Pets disaster shelter

Pets to get shelter protection during disastersListen to this article or download audio file.Click-2-ListenBy BOB MONTGOMERYStaff WriterSunday, May 13, 2007When Hurricane Isabel hit four years ago, many pet owners refused to evacuate to a shelter — at least not without their precious cats and dogs.But Pasquotank County's two shelters, at the K.E. White Center at Elizabeth City State University and Northside Elementary School, only allow seeing-eye dogs.Soon, pets will have a safe place to go during disasters,too, says Christy Saunders, emergency management coordinator for Pasquotank and Camden counties.Therecently enacted federal PETS Act requires local governments to amend their disaster preparedness plans to accommodate households with pets, if they are toqualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding, Saunders said.Hence, Saunders and other emergency planners are trying to find and designate another shelter and volunteers to staff it, specifically for householdpets.And with one named storm lurking off the Southeast coast and hurricane season just around the corner (it starts June 1), they want to wrap up their work soon."We always get people who say they don't want to leave pets behind," said Saunders. "If it came to a life or death situation, we don't want that to happen. We don't want anybody to stay in unsafe situations."Saunders recently met with officials from the Red Cross, school districts, and social services to review evacuation plans for residents.Next up is a meeting with officials from law enforcement, animal control, the SPCA and others, Saunders said."We want to meet by the end of the month," she said. "We want to have it in place by hurricane season."Saunders said the current hurricane plan already identifies the Albemarle 4-H building as a rescue shelter for animals."Now we need to expand it," she said.The PETS Act was enacted in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which exposed the lack of hurricane preparedness for an estimated 358 million pets nationwide, living in 63 percent of American households, according to Congress.Saunders doesn't disagree with the idea, but, like others, questions how pet shelters can be funded."The PETS Act is another unfunded mandate," Saunders said. "It's all well and good, but where's the money going to come from?"She said the state's emergency management agency is trying to identify funding sources forcounties that will have trouble complying.Also,Saunders mustfindenough volunteers to become trained to oversee pets at a shelter."We are putting together the classes that will be required for it. And we will offer the training," she said.Saunders said she also wants pet owners to start thinking aboutwhat they'll do with their cats and dogs now — not the day or two before a major hurricane hits.In the past, Saunders said many pet owners either make arrangements with neighbors or out-of-town family members to take care of their pets during a hurricane.Some also locate a pet hotel or a kennel, and others have veterinarians that can accommodate evacuated pets, she said.One place that won't be taking evacuated pets is the SPCA of Northeastern North Carolina, which operates a shelter on Wilson Street in Elizabeth City, according to Carl Estus, chapter president."We don't have the capacity to house animals," he said.Another reason the SPCA can't take in pets during a hurricane, he said, is because shelter workers and volunteers won't be able to isolate each pet to see if it has any infectious diseases.Estus said he tells residents who call during a hurricane asking for shelter space to call a veterinarian.Last year, Saunders updated the local evacuation plan by addressing the needs of nursing homes, hospitals and jail facilities.This year's goal is to make sure no pet is left behind."If you are one of those people, and we've ordered an evacuation and you're not going to leave because of your pet, we want you to pick up your phone and call us."She said if a hurricane threatens, phone numbers will be publicized in advance.

Pets to get shelter protection during disasters

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