You buy the good food. You know your vet's name. You'd do anything for them.
But there's a checklist most devoted pet owners have never thought to write.
Not a checklist for your pet's emergencies. A checklist for yours.
Because the scenario most pet owners have never planned for isn't what happens if their pet gets sick — it's what happens if they do.
Why Most Pet Emergency Plans Are Incomplete
Ask any devoted pet owner if they're prepared for a pet emergency and they'll say yes. They know their vet's number. They have pet insurance. They know the signs of illness and what to do about them.
But ask them what happens to their pet if they're in a car accident on the way home — and most of them go quiet.
That silence is the gap Wren was built to fill.
The information every pet owner holds in their head — feeding schedules, medication doses, behavioural quirks, vet history — is completely inaccessible to anyone else unless it's written down somewhere a stranger can find it.
This checklist is that somewhere.
The Complete Pet Emergency Checklist
Work through each section and keep this information somewhere accessible. Not just on your phone — somewhere a stranger, a first responder, or a concerned neighbour can reach it without your password or your permission.
Section 1 — Your Pet's Identity
The basics that help someone identify and approach your pet safely.
— Full name and any nicknames they respond to — Species and breed — Age and date of birth — Sex and whether desexed — Colour and coat description — Distinguishing features — markings, scars, unusual characteristics — Microchip number and registry — Recent photo — updated at least annually — Weight — important for medication dosing in an emergency
Section 2 — Feeding and Daily Care
The information someone needs to care for your pet at home while you cannot.
— Food brand and type — wet, dry, raw, or a combination — Portion size per meal — Number of meals per day and approximate times — Treat preferences and any foods they love — Foods they cannot have — allergies, intolerances, or foods that cause upset — Water requirements — some pets need fresh water changed frequently — Any supplements added to food — Daily grooming routine if applicable — Exercise requirements — how much, how often, what they enjoy — Any daily care tasks specific to your pet
Section 3 — Medical Information
The most critical section. In a veterinary emergency, this information can be the difference between the right treatment and a dangerous mistake.
— Current medications — name, dose, frequency, and what they treat — How medications are administered — tablet, liquid, injection, topical — Any known drug allergies or adverse reactions — Existing medical conditions — diagnosed and managed — Recent illnesses, injuries, or surgeries — Vaccination history and due dates — Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention — product name and schedule — Dental health notes — Any conditions that require specific handling — bad hips, heart condition, anxiety disorder — Name of your regular vet and any specialist vets
Section 4 — Vet Details
— Regular vet clinic name and address — Regular vet's name — Clinic phone number and opening hours — After-hours emergency vet — name, address, and phone number — Pet insurance provider and policy number — Any outstanding medical history your vet should know about
Section 5 — Emergency Carer
The single most important piece of information on this list. The person who will take responsibility for your pet if you cannot.
— Emergency carer's full name — Their relationship to you — Primary phone number — Secondary phone number — Their address — Whether your pet knows them — important for handling — Any specific instructions for the carer — Whether they have a key to your home — Whether they know where your pet's food, medications, and supplies are kept
If you don't have an emergency carer nominated — do this first. The rest of the checklist is only useful if there's someone to act on it.
Section 6 — Behavioural Notes
The information that keeps your pet — and the people caring for them — safe.
— General personality and temperament — How they handle strangers — friendly, nervous, reactive, aggressive — Known fear triggers — loud noises, men, children, other animals, vehicles — How to approach them safely if they're scared — Whether they get along with other dogs and cats — Any aggression history — biting, snapping, guarding behaviour — Comfort items or routines that help them feel safe — What calms them down when they're anxious — Any behavioural quirks a carer needs to know — escape artist, counter surfer, separation anxiety
Section 7 — Practical Information
The logistical details that make caring for your pet possible.
— Where their food is kept — Where their medications are kept — Where their lead, harness, and carrier are kept — Whether they're indoor only, outdoor only, or both — Any areas of the home they're not allowed — Whether they sleep inside or outside — Whether they have a crate or a preferred sleeping spot — Any home access codes or security information relevant to pet care — Spare key location or key holder details
Where to Keep This Information
Writing this checklist is only useful if someone can find it when they need it. Here are the options — from least to most effective:
On the fridge A printed document on the fridge is visible to anyone who enters your home. It helps in a home emergency but does nothing if something happens to you away from home.
