Hurricanes-What do you do with your pets?

dixienurse2be · Sep 15, 2004

Here in Alabama a lot of people are putting their pets into animal shelters. On the news they showed a line of about 200 people in Mobile trying to get their pets into shelters before the storm hits later tonight. It's gettin scary here folks.

britered · Sep 15, 2004

they can board them at a vet

Katnip, RN · Sep 15, 2004

What if the vet and staff evacuate? Who looks after them?

dixienurse2be · Sep 15, 2004

I'm not sure about the vet offices but I know that people have volunteered to stay at the shelters througout the weekend to look after pets. I am in lower central alabama and they are making sure that people know that there are shelters available for both pets and humans. We are expected to get hurricane force winds and extreme amounts of rain tomorrow so people are really taking Ivan seriously..which is a very good thing. It's a dangerous storm...

Katnip, RN · Sep 15, 2004

Yes it is a dangerous storm, and I hope that all of you in its path stay safe.

dixienurse2be · Sep 15, 2004

thanks so much =)

wannabee · Sep 15, 2004

I have a friend that was evacuating Destin and she said is was bumper to bumper traffic and all the cars were full of people AND their pets, so apparently a lot of people take pets with them when they leave. She even saw trailers of cattle and some pigs.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Sep 15, 2004

I would take my animals and sleep in my car if need be, but hopefully find a motel room that would allow pets if I drove far enough. If not you can park and set up the animals in the car if it's not hot, while you stay in whatever shelter is available.

dixienurse2be · Sep 15, 2004

yeah in Alabama they made both sides of I-65 northbound so that people could evacuate...once it gets above montgomery it goes back to both directions so the traffic is AWFUL. We have a family friend who lives in Gulf Breeze, FL..right outside of Pensacola and she has family here. She came back yesterday and she brought her dogs with her. I guess the shelters are more for people a little more inland who are going to shelters themselves and can't take pets with them. I know I wouldn't want to leave my dog though..I would want to keep him with me if at all possible.

britered · Sep 15, 2004

What if the vet and staff evacuate? Who looks after them?

i work at a vet in baton rouge, and our clinic is completely full of pets boarding from new orleans. the owners are all staying at hotels in the area. even if my vet closes tomorrow, there is an employee who lives next door to to the clinic, and he will look after the animals.

June55Baby · Sep 15, 2004

It sure is awful to hear about all the problems with people and hurricanes. I am just curious as to what happens to their pets during a hurricane. I was told that pets are not allowed to go with their owners into an emergency shelter.

Here in Central Mississippi we have many shelters for evacuees and for animals. Some Hotels/Motels are allowing pets and the state Equine Center is housing horses. Also, some of the vets and stables are sheltering animals.