To keep your pet safe during alerts in Israel, keep a carrier or leash next to the door of your protected space, store water, food and litter supplies inside it, and practise getting your pet there calmly. Your own safety comes first: always follow Home Front Command (Pikud HaOref) instructions. If a PetHome Israel sitter is caring for your pet, agree on this plan in advance so the sitter knows exactly what to do.
Why preparation matters
You may have very little time to reach the mamad, stairwell shelter or public shelter. Catching a frightened cat under the bed or putting a harness on an excited dog takes longer than you think. Preparation turns a chaotic moment into a routine one.
The basic kit
Keep these items in or right next to your protected space:
- A carrier for each cat or small dog, open and familiar, not stored on a high shelf.
- A leash and harness or collar for each dog, hanging by the door.
- Water and a bowl. A bottle or two is enough for a short stay.
- Some dry food or treats.
- For cats: a small disposable litter tray or a box with litter.
- Poop bags and paper towels.
- A towel or blanket to cover a carrier and calm the animal.
- A copy of the vaccination booklet and your vet's number, in case you need to leave home.
- Any essential medication for a few days.
Practise the route
- Leave the carrier open in a room your cat likes, with a blanket and treats, so it becomes a normal place to rest.
- Walk your dog into the mamad on leash a few times when there is no alert, and reward it.
- Teach a simple cue for "come" that you use only for this.
- If your cat always hides in one place, block access to impossible spots before a tense period.
During an alert
- Go to the protected space yourself; do not risk your safety chasing an animal.
- Bring your pet if you can do it quickly: carrier for cats and small dogs, leash for larger dogs.
- Close the door and keep your pet secured, because a frightened animal may try to run.
- Stay in the protected space for the time instructed by Home Front Command.
- Afterwards, check your pet calmly and give water.
If you could not bring your cat in time, do not go back for it during the alert. Cats usually find a hiding place.
Noise and fear
Many animals react to sirens and loud booms with trembling, hiding, panting or barking. Stay calm, speak quietly and let your pet stay close if it wants. Some animals feel safer in a covered carrier. If your pet shows strong or lasting fear, talk to your vet or a qualified behaviour specialist; we do not give medical advice and sitters do not give any medication that has not been prescribed.
Walks in tense periods
When alerts are frequent, keep walks shorter and closer to home, use a well-fitted harness, and know where the nearest public shelter is along your route. Many dogs that slip their collar when frightened stay safely on a harness.
Make sure your pet can be identified
A microchip and municipal registration are required for dogs in Israel and are the best way to get a lost pet back. Check that the phone number linked to the chip is up to date, and put an ID tag with your phone on the collar.
What to tell your sitter
If a sitter will care for your pet, include in your instructions:
- where the protected space and the carrier are;
- whether your cat should be carried or allowed to hide;
- the walk route and the nearest public shelter;
- who to call after an alert.
Our sitters follow Home Front Command instructions first, then continue care when it is safe, and send you an update after an alert during a visit.