The day after Superstorm Sandy, I volunteered at an emergency shelter in Paramus, New Jersey.
Inside the shelter was a classroom turned kennel for storm victims' dogs.
There were seven dogs in the room and each dog had its own crate, except for one pair of dogs housed together.
Dogs howled and cried repeatedly, frustrated in their boxy enclosures.
A small, senior pug-mix kept flipping his paper bowl of food all over the floor of his crate in defiance.
The dog owners, all evacuees were also staying at the shelter and would visit with their pets.
They sympathized with their dogs' stress and confusion.
Owner after owner told me, "My dog has never been in a cage.
" It made me wonder, what would help these animals adjust to suddenly being out of their homes and for the first time, in a crate? To get answers, I reached out to dog trainers, veterinarians and holistic practitioners.
In order to help dogs feel safe and secure, "one of the best things you can do for them is to cover the crate," says Dog Trainer, Julie Wassell.
"Dogs are den animals," she says and they like enclosure.
Covering a dog's crate with blankets creates a cocoon effect and helps block sights and soften sounds.
Wassell also recommends a product called Bach Rescue Remedy® Pet for trauma, stress and fear.
These homeopathic drops can be administered on a treat or in drinking water and ease anxiety.
Another technique Wassell likes is to place an article of clothing inside the crate.
An old t-shirt, towel, sweatpants will help a dog feel as though the owner is close-by.
Make the crate cozy by adding bedding and favorite toys inside.
A few treats hidden under bedding or blankets will put a dog's nose to work.
A KONG stuffed with treats to help keep a pet occupied.
A few behaviorists and veterinarians recommended Adaptil collars, sprays and diffusers.
Adaptil is a synthetic copy of the natural dog appeasing pheromone that helps support canines in stressful situations.
The product manufactured by Ceva, is odorless and non-sedative and can ease separation anxiety, kennel anxiety and stress.
The spray and diffuser can be administered quickly.
Denise Mulry, DVM, of Healing Paws Veterinary Care, has recommended a dose of the over-the-counter herbal supplement Melatonin, to treat anxiety in my own pet.
Melatonin is a human sleep aid.
Some vets recommend it to help ease anxiety in dogs.
Check with your vet for the dosing that would be right for your animal.
An important thing to keep in mind when crating an animal is the size of the crate.
A pet should have plenty of room to turn around and space to stand-up comfortably.
To calculate the size needed, measure your pet from nose to tail and provide at least six extra inches for the length of the crate.
Thankfully, Superstorm Sandy is behind us.
With the holidays right around the corner, one can apply these same techniques to keep pets happily tucked-away when guests arrive, or a holiday party is in full swing.