« Foreign Microchip cannot be read! Court Order for Banfield To Stop All Sales of Microchip s | Main | Update on Doberman Rescue in the Hurricane Areas »
November 29, 2005
No shelter in a storm for family pets?
Homeless before Hurricane Katrina struck, after the storm Joseph Barnes just wanted back the one thing that mattered most in his life: his one-eyed, seven-month-old cat Patches.
Barnes, a regular on the streets of New Orleans, had had Patches since she was three weeks old, even raising $600 for surgery to have her bad eye removed. She traveled on his shoulder like a parrot - until they were separated by Katrina.
Now animal rescue groups across the nation are trying to bring Barnes and Patches together again. She was taken as Barnes - who weathered the hurricane on the streets because he couldn't take Patches inside a shelter - boarded a bus Sept. 4 with other evacuees. The National Guard promised they'd take good care of his kitten, and Barnes thought he'd be back the next day to collect her.
It was a sad story multiplied thousands of times as pet owners along the Gulf Coast sought to find the beloved animals they had to leave behind in Katrina's wake. The Louisiana SPCA estimates it rescued 8,500 animals in cooperation with several other agencies. Months later, many still wait to be claimed.
Sad as that is, if any good has come from Katrina, it may be that it rewrote the rules for coping with large-scale disasters - including how communities care for their animal populations in times of crisis.
When Hurricane Rita struck on the heels of Katrina, "they changed the shelter rules allowing pets, knowing how many stayed behind with Katrina and possibly perished because they would not abandon the animals," said Pat Quattlebaum of STARS, a local dog rescue group.
Katrina also sparked a new bill. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act, H.R. 3858) would require federal evacuation plans to protect pets...
Locally, "We have developed an agreement with Nassau County Animal Care and Control, the schools and the health department to shelter cats and dogs," said Nancy Freeman, director of Emergency Management for the county.
"We had been talking about it for well over a year," she said. "We were aware that we have people that won't leave their pets and the timing came together."
Those registered with the special needs shelter will be able to drop off their animals at Animal Control, and one shelter in Yulee and one on the West Side will be designated for pets and people, said Freeman. But only dogs and cats - "no pet boa constrictors or pythons," she said. And their owners must have their medical records and supply food, water and cages, though the animals will be allowed outside for exercise and bathroom breaks, weather permitting.
The plan is still in the draft stages, said Freeman, and the number of pets the shelters can accept will be limited by space.
Which means it is still critical for pet owners to "have a plan and be prepared," said Eileen "Sparky" Weitzel of the Nassau Humane Society.
With the 2005 hurricane season drawing to a close, now is the time to strategize before the onslaught of next year's storms, she said.
For those who don't want to weather a storm in shelters, hotels that accept pets are few and fill up fast, she notes. It pays to know their locations and book as far ahead as possible.
Another consideration is supplies, either for the shelter or for a long car trip.
Weitzel said animal needs are similar to our own.
"Your family pet will need supplies like you do - food, water, medicines, litter and a sleeping area," she said. "Don't count on going to a store to buy these items when you get somewhere. Don't forget a leash and take extra ones in case you lose it or someone else needs one."
And really critical? "Cleanup poopy bags are a necessity!" she said (or litter pans for cats), along with a way to contain your pet.
"One thing I tell potential adopters of our dogs: use the dog kennels or a crate. Have one for your pet and get them used to it. In the event that they must go to a hotel, shelter or even someone's home, the pet will be comfortable staying in its kennel if it has to," said Quattlebaum.
"A crate or kennel for them to sleep in will also make you a more welcomed guest at a hotel or motel," said Weitzel.
And just as you would carry your own important records, remember your pet's vaccination records, said Weitzel. "Make sure that your pets are kept current on all their shots, especially a rabies shot, and if you will have to kennel your pet, a bordetella."
But don't depend on leaving your pet at an animal shelter or kennel if you have to evacuate, Weitzel warned.
"The animal care buildings are usually filled to capacity and cannot take in animals. In fact, they will be making evacuation plans for the animals under their care," she said.
On the other hand, "if you have a pet and have room to take another, please call the (local animal) adoption center and take one more," said Weitzel. "If you do not have a pet but have a place to go that will, please call the shelter and help."
sperry@fbnewsleader.com
Call on Congress
The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act, H.R. 3858) currently before U.S. Congress would require federal evacuation plans to protect animals. To sign a petition in support of the act, visit www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/.
Animal evacuees
The American Red Cross and Humane Society of the United States offer the following tips for animal evacuees:
Assemble a portable and waterproof pet disaster supply kit, including medications, registration records, microchip and tattoo information; first aid kit; leashes, harnesses and carriers; toys and pet beds if easily transportable; current photos of your pets; food and drinkable water for at least 3 days and a can opener; cat litter/pan; information on their feeding schedule, medical problems, behavior issues and name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your animals.
Owners of large animals such as horses or cattle should prepare an animal safety plan in conjunction with their veterinarian or animal handler and check online sources for more information.
Pet owners are urged not to leave their animals behind in a disaster, even if they have tried to create a safe place for them. They are likely to be lost, killed or injured.
Web sites
For more information about caring for animals in a disaster, visit the American Veterinarian Medical Association, www.avma.org; Pet Preparedness, www.floridadisaster.org; and Humane Society of the United States, www.hsus.org.
For listings of pet-friendly hotels, visit petswelcome.com, www.pets-allowed-hotels.com, www.travelpets.com, or simply Google the phrase, "pet friendly hotels."
Pet claim
The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA) has extended the deadline for owners to claim their pets rescued after Hurricane Katrina to Dec. 15.
To locate your pet, visit www.disaster.petfinder.com. If you have any questions regarding your pet, call 1-800-745-9151.
After the Dec. 15 deadline, all unclaimed animals will be available for adoption. There are nearly 8,500 animal residents of the area waiting to be rescued again.
The LA/SPCA building and some of its vehicles were completely destroyed in the hurricane's aftermath. To make a donation to help visit www.la-spca.org or send a check or money order to: Louisiana SPCA, P.O. Box 127, Mandeville, LA 70470.
Posted by sue at November 29, 2005 08:58 AM