Humane treatment of animals: the laws and rules

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1 Humane treatment of animals: the laws and rules Section 4 THE PETS EVACUATION AND TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS ACT OF 2006 (3 CE Hours) (Other sections of this course contain current Animal Welfare Act policies and rules; Title 9 Laws and Rules; and guidelines for euthanasia.) Learning objectives!! Explain the background of the PETS Act and the concerns that precipitated it.!! List the costs the PETS Act will cover.!! Discuss actions veterinarians can take to help prepare an emergency evacuation plan for pets.!! List the concerns and steps that must be addressed when planning a pet-friendly shelter. Introduction: The Katrina disaster Pets are an integral part of American society and economy; more than half of households in the United States include pets. During times of disaster, people will risk their lives and the lives of others to save pets. As a result of the 2005 hurricane season that saw the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and others since, the importance of disaster preparedness plans for animals has attained national attention. The concern over disaster plans not adequately taking into consideration the pet population and the pet owner population led Congress to enact the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act) which was signed into law in October The PETS Act broadened the responsibility of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the evacuation and sheltering of pets during disasters as well as making clear the roles and responsibilities that local emergency management has in planning for families with pets. Equally important to government roles, individuals need to take personal responsibility for the well-being of their family and their community, including their pets. By having a plan, keeping proper preparedness supplies on hand and knowing the community s emergency operations plan (EOP), individuals have the ability to protect themselves and their pets during an emergency situation. As a veterinary health professional, educating people in your community on the importance of including pets in their individual and family disaster plans and ensuring that your local emergency response plan includes pets can make a life-saving difference for owners and their pets. PART I: THE PETS ACT Congressional Research Service summary The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that state and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency. The act authorizes the director to: (1) Study and develop plans that take into account the needs of individuals with pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency; and (2) Make financial contributions, on the basis of programs or projects approved by the director, to the states and local authorities for animal emergency preparedness purposes, including the procurement, construction, leasing, or renovating of emergency shelter facilities and materials that will accommodate people with pets and service animals. Authorizes federal agencies to provide, as assistance essential to meeting threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster, rescue, care, shelter and essential needs to individuals with household pets and service animals and to such pets and animals. PETS Act rules and policy Disaster Assistance Policy I. TITLE: Eligible Costs Related to Pet Evacuations and Sheltering II. DATE: October 24, 2007 III. PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to identify the expenses related to state and local governments emergency pet evacuation and sheltering activities that may be eligible for reimbursement following a major disaster or emergency declaration. IV. SCOPE AND AUDIENCE: This policy is applicable to all major disasters and emergencies declared on or after its date of issuance. It is intended to be used by FEMA personnel involved in making eligibility determinations under the Public Assistance Program. I. AUTHORITY: Sections 403 and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. 5170b, 42 U.S.C. 5192; the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act) of 2006, P.L. No , 4, 120 Stat (2006); and 44 CFR (a), (a). II. BACKGROUND: On October 6, 2006, the PETS Act was signed into law, amending Section 403 of the Stafford Act. Section 403, as amended by the PETS Act, authorizes FEMA to provide rescue, care, shelter, and essential needs for individuals with household pets and service animals, and to the household pets and animals themselves following a major disaster or emergency. III. POLICY: A. Definitions: 1. Household pet. A domesticated animal, such as a dog, cat, bird, rabbit, rodent, or turtle that is traditionally kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes, can travel in commercial carriers, and be housed in temporary facilities. Household pets do not include reptiles (except turtles), amphibians, fish, insects/arachnids, farm animals (including horses), and animals kept for racing purposes. 2. Service animal. Any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items. 3. Congregate household pet shelters. Any private or public facility that provides refuge to rescued household pets and the household pets of shelterees in response to a declared major disaster or emergency. B. Eligibility. State and local governments that receive evacuees from areas declared a major disaster or an emergency may seek reimbursement for eligible pet rescue, sheltering, and evacuationsupport costs. 1. State and local governments outside the designated disaster area may seek reimbursement under mutual aid protocols through the affected and supported state(s). (44 CFR (a)(2)). 2. State and local governments are the only eligible applicants for sheltering and rescuing household pets and service animals. Contractors or private nonprofit (PNP) organizations that shelter or rescue household pets and service animals cannot be reimbursed directly as an applicant. However, contractors and PNPs can be reimbursed for sheltering and rescuing household pets and service animals through a state or local government, provided a written statement from an eligible applicant is presented in which the applicant verifies that the contractor or PNP is performing or has performed sheltering or rescuing operations on the applicant s behalf and the expenses are documented. C. Household pet rescue. State and local governments may conduct rescue operations for household pets directly or they may contract with other providers for such services. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Overtime for regular full-time employees. Elite Page 1

