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Animal ATTRACTION |
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August 2009
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Prepare for Hurricane Ike!
For larger animals, the Brazos Animal Shelter and the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine are ready to receive animals arriving with evacuees from Hurricane Ike. In the large animal shelter, they can accept up to 200 horses, 80 head of cattle, and 80 small ruminants and pigs. Pet Paradise in Houston will also serve as a pet evacuation site if there is a mandatory hurricane evacuation in the greater Houston area. They said they can board dogs and cats free of charge for up to 48 hours after the evacuation has been lifted. The Houston facility is located near the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport at 14500 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Owners must register pets ahead of time and are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. In the meantime, with Hurricane Ike approaching, the Harris County Disaster Animal Management Task Force recommends that residents plan now so that they can take their pets with them if they do need to evacuate. Click here for their brochure, Preparing Your Pet for Disaster. There are also many pet-friendly hotels in the state. Some important steps to ensure your pets safety include: Identification: Make sure your pet wears a collar and I.D. tag with up-to-date information. You may also want to consider microchipping your pet for permanent identification. Vaccinations: All pets should be current on their shots. Keep a copy of the vaccination records sealed in a plastic bag. Sleeping Quarters: Help your animals avoid shattering glass and falling objects. Don't place your pet's bed below windows or shelving. A home away from home: Every animal in your house should have a crate - a molded plastic carrying case. Familiarize your pet with the crate before the disaster strikes so that they will be comfortable when it is necessary. Check your yard: Make sure all fencing is secure and all holes and potential escape routes are blocked. Plan ahead: Identify animal shelters, local boarding facilities, veterinarians, motels and friends or relatives that may temporarily house your pet after a disaster.
Use this checklist as a guide for building your own disaster preparedness kit for your pet. •Molded plastic pet carrier •Copy of your pet's rabies and vaccination records sealed in a plastic bag •Pet first aid book and kit •Two-week supply of pet food •Bottled water •One-month supply of your pet's regular medications •Non-spill food and water bowls •Cat litter and litter pan •Leash •Plastic bags (for pet waste disposal) •Sheets (one to cover each pet carrier) •Blankets •Non-electric can opener •Newspaper •Disinfectants •Paper Towels •Comb/Brush 9 CommentsLeave a comment |
We live in a mobile home in Porter, We will be leaving our home. We are going to my sons home and we can take our dogs - not our cats. I have doggie doors - should I leave them open or close them in the house. I do have plenty of kitty litter boxes. I am very concerned as these cats are not young. Two are 18 yrs, and 14 yrs, and 9 yrs.
PLEASE ADIVSE ME WHAT I SHOULD DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JEANEANE
Well Jeaneane I honestly think you shouldn't leave those cats behind. Take them with you and drop them to a nearby pet's mart hotel or a animal shelter near your sons' home,or if you cant take them with you go give them to a animal shelter here or nearby, most shelters are taking in pets,do find out. It is best if you leave them with some kind of shelter. We pray for the best but God forbid if there is to be any mass destruction the life of those cats are at stake.
i have a bulldog and he can not swim and we are staying at our house should i go buy a life jacket for him? i went through allison and ended up carring my pitbull through 5 feet of water i cant do that again!!! what should i do?
I work at a local hospital and will have to be there during the hurricane. I live in a new 4 story apartment building where my patio is pretty much surrounded by walls. I am on the 4th floor. The only windows of the apartment are off the patio. So this setup seems pretty secure.
My cat does not like other animals. I am thinking it would be best to leave her home rather than at a shelter. Even though I won't be around. I am not allowed to bring her to work.
What are your thoughts on this plan?
Jeaneane: I *completely agree* with Alisha: if at ALL possible get your cats out of there. Especially take their ages into account --they won't be able to sustain their *own* lives if hurricane-force winds and floodwaters storm your mobile home.
Brandy: Sorry to say this, but if you wanted to purchase a life jacket for your bulldog, it should've been done a few days ago. Unless you live *right behind* a provisional store, don't waste the gas to try and get him one now. If this dog means as much to you as he did during Allison, you *CAN* carry him to safety.
Leora: This is a judgement call. If you would feel secure enough in your home to stay there *yourself* during the hurricane [though I understand you're going to have your arms full helping other people], then shut her in the safest room complete with all necessities so she can ride out the storm in comfort. Otherwise, let the shelters take care of her --she might be miserable, but she'll be safe.
I have 11 puppies they are only 5 wks old should I leave with them or should I find a boarding place for them. They have the first shots,I also have 2 older dogs what can I do? Where can I take them?
Please take your pets with you. They will not survive, especially if you are in a storm surge area. This story contains a list of pet friendly hotels around the state and the Animal Attraction story, "Animal Evacuations" has a list of county by county animal evacuation centers for large and small animals. Please take your pets with you when you evacuate!
I took my dogs and my cat to a shelter in Fulshear and whats cool is they have staff staying there all through IKE. But I had to leave my Red Eared Slider behind. I put him in the bath tub Should he be ok there???
Thanks to the late Congressman Tom Lantos, federal law requires all official disaster plans to provide for pet rescue. Further, it forbids exclusion of pets in human rescue efforts, as we so tragically witnessed during Katrina. Know your rights and those of your precious animals. SPCA and Humane Society of the US can provide any needed info, also supply carrying crates in advance when there's time to do so.
God bless all of you (2 and 4-footed ones) during this awful ordeal. We send our thoughts and prayers from Austin.