When you go shopping for survival items and supplies to add to your SHTF disaster stockpile, where do you usually shop? Where do you shop for the supplies you need to build that new pressurised rainwater harvesting and purification system? Or medication to have on-hand besides your SHTF medicinal garden? What about the canned beef you need for long-term stockpiling?
If you’re like most people, you’ll probably answer with places like supermarkets, grocery stores, sporting goods stores, and any online stores that sell what you need (such as bulk packs of food or ammunition that can be shipped directly to your door).
But there’s one more type of store that you might want to add to your list of places to shop at: pet stores like Petsmart or Petco. As we’ll soon see, it’s possible to find items at pet stores that can be utilized for your survival and not just your furry companion(s).
Here are ten survival items you can get from the pet store:
Fish Antibiotics
It’s a little known fact that fish antibiotics are very similar to human antibiotics. Sometimes, the antibiotics that are prescribed for fish are nearly the same as the kind prescribed for people. Fish antibiotics are also unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), don’t require a prescription, are easily available online, and can be cheaper than buying ‘human antibiotics’.
This can make fish antibiotics a more attractive option for curing infections, but as always, be sure to consult with a doctor first depending on your condition.
Collapsible Water Bowls
This is an example of a pet store item that can be used either for your animals or for you. Collapsible water bowls are designed to fold down for transport before being folded out to be filled with water.
In an SHTF situation, you can include collapsible water bowls in your bug out bag or bug out vehicle and carry them with you. They will be much smaller and easier to carry than normal water bowls. Then when you set up the kitchen part of your camp, you can unfold the bowls and fill them up with water to act as a sink.
Pet First Aid Kits/Medication
Most pet stores sell first aid kits that are designed for pets, but most of the items in these kits can be easily repurposed to be used on humans too. This could make sense if you have both animals and people in your household, but limited funds to purchase multiple first aid kits. Instead, you could buy a complete first aid kit that could work for both you and your furry companions.
On a similar note, if any of your pets require special medication, buy extra so you have extra supply on your hands. This is the same principle as buying extra of any prescriptions you are on yourself.
Related: The Truth About Taking Expired Medications
Pet Carriers
Pet carriers should be used for transporting your small dogs and cats safely in an emergency. Alternatively, they can be repurposed to store and transport other items.
For example, you can easily use pet carriers to store and transport clothes, bedding, medicine, first aid items, food, books, tools, communication devices, personal documents, or personal hygiene items.
Cat Litter
Besides their obvious use for cats, cat litter can also be thrown over icy or slippery surfaces to make them much more stable and safer to walk over. For example, you can throw cat litter over your driveway or sidewalk in the middle of winter, and it will serve a similar effect as sand or rock salt used for the same purpose.
One of the main reasons to keep cat litter in your stockpile is moisture control. Many types, especially those made from clay or silica gel, are highly absorbent and can help keep your storage areas dry. This is crucial for preserving food, ammunition, and other supplies that can be damaged by humidity. Simply placing an open container of cat litter in a damp area can help reduce moisture buildup and prevent mold growth.
Cat litter is also a great odor neutralizer, making it valuable for waste management in a survival situation. In an off-grid or emergency scenario where toilets may not function, a makeshift sanitation system is essential. Sprinkling cat litter over waste in a bucket toilet can help absorb liquid and reduce odors, making long-term sanitation more manageable. Additionally, if you’re storing fuel, chemicals, or other strong-smelling substances, cat litter can help minimize unwanted odors in enclosed spaces.
Heating Pads/Thermal Blankets
Heating pads and thermal blankets are excellent additions to any prepper stockpile because they provide a reliable heat source during cold conditions. For livestock, pets, or even small backyard animals like chickens, these warming tools can prevent dangerous cold stress and even death. Many thermal blankets designed for animals are insulated and reflect body heat, making them a great passive warming solution in case of power loss.
Beyond animal care, these heating solutions can be lifesavers for humans. In a grid-down situation where staying warm becomes a challenge, large heating pads and thermal blankets made for bigger dog breeds can serve as emergency bedding for people. These are often designed with tough, weather-resistant materials, making them ideal for survival use. Some models are self-heating, requiring no electricity, while others can be plugged into generators or alternative power sources. Having these in your stockpile ensures you can trap and retain body heat efficiently, reducing the risk of hypothermia.
