Pets need a hurricane plan, too

Hurricanes Katrina and Charley provided heartbreaking lessons about what happens when people fail to include their pets in their evacuation plans: Abandoned animals — filthy, starving and scared — roamed storm-stricken areas for weeks. Hundreds landed in animal shelters; countless more died.

"You need to have a plan for your family and that needs to include pets, too," says Ria Brown, public information specialist for Lee County Domestic Animal Services.

In response to those disasters, Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties have established pet-friendly hurricane evacuation shelters. In Lee County, it's South Fort Myers High School. In Collier, it's at North Collier Regional Park. The Charlotte County shelter is at Port Charlotte Middle School.

But officials say space is limited, and the shelters are open only for those under mandatory evacuation orders. "That should be the last resort if you cannot execute your plan," Ms. Brown says. "There's no place that can house everybody's pets."

In all three counties, owners must register and remain at the shelters as long as their pets do. One family member will be assigned to care for the animal at specified intervals. Animals must be current on immunizations and have a safe and secure crate.

The better option is to figure out now, well before a storm threatens, what you'll do should one take aim at Southwest Florida.

"Try to find hotels, motels, boarding kennels, family members or friends in an area that's not going to be hit," Brown says.

Camden Smith, public information coordinator for Collier County's Domestic Animal Services, says surrendering a pet at the shelter should be a last resort, but it's preferable to leaving the pet behind in the house.

"People must consider pets as part of the family," she says. "It's inhumane to leave them behind."

Pet owners should do the following now:

• Vaccinations: Make sure they are up to date. It takes about 10 days for immunizations to become protective, so it's too late once a storm approaches.

• Identification: Attach pets' rabies tags and ID tags with your phone number to collars. Microchip IDs (available through veterinarians and animal services) are highly recommended because they won't get lost and owners can keep the company informed as to their whereabouts. Check now to make sure your contact information is up-to-date.

• Hurricane kit: Gather pet supplies. (See accompanying box.)

• Accommodations: Secure a petfriendly place to stay.

Web sites

. www.Leelostpets.com: The Lee County Animal Services site offers stormpreparedness tips for pets and periodic microchip clinics. Call 533-7387.

. www.Colliergov.net/pets/: The Collier County Domestic Animal Services office can help owners register their pets for an emergency shelter. Call 252-7387.

. www.CharlotteCountyFL.com/ emergency: The Charlotte County Office of Emergency Management offers a pamphlet on pet preparedness. Call (941) 833-4000.

. www.Hsus.org: The Humane Society of the United States has a downloadable pamphlet on disaster preparedness.

. www.Petswelcome.com: Lists petfriendly hotels and motels.

— Karen Feldman, Florida Weekly

Pet hurricane kit

>>Treats, pet food (in waterproof containers)

and water for at least one week

>>Manual can opener >>Bowls for food and water

>>Impact-resistant crate of sufficient size

for each pet

>>Bedding for crate >>Litter, litter box and scoop for cats >>Pet's medications >>Toys, chewies and other stress relievers >>Current county license and ID >>Proof of vaccinations

>>Photos of pet and shots of family member

and pet (for use at shelter and proof of

ownership)

>>Pet first-aid kit >>Grooming items