwithPETS.com and PetSummary.com have teamed up to encourage Americans to make the necessary disaster preparations for their pets.

TRIPSwithPETS.com provides an online Disaster Preparedness and Resource Guide for Pets. This guide offers a pet evacuation plan checklist, complete with recommended items to include in a Pet Evacuation & Disaster Kit. Resources include links to the National Hurricane Center, Weather Channel, American Red Cross, and FEMA – just to name a few. In addition, the TRIPSwithPETS.com resource guide offers site visitors access to helpful directories, such as pet friendly lodging, airlines, pet hospitals, ATM locators and more.

“We never know when a disaster will strike. They usually come with little or no warning. That’s why we all need to take the time NOW to prepare a disaster plan for our families, including our pets.” comments Kim Salerno, President, Trips with Pets, Inc. “The best thing you can do to ensure the safety and well being of your pets is to be prepared.”

PetSummary.com provides all the tools necessary for simple emergency preparation. PetSummary’s free service allows pet owners to store and access their pet’s vaccination and medical records from any online computer as well as keep a summary of this information in their purse or wallet using the PetSum Card. PetSummary also offers the Guardian Pet Tag, the only identification tag that gives the owner the ability to change their contact information from any computer in the world. These important tools provide the information necessary to care for or treat a pet during an emergency situation.

“It’s incredibly important to plan for emergencies and be prepared for the unexpected, especially when caring for pets,” says Cole Kelly, Founder and CEO of PetSummary.com. “Being able to access their pet’s important medical information from anywhere provides a pet owner the level of preparation they need for a crisis.”

About TRIPSwithPETS.com:
TRIPSwithPETS.com is the premier online guide for pet travelers and their people - offering resources to ensure pets are welcome, happy, and safe when traveling. Visit www.tripswithpets.com, to find a directory of pet friendly accommodations across the U.S., pet recreational activities, airline pet policies, pet sitters, pet travel supplies, along with other pet travel resources.

About PetSummary.com:
PetSummary.com allows pet owners to organize, access, and share their pet’s important information with anyone, anywhere, at any time. Subscribers use their PetSum Card™ to organize and share contact information, daily routines, medications, comments and more; access and print their authentic vaccine records from any online computer; and communicate as much up to date information as they wish about their lost pet with the Guardian Pet Tag™. Whether preparing a pet sitter, getting ready for a trip, or rushing to the emergency room, PetSummary.com makes it easy to have the right information at your fingertips. Visit them at www.petsummary.com.

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