Hurricanes-What do you do with your pets?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2004

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

When it looked like we were getting a direct hit from Charley, the vet had one kennel left for my dog if I wanted it. But they were going to leave them with food, then leave to take care of themselves and the animals were to be alone. I decided if I were to leave them alone I could do that at home.

Fortunately, I know a couple that rescues Italian Greyhounds and they are willing to take my two dogs into their home as they aren't in an evacuation zone and have storm windows. So I have a standing reservation with them. I adopted my two dogs from them, so they are familiar with them.

There are precious few options for pets in this area, but that's because we're so densely populated. In reality there isn't enough room for the humans in shelters, much less animals.

dogresQer · Sep 16, 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.

you can also contact an animal rescue. i live in south dakota and offered our assistance to the animals in florida that had no place to go. owners who were worried about their babies. we would do a fund raiser to raise money for the airline tickets and keep them here with us until they had a place to go back to. we use foster homes, none of our animals are kept in cages. they are kept indoors and loved. believe it or not, rescues work with other rescues no matter how far apart they are :) all for the love of animals

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Monica RN,BSN · Sep 16, 2004

In Florida we have many pet friendly shelters. They house them in a separate room though. We use our schools as shelters here. The pet has to be under 80 pounds to come to the shelter.

Be safe.......

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Sep 16, 2004

believe it or not, rescues work with other rescues no matter how far apart they are

i was so dismayed to hear that ivan isn't losing strength, and i'm praying you all come through this storm ok, both people and pets.

dixienurse2be · Sep 16, 2004

Well the worst of Ivan is over here in Central Alabama. The coast got hit pretty hard. The sudden turn east spared Mobile but it creamed Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola and a few other places pretty bad. It sped up once it got inland some so it's almost gone..just some bad wind and moderate rain left. Good luck to anyone still waiting to get back to your homes...my prayers are with you all.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2004

I just saw on the news a bunch of abandoned pets were taken to Atlanta for adoption by the Human Society.

How sad people couldn't make provisions and abandoned them. I don't know the full story or how many dogs it was and where they were found but that is so sad. If I find more about it, I'll post it.

dixienurse2be · Sep 17, 2004

that's sad...on the news today there were 3 or 4 dogs just wandering the streets in the rain and flooding and they kept questioning who the owners were...it's sad that some people could leave their pets behind

Blackcat99 · Sep 17, 2004

:) Thanks all for your great information. It was nice to hear about the many options available in case of an emergency evacuation. I was sorry to hear about some animals being abandoned. Hope you and your pets are safe.

sdg · Sep 17, 2004

In Birmingham, TEARS and the local EMA set up separate pet shelters for locals and evacuees to house their pets during the storm. The radio stations also advertised which motels would accept pets and what the conditions were.

My mom and her family came here to weather out the storm. Now she's on her way back to Orange Beach to survey the damage. Good luck to everyone.

CSLee3, ASN, BSN, LVN, EMT-P · Sep 17, 2004

Wow, it is sad people do the things they do. It is not like it was a 12 hour notice or anything. My spoiled rotten dog would be with us wherever we ended up, even if I had to sneak him into a hotel. He is (and thinks) he is part of the family, he has feelings and loves our kids. Couldn't imagine leaving him with anybody.......just my thoughts......

Alitia M · Sep 17, 2004

Hello,

We live on the coast and had to evacuate due to Ivan. I took 4 horses, 3 dogs, and my cat with me. No way I am leaving them if I don't feel it's safe enough for me to stay. They do not allow animals in the shelters here, but they do tell everyone not to leave them behind. I am not sure what they expect people to do with their animals..... We usually stay in a living quarter horse trailer and have to find a place to board the horses which isn't too hard.

Alitia

pedineuronurse · Sep 17, 2004

In Florida we have many pet friendly shelters. They house them in a separate room though. We use our schools as shelters here. The pet has to be under 80 pounds to come to the shelter.
Be safe.......

where in florida are you that there are pet friendly shelters? here in south florida there are not any. if you go to a shelter you must leave your pet at home, leave them with a friend, board them at the vet, or take them to a pet shelter.