Help me make room for our dogs at evacuation shelters

I understand the points you pointed out and I am all for having separate shelter locations. However, currently they dont even have that. Their current policy is to deny pets access period. To deny access is basically a death sentence during a natural disaster event. I understand some people might be allergic and could die, so therefore the American Red Cross does not admit pets. Then, I would take it that, their stance would be they would kill a pet to save a human. If that were the case then we might as well continue to do chemical testing on animals since whatever we find out in those tests could also save humans.

I am not asking people who are allergic to pets to be housed with them. All I am asking is we do something for our pets. What exactly, I will leave up to the powers to be. Doing nothing (currently) is not an option.

 Can I have your support?

Where are you located? There ARE pet-friendly shelters out there, certainly not enough, but there are some. The way we work ours, dogs/cats are all crated. You sign your papers, then you go back with the rest of the people. You can visit you dog for a short period of time, one human at a time. This is how it is supposed to work, we'll see when the day comes. People with allergies will not have to worry about a dog being right next to them, as they are all kept seperate.

I am located in Illinois and fortunately I never had to deal with an evacuation. However, I have read so many horror stories. AND, this is what the FEMA website states:

"Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is not the best action. BUT, pets cannot go with you to a Red Cross emergency shelter (unless they are service animals, like dogs for the visually impaired.)"

You can find the full description at their site. http://www.fema.gov/kids/evacuat.htm

I am not sure what organization you belong too but it sounds like you are the lucky ones.

Please take a moment to look at the petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/LittleMe/

I live in FL and they are starting to try to provide some pet friendly shelters but.  You have do understand the huge logistical nightmare it involves. 

First these shelters are usually set up in schools or churches and especially in the case of schools the local authorities have forbidden pets in there.  You usually have just one area that is cat 3 or 4 hurricane resistant and that area is for people. 

As much as 80% of the pets in my county do not have license tags which means they probably aren't utd on shots especially rabies.  That presents a huge disease potential. 

Stackable hard crates must be provided for all pets.  That is a serious investment as most of the people that would use the shelter probably don't have a crate. 

Food, water, bathroom facilities must be provided.  Remember that you can't just go outside and walk them when the hurricane is overhead. 

Most times power is lost so ventilation is a issue. 

What pets are accepted.  Dogs, cats, reptiles, rodents?  Where do you draw the line as some of these pets are pretty good meals for others.

Shelters are the last resort for people.  It is suggested that people have alternate plans if they have pets and to have those plans in place ahead of time.

It's great to sign a petition but one really must understand all the factors.

no one ever said it is going to be easy, but does that mean we shouldn't speak up. How long did it take FEMA just to get water delivered to New Orleans?

We pay for city tags, permits, licenses, etc for our pets. let them take some of that money and devote it to disaster planning for pets.

If you want to point to why it won't work, I can also say humans are not all good. In an evacuation shelter we might be next to a registered sex offender but we wouldnt know since we have no internet to look him or her up. Without knowing we would ask him or her to look after our kids while we go fill out some paper work for the emergency response officials. And then next thing we know we are screwed cuz they have taken our kid.

By allowing service dogs into shelters and not other dogs, we might as well say doctors and lawyers and teachers are allowed but everyone else is not since we dont have the space to accommodate. Service dogs also need bathroom access. That would still affect ventilation.

If I didn't do what I do, I would have a plan anyway, one that did *not* rely on a government shelter. A hurricane is a stressful time for everyone, especially those unfortunate enough to end up in a shelter. I personally wouldn't want subject my dog to that - dogs with questionable health, kids, strangers, AND bad weather? No thanks.

I live in Southern Alabama. Believe me when the Hurricane enters the waters of the Gulf EVERYONE sits up and pays attention. Animals are  now allowed in many of our shelters. That was a small gift from the disaster that was Katrina. If it is under a Cat 4 we ride it out at our home. It is a sollidly built brick home well above water. However we are about 3 miles as the crow flies from the beach.  Depending on which side the storm will strike is how safe you may be. To help both my vet and friends  We normally take in all dogs that can not find space at the local vets.  I maintain extra crates at my home for this very reason. The worst was when I had 14 dogs from small to medium dropped off and my kids humanelypicked up another 12 from elderly folks homes. Sadly  The norm around here is for folks to turn their pet loose hoping it not only survives but can find it's way home. I can't sit still and allow that.