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Leashes and Collars
While leashes and collars are essential for keeping your animals restrained, they also have a variety of survival uses beyond their original purpose. These durable, adjustable straps can be repurposed for securing gear, building shelters, or even crafting emergency tools. For example, a strong leash can be stretched between two trees as the foundation for a lean-to shelter, providing support for a tarp or branches. Similarly, collars with sturdy buckles can be used to lash bundles of sticks together, making it easier to transport kindling or firewood.
In a survival situation, having versatile, pre-made fasteners like leashes and collars can save time and effort when securing supplies. Need to strap gear to your backpack or bug-out vehicle? A leash’s adjustable length and strong clips make it a quick solution. They can also serve as makeshift tourniquets or restraints in medical emergencies or security situations. Unlike rope, which requires knots, collars and leashes are designed for quick adjustments, making them easy to use under pressure.
By adding extra leashes and collars to your prepper stockpile, you ensure you have multipurpose tools that can adapt to a wide range of needs. Whether you’re stabilizing a shelter, organizing firewood, or securing essential gear, these everyday pet supplies can become unexpected survival assets when SHTF.
Pet Waste Bags
Pet waste bags are a compact, inexpensive, and highly versatile addition to any prepper stockpile. While they’re designed for cleaning up after pets, they can just as easily be used for disposing of other types of waste in an emergency. Maintaining proper sanitation is crucial in an SHTF situation, as improper waste management can lead to the spread of disease and attract unwanted pests. Having a reliable supply of these small but sturdy bags ensures that trash, food scraps, and even human waste can be contained and handled safely.
In a survival scenario, proper waste disposal is non-negotiable. Always make sure that any waste you discard is tightly sealed in a bag and buried at least 100 feet away from your camp and any water source to prevent contamination. Pet waste bags are ideal for this because they’re strong, compact, and easy to carry, making them a great choice for bug-out bags, vehicle kits, and long-term survival storage. Unlike larger trash bags, these can be used sparingly for smaller waste management needs without unnecessary bulk.
Beyond sanitation, pet waste bags have other survival uses as well. They can serve as emergency waterproofing for gear, makeshift gloves when handling hazardous materials, or even water collection in a pinch. Their lightweight design means you can carry dozens without taking up much space, making them a simple but essential prep for anyone serious about survival.
Pet Shelters
Some pet shelters, such as those designed for large dogs, are more than large enough to comfortably house people as well. Examples include large wooden dog houses or dog crates that come with a tarp designed to be draped over the crate and secured to the ground via stakes. As awkward as it may sound, you can use these as shelter for yourself in a jiffy if you need to.
Insect Repellent (Pet Safe)
Most pet stores sell insect repellent that you can use to keep bugs and mosquitos away on your outdoor adventures.
On this note, it’s worth mentioning that insect repellents that are intended for humans should not necessarily be used on pets. That’s because some insect repellents contain chemicals that are safe for human skin but are not safe for animals, and will cause adverse side effects. Specifically, you should avoid using insect repellent for animals that come with a concentration of DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) because it can cause neurological problems when absorbed by dogs or cats.
Final Thoughts
It’s very important to take proper care of your pets in an SHTF grid down disaster, and pet stores will have most of the items that your pets will need. And as you can see, there are also many items at pet stores that can serve a repurposeful role and be used for your own survival as well.
When SHTF, how you adapt will dictate if you survive or not. And if you do not prepare before something bad happens, you will fail. Looking for what you need in unexpected places, like pet stores, will differentiate you from others. You can avoid the crowds and stay safe, which is what you want at the end of the day!
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this is a fppd for thought type article. i never thought about dog collars as tie down straps but it makes sinse. pet smart might be too expensive to shop at but the dollar and a quarter store carries them. the collapsable water bowl is a good idea too. we have several months of food reserves put back but nothing for our dogs and cats. i need to start buying extra dry dog food and rotate it as needed. thankyou for the info.