2 2. Regular-time and overtime for contract labor (including mutual aid agreements) specifically hired to provide additional support required as a result of the disaster. 3. The use of applicant-owned or leased equipment (such as buses or other vehicles) to provide eligible pet transportation to congregate pet shelters may be reimbursed according to 44 CFR (1) (a) (does not include operator labor). The cost of leasing equipment for this purpose may also be eligible for reimbursement. D. Congregate household pet sheltering. State and local governments may conduct sheltering operations for pets directly, or may contract with other sheltering providers for such services. Eligible Category B congregate pet sheltering costs may include, but are not limited to, the reasonable costs for: 1. Facilities. Minor modifications to buildings used for congregate household pet sheltering, if necessary to provide increased capacity for the accommodation of shelterees household pets. Facility lease or rent. Increase in utility costs, such as power, water, and telephone. Generator lease and operation (but not purchase). Shelter safety and security. Shelter management. Shelter and crate/cage cleaning. 2. Supplies and commodities. Eligible items are those needed for, and used directly on, the declared disaster, and are reasonable in both cost and need. Examples include: Food, water, and bowls. Crates/cages. Pet transport carriers. Animal cleaning tables and Page 2 supplies. Medication for animal decontamination and parasite control to ensure that the animal is not a health threat to humans or other animals. 3. Eligible labor. If the regular employees of an eligible applicant perform duties in direct support of congregate pet sheltering operations, any overtime pay related to such duties is eligible for reimbursement. However, the straight-time pay of these employees is not eligible. Regular-time and overtime for contract labor, including mutual aid agreements, specifically hired to provide additional support required as a result of the disaster or emergency is also eligible for reimbursement. 4. Equipment. The use of applicantowned or leased equipment (such as buses, trucks, or other vehicles) to provide eligible pet evacuation or sheltering support may be reimbursed according to 44 CFR (1) (a) (does not include operator labor). The cost of leasing equipment may also be an eligible expense for reimbursement. 5. Emergency veterinary services. For the purposes of screening the health of household pets and service animals, and assessing and treating minor illnesses and injuries, congregate pet shelters may be staffed with emergency veterinary teams. The following costs related to the provision of emergency veterinary services in a congregate pet sheltering environment are eligible for reimbursement: Veterinary diagnosis, triage, treatment, and stabilization. Provision of first aid, including materials (bandages, etc.). Medicine. Supervision of paid and volunteer veterinary staff. Vaccinations administered to protect the health and safety of congregate shelter and supporting emergency workers including but not limited to tetanus and hepatitis. Vaccinations administered to protect the health and safety of congregate shelter pets for transmissible or contagious diseases including but not limited to bordetella/kennel cough. 6. Transportation. Transportation of evacuees household pets and service animals to congregate shelters from pre-established pickup locations is an eligible expense when the means of transportation used is the most costeffective available. 7. Shelter safety and security. Additional reimbursable safety and security services may be provided at congregate pet shelters, based upon need. 8. Cleaning and restoration. The costs (to the applicant) to clean, maintain, and restore a facility to pre-congregate pet shelter condition are eligible. 9. Removal and disposal of animal carcasses. The costs (to the applicant) to remove and dispose of animal carcasses in a safe and timely manner and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations are eligible. 10. Cataloging/tracking system for pets. The reasonable costs (to the applicant) for tracking animals at congregate pet shelters for the purposes of reuniting them with their owners are eligible. D. Service animals. Service animals will be sheltered with their owners in congregate shelters. E. Length of operation. Costs of sheltering/ caring for household pets will no longer be eligible for FEMA reimbursement when the pet owner transitions out of Section 403 emergency sheltering. ORIGINATING OFFICE: Disaster Assistance Directorate (Public Assistance Division). PART II: COMMUNITY ACTION Introduction The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the Citizens Corps Program, the American Red Cross and the Humane Society of the United States, has created a toolkit to help people promote pet preparedness in their communities. The booklet, Community Pet Preparedness Keep Your Pets Safe, is available online at toolkit_pets/index.html. It is part of the Ready Campaign produced by The Advertising Council for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. The Ready Campaign has partnered with several national animal organizations to develop emergency preparedness information for owners of domestic pets. Veterinary professionals, animal control and humane shelters are among the key leaders and organizations the agencies believe can help to create community disaster plans for pets. Veterinary professionals, animal control and humane shelters are among the key leaders and organizations the agencies believe can help to create community disaster plans for pets. Some of the steps the agencies recommend include: Reviewing local emergency plans. Identifying key organizations and leaders. Researching previous community efforts. Review local emergency plans Even the smallest communities have an emergency operations plan that describes how government and private organizations coordinate in a crisis. Emergency managers, elected officials, police or fire departments officials are usually in charge of such a plan. You should be able to request the local emergency operations plan from your emergency management agency. It is important to review and understand your local disaster plan. One component of the emergency plan should describe how the community would deal with an emergency involving animals or people with animals. If it does not mention animals, you may be able to help in the development of the animal component by offering your business as a resource. It is important to recognize that emergency managers have a great deal of responsibility, that they are aware that it is Elite

