For those of us living in hurricane zones, summer can be as nerve wracking as it is fun. The threat of a hurricane or other severe natural disaster is one to take seriously – especially if you have Fussy Pups to think of.
Hurricane Katrina taught us some brutal lessons about emergency preparedness and pets. Hundreds of thousands of pets were killed, lost or abandoned as a result of the storm.
The good news is that animal advocacy groups have been fighting hard to make sure pet owners have access to necessary resources during emergency situations – and they are being heard. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) of 2006 requires that state and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency if they want to qualify for grant money from FEMA. The Act gives FEMA authority to help communities develop pet-friendly shelter facilities and practical assistance for individuals with pets and service animals, and the animals themselves, following a major disaster.
Pet owners bear the responsibility of making sure they are prepared to keep their furry friends safe and healthy during emergency situations. The following resources will help you prepare in time for this year’s hurricane season:
1. The Humane Society of the United States Disaster Preparedness Guide includes a list of everything you will need to keep your pet healthy and safe during an emergency situation. Print a copy for future reference. If you lose power, you won’t have the luxury of a Google search!
2. Keep your emergency survival kit handy at all times and refresh perishable items every six months.
3. Keep your pet’s identification tags and microchip records updated at all times.
4. Have an emergency evacuation plan in place and share it with your family and neighbors. Disaster can strike at any time – make sure that someone can step in for you if you are not home and cannot get to your pets in time.
The ASPCA offers FREE pet rescue window decals that alert rescue personnel that pets are inside your home. Click the image below to order one.
5. Keep an updated list of animal friendly shelters and hotels in your evacuation area – list should include resources in a radius of 100-150 miles. Keep a printed copy of animal friendly shelter information for your evacuation area.
Animal Friendly Shelter Directory by State
**Fussy Pup strongly recommends your verify your local listings on a yearly basis as part of your preparation.
Here’s to a fun and safe summer for all Fussy Pups!
If you have tips or links to additional resources you’d like to see added to this article, please comment below. The Fussy Pup emergency preparedness guide will be a permanent resource on our official website launching in June 2008.
Technorati Tags: pets and hurricane season, animal friendly evacuation shelters, pets and natural disasters
This is good advice wherever you live. We are in the midwest and deal with tornados frequently. I remember the images of New Orleans and of all the animals left behind. Thank you for not letting us forget. I for one have ordered my widow decal!