Protecting pets in times of disaster

Kim Campbell Thornton • E-mail

Todd and Andrea Price were in Argentina when Hurricane Katrina struck their home in New Orleans. Worried about their pets, they breathed a sigh of relief when they learned that their pet sitter, Jason Johanson, had loaded up their cats Otis and Roxy, along with his own dog and cats, and headed northwest to Alexandria, La., out of the hurricane’s path.

Many other pets weren’t so lucky. A soaked dog was seen clinging to a rooftop. A woman visiting Canada was frantic about her two cats that were in a basement apartment. And a woman with eight parrots was turned away from the Louisiana Superdome, where people were taking refuge from the flooding.

When disaster strikes, it’s hard to think straight, so having a plan beforehand can save both human and animal lives.

Work out a buddy system
“If you have a pet sitter or someone you trust your animals to be in the care of when you’re not going to be home, talk about what they would do if there were a disaster,” says Terri Crisp, founder and director of Placerville, Calif.-based Noah’s Wish, an animal disaster-response organization. “You don’t want them to load up their car with grandmother’s china and leave without your dog.”

The ASPCA recommends creating a buddy system. Exchange house keys with a trusted neighbor, friend, relative or pet sitter so you can care for each other’s animals in a disaster situation.

If you are home and are ordered to evacuate, take your pets with you. “I tell people just to get in their cars with their animals and start driving,” Crisp says. “You will eventually come across somebody who will help you. But if you leave pets behind and you get down the road a ways and think, ‘You know, that probably wasn’t the best thing to do; I’m going to go back and get the dog,’ they’re not going to let you back in.”

Think through shelter options
Most shelters don’t permit pets, although the Humane Society of the United States reports that a pet-friendly shelter is available at the Coliseum in Jackson, Miss. Even if a shelter doesn’t allow pets, your animals can stay in your car and you can go out to care for them as needed. You may also choose to take refuge at a hotel where pets are permitted.

Where to go for help The following organizations provide information on what to do in the event of a disaster, as well as on ways to support animal disaster-rescue efforts. Click on a name to go to each group's Web site. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals American Veterinary Medical Foundation Humane Society of the United States Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Noah’s Wish

Have an idea of where you can go with your pets. Johanson took the Prices’ cats to mutual friends in Shreveport, La., where he was able to leave them before continuing on to stay with his family in California. The Prices, who are staying with family in Tulsa, Okla., then drove to Shreveport to reclaim Otis and Roxy.

The ASPCA recommends asking relatives and friends outside your area if they’d be willing to take you and your pets in if you ever need to evacuate. Line up several options if you have multiple pets that could overwhelm a single household.

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