3 critical to have a disaster plan for people with animals and that legislation requires them to include pets in the emergency plan. Be sure to approach emergency managers with respect and a cooperative attitude and convey a desire to help them accomplish their goals. Here are some ways in which you may be able to help: Identify your local Citizen Corps Council, Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), and/or contact your emergency manager to discuss how you could become involved. Organize meetings with government agencies, animal organizations, businesses and volunteers in your community to discuss how the community can support animal disaster planning efforts and develop animal or pet disaster plans based on guidance from emergency managers. Participate in local and state-level disaster programs, e.g., training and exercises. Organize public education preparedness campaigns and activities. Partnerships with emergency managers are successful when: Trust is built between organizations through a record of cooperation and accomplishment. There is demonstrated commitment to focused objectives. Collaboration on disaster preparedness activities exists. Relationships are built on mutual respect, communication and inclusiveness. Identify key organizations and leaders Cooperation among interested individuals and groups is the key to success in many situations, including animals in disasters. Leadership and trust among people is a key to problem solving and resource identification. Prepare a resource list of key organizations and leaders. Many of these identified stakeholders meet on collaborative planning bodies, such as Citizen Corps Councils, LEPCs, and/or VOAD. Work with these collaborative bodies to establish pet and animalspecific working groups. Some of the key leaders (in addition to yourself) and organizations to include are elected leaders, public safety departments (e.g. police and fire administrators), public and private animal officials and organizations (e.g. other veterinary professionals, animal control and humane shelters), transportation agencies and organizations, public and private building owners or Realtors, public works and private contractors, and legal, health and medical organizations. Research previous community efforts It is important to know if a similar effort in your community was started but did not succeed and why it failed. Alternately, success in one community can be an example for success in a similar community. There are many examples of creative leadership, appropriate policies and successful community-based solutions to protect people and pets. One common failure is when one community takes another community s emergency plan and just changes the name of the community. It is important to adapt the plan to the particular needs of your population and area. The process of planning can be difficult when working with many organizations; however, the relationship building that takes place during the process can be important to the success of a plan during an actual crisis. Your local emergency management office, police department or fire department may be able to provide this sort of information. Another place to look for examples is the Lessons Learned Information System (LLIS), at Federal, state and local resources There are many resources available to you through the federal government and through local and state agencies and organizations. Listed below are some of these resources. FEMA Below is a list of some of the resources provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These can be found online at gov and through FEMA s Publication Warehouse ( National Response Framework ( fema.gov/emergency/nrf/) The National Response Framework is a guide that details how the nation conducts all-hazards response from the smallest incident to the largest catastrophe. This document establishes a comprehensive, national, all-hazards approach to domestic incident response. The framework identifies the key response principles, as well as the roles and structures that organize national response. It describes how communities, states, the federal government and private-sector and nongovernmental partners apply these principles for a coordinated, effective national response. The Emergency Management Institute ( training.fema.gov/) This agency offers numerous courses that directly support national efforts to train people at all levels on their role in the framework. Among them are: EMI s Independent Study NRF related courses ( EMI s NRF related courses conducted by states ( NRF Resource Center ( emergency/nrf/). FEMA s Comprehensive Planning Guide FEMA s Comprehensive Planning Guide (CPG) 101 provides general guidelines on developing emergency operations plans (EOPs). It promotes a common understanding of the fundamentals of planning and decision making to help emergency planners examine a hazard and produce integrated, coordinated and synchronized plans. This guide helps emergency managers in state, territorial, local, and tribal governments in their efforts to develop and maintain a viable all-hazard EOP. Find it at about/divisions/cpg.shtm. FEMA s Public Assistance Grant program For information, see: Public assistance policy ( gov/government/grant/pa/policy.shtm). Sheltering activities ( government/grant/pa/faq_403sheltering1.shtm). PA Pet Evacuation and Sheltering