As Hurricane Irene threatens the Northeast, we want all of you who are within the storm's path to be prepared to keep all family members safe.

Visit our Disaster Preparedness and Pets to find disaster preparedness tips in English and Spanish, downloadable disaster preparedness kit checklists for many pet species, and information on evacuating.

Here are a few important things you can do now to be prepared:

1. Make sure all cats and dogs are wearing securely fastened collars with up-to-date identification.
   
   
2. If you must or are planning to evacuate, remember that some community shelters may not accept pets. Check beforehand, and then look into other arrangements as soon as possible, such as having your pet stay with a friend, family member or reputable kennel. Also have pet carriers on-hand and in an accessible place near the front door.
   
   
3. Contact your local animal shelter, elected official or emergency management office to inquire what pet disaster plans are in place.
   
   
4. Assemble a pet disaster kit including your pet's medical records, medications, name and number of veterinarian, a first aid kit, collars and leashes, food, water, bowls and a manual can opener, cat litter and pan and a photo of your pet.
   
   
5. Make sure you have an appropriately-sized crate or carrier for each animal. Pets will be more welcome in an emergency sheltering situation if they are contained. Ask friends, relatives or others outside the affected area whether they could shelter your animals temporarily.
   
   
6. Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets and ask about restrictions on numbers, size and species. Ask if "no pet" policies could be waived in an emergency.
   
   
7. Bring pets inside well in advance of the hurricane so you don't have to search for them if you have to evacuate. As the hurricane approaches, call ahead to confirm your emergency shelter arrangements.

After the jump: Links to our disaster-preparedness content.

On Friday, Prince William and Kate Middleton will begin their lives as a married couple. What could make their happily ever after even happier? Adopting a pet!

The pair could adopt a Cocker Spaniel friend for Kate's Cocker, Otto, or a Corgi, which would please William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth (she currently has four Corgis and three Corgi-Dachshund mixes, according to the royal family's official website).

If Kate and William want to consider other pets worthy of royalty, they could follow the lead of the Chinese and adopt a Pekingese -- the dogs were treated like royalty during the T'ang Dynasty (700-1000 A.D.). Or they could adopt a Pug, the breed favored in France by Marie Antoinette and the Empress Josephine.

Before Pugs took over as the English royal breed during the Victorian era, monarchs such as Charles II, and Mary Queen of Scots had Cavalier King Charles Spaniels -- Charles, the breed's namesake, loved his dogs so much, he was accused of neglecting his royal responsibilities for them.

Whatever dog they choose -- or even if they decide to break with tradition and adopt a cat! -- the prince and his new princess can find their perfect pet at a shelter or rescue group. Here are some of the more than 300,000 adoptable pets posted on Petfinder who could make fabulous additions to the royal couple's family:

Since 1995, Petfinder.com has found homes for approximately 15 million animals. Unfortunately, many adopted pets end up right back where they started, in shelters.

In an effort to decrease the number of surrendered pets across the country, on March 8 we launched FurKeeps, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to arm potential pet parents with the information they should consider before adopting, as well as the resources they need to ensure the adoption lasts a lifetime.

The program kicked off with a week-long "Ask the Experts" campaign during which current and potential pet parents chatted with certified pet trainers, veterinarians, behavioral specialists and legal experts on our message boards and Facebook page.

The turnout was even better than expected! Over the course of seven days, more than 200 questions were answered by our experts and over 7,000 pet lovers read their advice.

Since a wealth of important information was shared during the launch week, we wanted to highlight some of the best questions received and expert advice shared for those who are still in need of a little help when it comes to taking care of their furry friends! (Soon you'll be able to find all the Q&As in our library.)

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month and this year it's hitting especially close to home -- in the form of my foster puppy, sitting at my feet chewing my desk chair as I type.

Trooper was the victim of horrible cruelty at the hands of a guardian who should have loved and protected him. Instead, it was necessary for the Pennsylvania SPCA to send investigators to rescue Trooper from his suffering, and for PSPCA rescue partner Animal Alliance to provide Trooper with the care he needed to heal and find the family he deserves.

Please join Trooper and me in celebrating Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month along with our friends at the Pennsylvania SPCA and Animal Alliance.

Next week is officially back-to-school season, when textbooks replace beach days and barbecues. Keeping with the scholastic spirit, we have a question for all you pet parents: Did you know pets can experience separation anxiety when kids head off to school?

If you notice behavioral changes in your pet -- chewing on items that smell like their companion and going to the bathroom
in inappropriate places -- he (or she) may have a case of the back-to-school blues. In particular, dogs who have had to change homes before being adopted into their current family may be more likely to develop separation anxiety.

Here's a homework assignment for treating separation anxiety in pets:

• Start early: If you have a new pet, you can begin anti-separation-anxiety training right away. Don't make a big deal about leaving, and only leave him alone for short periods of time at first. When you come home, simply greet him and return to your routine.

• Promote independence: Both adults and children can actually over-bond with their pets by spending every moment with them. While your family should certainly show love and affection to your animal, remember that independence is healthy. Place your dog in a sit-stay or down-stay to keep him from following you and your family members around the house, and then praise him quietly when you return to the room he's in.