In your phone notes Accessible if your phone is unlocked. Useless if it's locked — which it almost certainly will be in a real emergency.
With a trusted person Giving a printed copy to your emergency carer is essential. But this only works if they remember they have it and can find it quickly.
On a QR tag on your keys A digital profile linked to a QR tag on your keyring is accessible to anyone who finds your keys — no phone, no password, no prior knowledge required. In the scenario where something happens to you away from home, this is the only method that reliably gets the right information to the right person instantly.
On a QR tag on their collar A digital profile linked to a QR tag on your pet's collar is accessible to anyone who finds your pet — immediately and without friction. This covers the lost pet scenario completely.
On a window decal at your front door A QR sticker on your front door or window tells first responders that a pet is inside and gives them instant access to care information. This covers the home emergency scenario.
The most prepared pet owners use all three.
How Often to Update This Checklist
A pet emergency checklist is only useful if it's current. Set a reminder to review and update it:
— Every time your pet starts a new medication — Every time you change vets — Every time your emergency carer's contact details change — Every time you move house — At least once a year regardless of changes
If you use a digital profile — like the one linked to a Wren tag — updates take less than a minute and reflect instantly across all your tags. No reprinting, no redistributing, no outdated information sitting on someone's fridge.
The Question Worth Asking Yourself Right Now
If someone needed to care for your pet in the next hour — without being able to ask you a single question — could they do it?
Could they find the food? Would they know about the medication? Would they know your pet is terrified of the vacuum cleaner and needs to be put in the bedroom before you switch it on?
If the answer to any of those is no — start with Section 5. Nominate your emergency carer today. Then work backwards through the list.
You've already done the hardest part. You love your pet completely. The checklist is just the paperwork that proves it.
About Wren
Wren is an Australian brand that builds premium stainless steel QR emergency tags for your keys and your pet's collar. Set up your pet's full emergency profile at wrenpet.au — feeding schedule, medications, vet details, emergency carer, behavioural notes, and more. One scan tells anyone exactly what your pet needs. No app. No subscription. Free profile updates for life.
Pre-orders are open now at wrenpet.com.au. First batch ships June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be in a pet emergency kit? A pet emergency kit should include your pet's identification details, feeding schedule, current medications with doses, vet contact details, emergency carer information, and behavioural notes. This information should be stored somewhere accessible to a stranger without needing your phone or password — such as a printed document, a QR tag on your keys, or a QR tag on your pet's collar.
What information does a vet need in an emergency? In a veterinary emergency, vets need to know your pet's current medications and doses, known allergies and adverse reactions, existing medical conditions, vaccination history, and your pet insurance details. Having this information stored in an accessible digital profile means it can be shared instantly even if you are not present.
How do I prepare my pet for an emergency? Preparing your pet for an emergency means ensuring someone else can care for them if you cannot. Nominate an emergency carer, write down your pet's care information somewhere accessible, make sure your vet has up to date records, and consider a QR emergency tag system so that anyone who finds your keys or your pet can access the information they need instantly.
What happens to pets when their owner is hospitalised? When a pet owner is hospitalised unexpectedly, their pet may be left home alone without anyone knowing. If the owner cannot communicate, their pet's care information may be inaccessible. This is why having a nominated emergency carer and an accessible pet emergency profile — linked to a QR tag on your keys — is so important.
What is the best way to store pet emergency information? The best way to store pet emergency information is in a digital profile linked to a QR tag — either on your keys or on your pet's collar. This ensures the information is accessible to anyone, anywhere, without needing your phone, your password, or prior knowledge of your pet. A printed backup kept with a trusted emergency carer is also recommended.
Do I need a pet emergency plan if I have pet insurance? Pet insurance covers veterinary costs but does not help anyone care for your pet if you are unable to communicate. A pet emergency plan — including a nominated carer and accessible care information — is essential regardless of whether you have pet insurance.