So to give some of you a bit of an idea what it is like to live in an evacuation area I thought I'd share this with all of you...

We did not evacuate for Katrina.  Kat hit head on less than 2 hours from us. Sounds as if WE should have been very cozy I'm sure... but in reality  we went through horrible, horrible weather, Trees swaying and oaks, pines over 50 feet tall touching their tops to the ground in a mad dance with the wind. We had our 5 dogs and the "guest" dogs , 5 very small kids, and 5 adults. My husband kept calling to see how we were. He was in Memphis Tn.  I convinced him to stay as the traffic becomes beyond bizarre .  The 8th  day after Kat hit  I drove to Gulfport Ms which was nearly leveled by the storm to pick up  2 more RRS at a shelter. I took photos and when DH called I made casual conversation as he would have exploded if he knew I was driving into the area. I took as many items as I could... bags of dog food, bleach, toweling, tarps, the few extra leads and collars I had, my daughter used a friend's generator to power the oven long enough to bake cookies for the shelter workers. I stopped and begged for Ice froom one of the few working restaurants in our area and they also kicked in sodas for the shelter workers. Upon arriving I found the shelter way beyond capacity. When ever possible as many dogs were cramed into every kennel space. The tiny dogs were as many as 20 in a single space. If the dog was aggressive it was put down quickly.  Cats who normally are inthe little rabbity hutch crates were stuffed in , again as many as could fit I counted 7 in one near the RRs kennel. It was smaller than a small laundry basket. Definetly no room for litter pans eyc.  Euthanazia was scheduled to start enmass that day . The rrs I picked up were caged together even though they had not known each other before. Both had been surrendered as the owners fled with hopes they would either survive or be PTS  humanely. For some unknown reason they managed to get one kennel to themselves. Granted it was in really bad shape. The male was badly injured, ( that is another story) the female was so pregnant she was barely able to walk. The shelter called them Elvis and Priscilla. Elvis blocked the  opening in the wall to prevent the sheeting rain and winds from blasting away at Priscilla.  I was able to keep Elvis for 5 days but had to insist Rescue make arrangements, I knew if he stayed much longer I would never be able to be parted from him. Priscilla, was supposed to be at my home overnight then on to a vet student who would whelp the litter , he took one look at her in a snapshot and was overwhelmed. It was unknown to the Rescue Co-Ordinators he had never whelped pups. So She stayed with us. I whelped her 8 pups and when they were weaned Priscilla also went onto other Foster care. Much later the pups did as well. I was able to use my computer sparingly and after checking on my friends I posted to our breed list the saga of the Casino Row Crew, the Gulfport dogs and pups I had whelped. (Every one was placed  even though they were obvioulsy mixed with Lab ) .

The real point of sharing all of this with you all is that we were without power at my home for over 2 weeks. The youngest grandbabies and one daughter went to Atlanta with one of my much loved puppy families. The rest of us managed with little gas available. Feeding the kids first our emergency rations then the MREs brought in by the National Guard. We waited in shifts in lines to get them and the water and ice so terribly needed.  We were one of the fortunate families ,  we got a generator on loan about the 8th day. so we had limited power to our huge home. A fridge could be ran, one tv and several small fans.  Flushing the toilettes meant  using the gallon jugs of water we were able to fill  once a day at another more Northern friend's home. Showers were not an option unless you got in and out in under 5 minutes. Since they were cold showers that wasn't too much of a timing issue. Plus we doubled up when possible. I was the only one to get solitary shower  privelages, age has it's use from time ot time.   The Guest dogs were slowly picked up.  It took almost 3 weeks for all of them to go home.  There was no money asked for and little given for the care. It's just something neighbors do for each other here in the South  The shelters had long closed.  Many of our friends that had not called us prior to the storm later admitted they had lost their pets. 

Just think about it ,  here we are 2 hours away from Gulfport, nearly 3 from New Orleans. And yet many folks lost nearly everything. Billboards were twisted nearly to the ground. Trees lay about everywhere and roofs were so terribly damaged the roofing industry had the biggest boom year they can remember in over 2 decades. 

