PetKnows

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina was the many stories about pets left behind simply because their owners had no way to evacuate with them. Many people were faced with no other option than to use public transportation to a shelter that didn’t welcome animals. Thankfully, along with many other lessons learned from Katrina, evacuation plans are now including accommodations for pets, as seen in the recent evacuations for Gustav.

Along with shelters being more willing to accommodate animals, and temperature-controlled tractor trailers being provided for evacuating crated pets, animal evacuation centers have been set up for residents who have no other way to evacuate with their furry loved ones. These centers allow owners to register their pets so they can retrieve them after the danger has passed. Animal shelters in areas housing evacuees, such as Dallas, are also providing a place for owners to leave their pets to be cared for in case their shelter does not accommodate animals. And, of course, the ASPCA is also on the Gulf Coast helping out every way they can.

It looks like Gustav will not pack the same punch as Katrina, but with more hurricanes to come, it is good to know that pets will no longer be left behind. As we all know so well, pets are not just animals that we allow to live in our homes - they are part of our families and need to be cared for too, even in the most dire of situations. Does your family have an evacuation plan that includes caring for your pet?

Update: In my quick researching for this post, I missed information on the Pet Evacuation Bill, passed in May 2006, which “requires that state and local preparedness offices take into account pet owners, household pets and service animals when drawing up evacuation plans.” Thankfully PetSugar posted some great information about it today so I could pass it along to you all!