Policy Eligible Costs Related to Pet Evacuations and Sheltering: ( government/grant/pa/9523_19.shtm). The Ready Campaign Ready consulted with a number of organizations experienced in animal health and well-being to develop preparedness information for pet owners. These organizations include American Kennel Club (AKC), American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Included in this Ready Campaign information is a brochure and instructional video that highlight the key steps pet owners should take to prepare their families and their animals. The brochure and video encourage pet owners to make an emergency supply kit including pet food and water, medications and medical records, leashes, ID tags and other appropriate supplies. The communication pieces also recommend pet owners have an emergency plan that considers their pets needs and learn more about the types of emergencies that can happen in their area and the appropriate responses. Pet owners can download the free brochure and instructional video from the Ready Web site ( or request a copy of the brochure by calling BE-READY. FEMA highlights public emergency preparedness through National Preparedness Month (NPM), a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. Every year, national, regional, state and local organizations participate in National Preparedness Month by distributing information, hosting events and sponsoring activities across the country to promote emergency preparedness. Mark your calendar for next year s NPM! Promoting pet preparedness in your community There is much you can do to effectively promote pet preparedness in your community. Provided below are some suggestions on ways to engage your community and leverage the media to promote your message. Engaging your community There are several different organizations and initiatives that can help you educate your community. Think about the various populations Elite Page 3

4 you want to reach and the best ways to reach them. Here is a list of event and initiative ideas to inspire you. Work with your local pet store or shelter to distribute emergency preparedness information to pet owners as well as in your own veterinary practice. Include preparedness activities at petfriendly community events: Include pet preparedness information at existing community events that allow pets by providing a table with Ready brochures, lists of pet-friendly shelters and hotels. Have a photographer on hand to take pictures of pet owners with their pets to place in their emergency supply kit. Download the Family Emergency Plans and the Emergency Supply Kit Checklist templates and distribute them. Invite Rex, the Ready Kids mascot, to your events. Host a National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day in May: The second Saturday of May is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. Host a preparedness event in conjunction with local pet events or pet walks, and distribute the Ready Preparing your Pets for Emergencies Makes Sense brochure. This event could bring together animal lovers in the community and help them to develop emergency plans that take into consideration the special needs of their animals and plan what to do in case of an evacuation. The Humane Society of the United States, American Kennel Club, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association have worked on the Ready Campaign, and their local organizations or members may be interested in participating. Participate in National Preparedness Month (NPM): FEMA hosts NPM every September. This is a month dedicated to promoting emergency preparedness. Go to the Ready Campaign at to learn more about how to participate. Host a pet preparedness event and post it on the NPM calendar. Reach out to your local Citizen Corps Council to coordinate education and public outreach, participate in training and exercises, and involve Citizen Corps programs in pet and animal preparedness and response. In addition, Citizen Corps Councils can assist in developing programs that involve volunteers in animal response teams. Humane Society University is the educational arm of The Humane Society of the United States. To find and register for HSU workshops or online courses for yourself or others, visit humanesociety.org/university and click on Course Search. HSU offers courses in many areas, to include an undergraduate major in humane leadership, a graduate degree in community leadership, and online courses in five subject tracks: Page 4 Advocacy. Animal caregiving and behavior. Humane education. Humane leadership and shelter management. Law enforcement. Host a disaster animal response team (DART) or emergency animal sheltering (EAS) workshop in your community. Can t find a workshop near you? Consider serving as a co-sponsor and bring a workshop to your area. To find out what is required, please visit humanesociety.org/university and click on On-site workshops. In addition to DART and EAS, HSU offers many other on-site workshops: Animal Cruelty for Non-Investigators. Animal Sheltering Operations Boot Camp. Coping with Compassion Fatigue. Communities and Colonies: Communitywide TNR Programs. TNR and Feral Cat Caretaker Workshop. Dealing with Difficult People. First Strike: Human/Animal Cruelty. Illegal Animal Fighting Investigations. Wild Neighbors: Humane Solutions to Wildlife Conflicts. In addition to the above organizations, there are many other cities, local and nonprofit organizations that might be willing to help spread the pet preparedness message by allowing you to pass out brochures at conventions, place them in their offices or speak during routine meetings. Here is a short list of organizations and events that will hopefully inspire you to think of many others. Local Cooperative Extension offices. Women s conferences. County Farm Bureaus. Medical societies. Veterinary technician schools. Libraries. Kiwanis clubs. Local business organizations and clubs. Dog day cares and kennels. University animal science departments and student services centers. Do your best to reach out to vulnerable or overlooked populations within your community. This may include seniors, economically disadvantaged citizens, those for whom English is a second language, or others. Utilize social