When the storm is a Cat 4 (+) we evacuate. Again we are lucky, we have a RV, We are able to pile everyone in and scoot down the road to comparitive safety. The kids and I wander with the dogs , taking pictures, playing on the playground equipment ... DH watches the news and makes endless phone calls. We always return home the day after to begin putting our lives back together. 

Here is is January , and like the rest of the counrty we are getting over the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Next month I begin putting together the emergency boxes. Weather  we stay or leave there are things we have to have. Papers, records are obvious but then you need bug spray, crayons , special treats to keep small people from freaking out when their world is upside down.  Clothes, and swimsuits, batteries and bottled water. Rain ponchos and umbrellas,  books for all ages,  puzzle magazines and pencil sharpeners,  antiseptic gels and tingly toners that make youforget for a few minutes that the weather sucks, you miss the AC and your hair looks like yeck !

It isn't just US on the Gulf Coast that have to scramble from time to time... California and the Fire Storms, Tornados all over, floods and even superbowls that don't go exactly the way everyone thought they would...  YOU need to have certain things set up to protect you and your fur kids. A binder with their records and a current photo of each. Suitcase crates or airline crates you can toss into or ontop of a car to contain your baby , Their feed , meds, and water from YOUR home... believe me you don't want to hit a well watered dog with city water or vice a versa if you don't have to. Benedryl, Imodium, stress meds and any other meds your fur children may need. This goes for your feathered and crawling  kids too.  Leashes, collars, blankets and pooh bags.... You can not expect folks to have these for you , so pack a box and check it every year !! There is much more but seriously , if you can not stay at a shelter you may need to double up with family or friends at a motel/hotel. You need these things for them too.

Lastly If You don't crate train your baby SHAME on you. This is when it is most important.  When the world is being turned inside out and upside down why should your pet need to howl nonstop or freak out because you stick it in a crate?? If it is used to it they handle it in stride, rather than adding  even more pressure and stress to an already rough patch !! 

I will sign your petition and with your permission will cross post it to my breed list.  This is something we all need to be ahead of the game on.

Bonita of Bwana

Last October during the firestorms in Southern California many evac shelters (Qualcomm Stadium and San Bernardino County come to mind) had facilities for pets in a separate area within the same complex.  The pet area was staffed by local humane societies.  Owners had to bring their pets' leashes, bedding and food, and were responsible for feeding, watering and walking; pets were kept in crates in a shaded area near the building housing the people.  There was a lot of news footage showing owners walking their dogs or sitting in folding chairs or on the pavement with their dogs beside them, etc.

Everyone said that we in So Calif. learned from Katrina, but there is really no comparison.  The fires did not destroy infrastructure, so people could still drive to safety with their pets and belongings and aid workers could come in and set up shelters.  Also, the problem was short-term; after the fire, the vast majority of evacuees had homes to return to.    

Our shelters are run by the local animal shetlers, and DART (Disater Animal Responce Team). I am one of those that will be pulled to work in the event of a hurricane. Now. I used to live in Illinois, what events are you planning on running this evacuation shelter for? Who are you planning on having run it? I think all of that needs to be addressed before the petition passes. There is so much that goes into these shelters, it's not a bring your dog and have a happy play-date sort of event.

tkchou

By allowing service dogs into shelters and not other dogs, we might as well say doctors and lawyers and teachers are allowed but everyone else is not since we dont have the space to accommodate.

I do not agree, sorry. Service dogs are HIGHLY trained animals, they are not you average pet. They will not be freaked out by all the comotion - trust me, there is plenty in an evacuation shelter. They are trained to respond only to their owners, and to ignore everything else around them. By taking away the service dog, you might as well take away all glasses, hearing aids, contacts, etc. These people need these dogs, that's why special rules are set in place for them.

erica1989

Who are you planning on having run it? I think all of that needs to be addressed before the petition passes. There is so much that goes into these shelters, it's not a bring your dog and have a happy play-date sort of event.

That is what I was trying to show in previous posts.  A shelter just isn't some camp out.  I assisted the FAKC with the sheltering work they were doing after our 2005 triple play.  I was just hauling food to them but I saw the enormous tasks they were presented with.  With all they were doing and that was after the fact starting from scratch it isn't a day at the park.

YES. I'll try to find my paperwork on the pet-friendly shelter we have here after my class tonight. There is so much that goes into it.

Pam and Connie are great people, if you would like to contact them in regards to DART. They really know their stuff.