By M.L. Lewis

Animals are our greatest companion. We love coming home and holding our trusted dog or petting our soft kitty. During the apocalypse chances are your beloved pet will become your greatest alley.

Dog make loyal partners, but some breeds can’t handle the stresses of disasters. Cats maybe fierce hunters, but they aren’t very reliable for protection given their small sizes. These animal sidekicks are often overlooked as strange and bizarre but are just as good as your common household pet.

5. Pigeons

Pigeons have a bad wrap. They are accused of being dirty pests. In reality, pigeons are very useful and smarter then what we give them credit for. We have been using them for centuries to communicate with one another. Their poop is valuable to the farming communities as the most potent fertilizer on the market.

Racing pigeons have been a popular sport for 100s of years and have its own organization called the American Pigeon Racing Union. If interested in learning more about this sport visit https://www.pigeon.org/

4. Geese

Geese are very low maintenance and can take care of themselves. They can eat anything, like weeds and trash. Their meat is easy to prepare and cook. They are a small bird and only have a couple grams of meat on their bones making the butchering easy. They produce eggs that taste just as good as chicken eggs and can be a good bartering item.

For centuries geese have been used as guard animals and are quite violent. Seriously, tick one of these jerks off at a petting zoo, their beaks are like vice grips. They are loud animals and can alert you of any dangers that might be lurking in the shadows.

3. Donkeys

They are just a small version of a horse, but are hardier and have a low maintenance level. They are quite the working animal and can pull heavy loads up cliffs and mountainsides. This is why they are used for transporting goods across low-income countries. They are friendly animals and make good friends.

They have a slow and thoughtful nature making them easier to train for services. You can even use them to herd sheep and other livestock. Donkeys can produce milk that is easier on the human digestion and great for emergency infant nutrition.

2. Goats

Goats are extremely valuable to humans. They can do everything a cow can do but are way easier and cheaper to handle. Everything on a goat can be useful to you. Its milk can be used to make anything dairy related and soap. Their hides can made into clothes and blankets. Their horns can be fashioned into drinkware.

They love eating weeds and ivy branches so they are can help yard work. Goats make great companions and behave like dogs. They provide amazing security and can also be used for herding reasons.

1. Chickens

Poultry farming is a growing popular hobby in a lot of suburban areas. They are docile and hardy birds and can pretty much take care of themselves. They commonly eat grasses and bugs, making them a valuable, organic pesticide for your garden.

Like pigeons, their poop is a very potent fertilizer for the very gardens they are protecting. Their feathers can be melted and molded into the plastic, used as writing utensils, and stuffed into pillows. Chickens are also a good source of meat and are easily prepared. Their fresh eggs can give you a bartering edge in the apocalypse.