We have multiple furrrr babies at home…. As (unfortunately they pass), we keep any medications they may have used, mark them very carefully, (use, amounts given, weight of this specific dog (adjust accordingly) and purpose of this meds, all in original containers……Should one other dog require such meds and sometimes money or availability runs tight, we have some on hand…….
Fish antibiotics are no longer available in pet stores, shop around…..If you can find some, buy more than one or two, pretty hard to find sometimes…..
There are a number of online places to get fish antibiotics you just have to look around on line. Instructions I have seen online say to use them by weight by using a pigs weight to as a way to determine how much of a dose you should take of a particular antibiotic. There are also places online that give you these calculations already figured out. Ya gotta look around.
Finally about doggie poop scoop bags. Have you ever wondered who has touched the gas handle at the gas pump before you? What diseases do they have? Did they wash their hands after their last poop? Were they handling illegal drugs that could be accidentally transferred to your skin that would affect you? There arre little plastic bag carriers designed to look sort of like a dog bone but have about 20 or so doggie poop bags in them. Designed to be carried in your pocket while walking your dog so you can , hopefully, clean up what Fido would leave on someone else’s grass/property. I put one of these carriers inside the door to my gas fill pipe. Fits perfectly in mine but you may have to stash it elsewhere. Before I touch the gas pump or handle I put one on my hand in order to keep from directly touching anything to do with the pump. Once I’m done I simply and carefully remove this makeshift “glove” and put it in the trash can next to the pump. At the very least it keeps gas off of your hand for pennies. I usually find these in the Dollar Store (aka now as the dollar and a quarter or whatever we can get away with store). Cheap, easy to use and might save your life. Much cheaper and actually easier to use than blue medical gloves.
Dry dog food can also be used to attract squirrels. If you have never eaten squirrel or tried to skin one, you will be surprised. Good to eat, infuriating to skin. In the top two most difficult to skin. I would like someone to describe their method of squirrel skinning before I do. People may not be interested? I have seen a squirrel get nailed to a tree with a tent spike and a nasty sliced hand trying to skin one holding it. If you have a friendly veterinarian talk to them about Ivermectin. There are all kinds of ailments helped by it.
Easiest way to skin a squirrel is to pinch the skin up on its back and give it a slice. Then grab the skin in the slice and using both hands pull it off both ways like you would a shirt and pants, all the way to the head and feet. You can then cut everything else off and remove the innards. Easy peasey.
The easiest way is to use 2 people.bend the tail up and slice through and gently pull. One person holds the legs. Carefully cut skin from tail around body back to tail. One person grabs tail and pulls skin in a tube to the front legs. Pull each leg free of skin and sever feet. Continue to pull to the head. Swap ends and pull the skin from back legs to the feet and sever. Now sever the neck all around. This method works well for any small animal ie. Squirrel, rabbit, raccoon…
dont gut cut around middle and pull apart one side to head other side to tail then gut and clean
I had to look at the date of the article to figure out the first one. Sorry but you have been unable to buy fish antibiotics at a pet store or a US online store since December 2023. They are illegal to buy from any non-US source. You may want to change your story a little.
My favorite pet supply : Vet Wrap! Usually get from the pet websites, this stuff is great! Lot cheaper buying supplies meant for animals from dogs to horses . There is no difference between vet wrap and compression type wraps for humans except the price. These rolls are great to apply over gauze pads to keep them in place over a wound. Help to immobilize strains and sprains. They come in different colors and widths.
Helpful article & responses. One thing mentioned I don’t recommend is using kitty litter on ice it make a horrible mess that’s hard to clean. I do recommend using it for spills in your garage or on your paved driveways.
The art of a Koi pond….has many survival lessons in it’s creation….
It appears that this article has been sourced from some archive and then re-cycled. Somebody didn’t get the word. Prescriptions for a vet are now required before purchasing fish antibiotics.
If you take a look at the FDA.gov website, you can clearly see this:
“The antibiotics available in pet stores, or online, for ornamental fish haven’t been approved, conditionally approved, or indexed by the FDA.
Content current as of:
03/25/2025”
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/ornamental-fish-drugs-and-you
You just need to know what antibiotic to look for.