networking sites to share information on trainings, events and so on. Include preparedness information. Engaging the media Your local media can play an integral role in helping you generate awareness about your pet preparedness initiatives. Getting newspaper reporters or local television and/or radio personalities to talk about your event or the issue of pet preparedness can be very effective because they reach a large number of residents in your area. Do your homework to find out if there are local journalists who have reported on emergency preparedness in the past or if there are any individuals who are particularly passionate about animals. For example, a local deejay might talk frequently about his pets during his morning show, or there might be a reporter who writes a pet column in your local newspaper. These are the individuals who will most likely rally behind your cause and help spread your message. If your market has a local television morning show, book an interview through the producer to share the three steps for pet preparedness with its viewers: 1. Prepare: Get a pet emergency kit. 2. Plan: What will you do in an emergency? 3. Stay informed: Know about types of emergencies. You could demonstrate how to build a kit and include some of the recommended items; provide a sample pet preparedness plan; and provide tips on how local residents can stay informed about the different types of emergencies that could happen in your community. You can also try to book an interview with a local radio station during morning or afternoon drive times, or with a local pet or family features reporter. If you are planning an event and want to utilize your local media to help drive traffic, you should give enough lead time for the media to promote the event. Here are some recommendations: Calendar submissions (print or online): Three weeks. Print: One-two weeks. Television or radio: One week. If you want the media to attend your event, Ready suggests the following lead time: Print: One week Television or radio: two-three days Ready suggests you continue to cultivate relationships with your local media because you never know when they can help you promote a pet preparedness event. Or they might start looking to you as a go-to resource if an emergency strikes your community and they need to provide tips or advice to the community. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) You can provide this information in s, newsletters, and articles. Why is pet preparedness important? Disaster can strike anywhere and at any time. House fires, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, hazardous material spills and acts of terrorism may all force you and your family from your home temporarily or maybe permanently. Responding to and recovering from such events requires advanced planning. All members of your family must be taken into account in these plans, including pets. Knowing what supplies to have available, how to evacuate with your pet, where your pet will stay, and how you will meet your pet s needs throughout the disaster are all critical questions that must be addressed. Is this a community-wide concern? Definitely. Most communities have a significant number of families with pets. Not only is the welfare of the pets important, the lack of planning for pet issues during disaster can have a direct Elite

5 effect on the safety of the human population. Pets are integral members of many families, and a community s lack of planning for pet issues may cause families to delay evacuation or avoid seeking assistance until they are sure their pet s needs are met. Additionally, first responders may be put at risk when confronted by frightened or displaced animals left behind. If the disaster has caused an intermingling of wild and domesticated animals, diseases like rabies could become a serious threat to humans and animals. Most communities have many vital and experienced components to disaster response local government and first responders, the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, other nonprofits, the faith community. Most communities also have organizations focused on meeting the needs of pets and other animals local government animal care and control, the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, other animal welfare and rescue organizations, veterinarians, and local businesses. In order to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of pets and their families, communities should begin discussions and bring these parties together to create well-coordinated response plans. What does a community need to be aware of? After Katrina, the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act was passed. This law requires local jurisdictions to include pet evacuation and housing as part of their disaster response plans. As stated above, all of those involved in disaster preparedness and response must be involved in this planning to ensure these efforts are effective. Why do pets require special attention in planning efforts? Most community disaster response plans, at least prior to the 2005 hurricane season, were focused on life safety, asset protection and recovery activities as they related to humans. In addition, a majority of families in this country have not (or do not have the resources to have) taken the necessary steps to prepare their families received training, developed a family plan and prepared a family disaster kit. These two factors together require some extra attention and effort to instill a sense of urgency in the minds of local government, local organizations and families to prepare adequately for disaster. Most importantly, as noted above, people consider their pets part of their family. If efforts are not made to plan for the needs of families with animals, the people will be at risk. Time after time, even after Hurricane Katrina, emergency managers have learned that without a plan for animals, their community is at increased risk during and after disasters. Is disaster response different for pets? It can be, yes. Evacuating pets may be more difficult if you cannot evacuate in your own vehicle. Pet owners must understand their community s evacuation plans and must ensure that they are prepared for any variations and