• Invest in entertainment: Leave something to divert your pet's attention when the family is at work and school, such as a pet-sitting video. Another great product is the Kong toy, which keep dogs busy as they search for the treats inside.

• Exercise with your dog before you leave: Ask your children to play or exercise with your dog before heading off to school. A tired dog is less likely to experience stress when you leave.

• Practice gradual departures: Collect your belongings and say your goodbyes, but only leave for a few minutes. Increase these training trips by five or 10 minutes at a time. After a couple of days, your pet should be comfortable being alone for a few hours.

Do you have your own tips for helping your dog cope with separation anxiety? Share them with us after the jump!

We're celebrating Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month by partnering with LOLcats site Icanhascheezburger.com to bring adoptable cats to a whole new audience.

If you check out any adoptable cat on Petfinder, you will see a button under his or her photo that says ADD TO ICANHASCHEEZBURGER.COM.

When you click, you have the chance to write a creative LOL-worthy caption. You know the pictures ... the ones that when you look at them, you can't help but put words in the cat's mouth?! Well, here's your chance.

Once you submit a captioned adoptable kitteh (that is LOL-speak for cat!), she will go into the gallery and Icanhascheezburger visitors will vote on their favorites.

The top vote-getters make it to the home page with a link back to the cat's Petfinder profile. It's fun -- and it will also, we hope, get more people to check out the adorable, adoptable cats on Petfinder.

We've been hearing from more and more of you who included your pets in your weddings, and of course we think this is wonderful. Pets are important members of the family, just like your brother, sister or even children.

Here are a few tips we've developed from speaking with people who have included their pet in their special day:

• When planning a ceremony and reception location, make sure they allow pets.
  
  
• Designate someone (not in the bridal party) to watch your pet for the day.
  
  
• Take photos with your dog before the wedding or on a different day.
  
  
• Know your pet before making the decision to include them in your wedding, because some pets may not handle large crowds and intense situations well.

Just in time for summer vacation, we've named the top five pet-friendliest airlines of 2009 (bookmark our story and find more pet-travel tips here). Check out our list and then share your own experiences traveling with your pet in our comments section.

1. Continental - Safety First

Continental is proud of its PetSafe program, which has a 24-hour Live Animal Desk (1-800-575-3335) that tracks the pets from origin to destination. It's pricier than other programs, but it's climate-controlled, allows roomy carriers and has designated cargo staff. Travelers using PetSafe can even earn miles. The airline also allows small cats, dogs, pet rabbits and household birds to be carried in the cabin on most domestic flights for $125 each way.

Pets allowed in cabin: Small dogs, cats, rabbits and birds
Pets allowed as checked baggage: No
Pets allowed in cargo: Yes, all pets that are checked travel in climate-controlled cargo, not as checked baggage

2. JetBlue Airways - Full-Service Pet Love

JetBlue really embraced pet-toting travelers when it launched JetPaws last summer. For no additional cost, JetBlue provides a pet carrier bag tag, two TrueBlue points each way, a welcome e-mail and a free pet-travel guide. However, like other airlines, JetBlue has hiked its in-cabin pet charge: one-way fees range from $75 to $100.

Pets allowed in cabin: Small cats and dogs
Pets allowed as checked baggage: No
Pets allowed in cargo: No

Finally! I've been saying for years that there should be some level of tax relief for those of us who dedicate our income to our pets!

That there is actual legislation being drafted is certainly a step towards a lively conversation on the subject. It also validates what we already know about the importance of pets as part of the family.

Actor-director Robert Davi writes in The Washington Times:

In 2008, the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association estimated that Americans spent more than $41 billion on their pets. Being allowed to use these expenses as deductions would positively affect the tax burden on a majority of American households. I am pleased to report that Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, Michigan Republican, is taking the lead on this, working closely with us to write legislation.

The national economic crisis is having a negative impact on pets, their families and the Petfinder member shelter and rescue groups who work so hard to save their lives. You can help! Please consider volunteering to temporarily foster a pet in need, donating your time or money to a local shelter or rescue group, and of course, adopting a pet in need.

A recent survey of our members about how the economic downturn is affecting them and their pets revealed that 84 percent of Petfinder.com animal shelters and rescue groups are receiving more pets in need due to the overall economic downturn, foreclosures and / or job losses. And sadly, 74 percent said that they have seen an increase in pets being given away or abandoned since this time last year due to these economic trials.

According to the survey:
 

• 47 percent of shelters and rescue groups said the No. 1 economy-related reason pets are being surrendered is because of general financial difficulty.
• 18 percent said the driving factor was people having to relocate
• 16 percent said the No. 1 reason was foreclosures

Petfinder.com also uncovered in the survey that 37 percent of shelters and rescue groups have seen a decrease in pet adoptions over the past year.

You can find over 270,000 adoptable pets on Petfinder. So if you aren't ready to adopt yourself, be a voice for the pets and spread the "Adopt a Homeless Pet" call to action loud and clear.