restrictions. Most evacuation shelters do not allow pets (service animals are an exception) due to public health, safety or other concerns raised by the need to provide service to a large number and wide range of people. Most jurisdictions, Red Cross chapters and other shelter operators are working hard to ensure pet sheltering facilities are close or co-located with the human shelters, but families need to have knowledge of and be prepared for the type of accommodations available in their community. Red Cross chapters will not designate or operate pet shelters, but are willing to provide support to the process. Who should be working on pet preparedness in our community? Many organizations have an interest in and focus on pet preparedness. The following are a few examples: Local government Local first responders, emergency management, elected officials and the animal care and control agencies are all critical components of disaster response planning, including pet planning Local collaborative groups Citizen Corps Councils, LEPCs, VOADs, and other collaborative groups are excellent venues for sharing information, coordinating efforts and developing strategies for community outreach. American Red Cross chapters Local Red Cross chapters dedicate time to planning for feeding, sheltering and bulk distribution of supplies. The chapters will help to coordinate their human sheltering activities with pet sheltering activities of other organizations Local animal service organizations Organizations in the community providing services to animals on a daily basis are very important to disaster planning. These organizations are often the most familiar with the animal-related needs and resources of the community. Included are animal shelters; humane and rescue groups; veterinary professionals and facilities; boarding facilities; 4-H clubs; breed clubs and rescues; agricultural extension services; pet care services; and many more. Community-based animal facilities Veterinary and agriculture schools, research facilities, racetracks and others should be active participants in the planning for animals in disasters. Local components of national organizations The Humane Society of the United States, ASPCA, United Animal Nations and others these organizations have access to a wealth of knowledge and resources that can help a community properly plan for the needs of the pet community. Organizations providing mass care services Other voluntary organizations, including many institutions of faith, are also involved in feeding and sheltering activities. How do we bring the community together? Creating a culture of pet preparedness in a community takes dedication and effort on the part of all organizations involved. The following are just a few ideas on how to get the community involved: Discussions with collaborative groups (as mentioned above). Presentations and exhibitions at community forums fairs, preparedness events, pet events, faith-based events and so on. Public service announcements. Work with organizations to provide pet preparedness training courses. Work with organizations to provide pet CPR/ first aid courses. Encourage local, county and state politicians to hold forums to better inform planning efforts. PART III: EMERGENCY SHELTER OPERATIONS: PET-FRIENDLY SHELTERS Summary Evacuation and sheltering operations inevitably involve endangered people who own pets, but most emergency shelters do not accept pets due to health and safety regulations. If there is no opportunity to bring their pets with them to safety, some pet owners will refuse to evacuate or will delay evacuation. According to a Fritz Institute survey, approximately 44 percent of the people who did not evacuate for Hurricane Katrina stayed, at least in part, because they did not want to leave their pets behind. Pet-friendly sheltering is one of the most common methods of providing emergency accommodations for pet owners and their animals. A pet-friendly shelter is a public human emergency shelter that is located within the same area or facility as an emergency shelter for pets. These shelters typically allow pet owners to take care of their own animals, reducing the shelters logistical and staffing requirements. The presence of pet-friendly shelters can increase the likelihood that endangered pet owners will evacuate to safety with their animals during an emergency. Pet-friendly shelter guidance does not apply to service animals. Service animals should never be separated from their owners, under any circumstance. This information, prepared by Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS.gov) a Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency program, outlines the essential issues that jurisdictions and interested volunteers should consider when developing plans to establish pet-friendly emergency shelters. Local veterinarians may be asked for their assistance with such a project, and with their knowledge and expertise can play a large role in the development of shelters that will benefit their clients and communities. Part III includes the following topics: Initial planning. The shelter facility. The human shelter. Shelter operations. Registration and animal intake. Animal housing and care. Elite Page 5

6 Public outreach and information. Funding. More information. Although this section does not directly reference pet transportation, some sheltering operations may involve transporting animals to or from a pet-friendly shelter. For this reason, lists several helpful guidance documents concerning animal transportation can be found in the More information section at the end of this section. PRE-INCIDENT PLANNING Pet-friendly shelter organizers Pet-friendly shelters are most frequently organized by either local animal control offices or county/state animal response teams. Animal control offices typically run a jurisdiction s public shelter for un-owned animals and have staffs with extensive animal-handling experience. Animal control staff members are employees of the local government. Animal response teams, on the other hand, are public-private partnerships of government agencies (e.g. animal control offices, emergency management agencies), non-profit organizations (e.g. humane societies, animal rescue groups), businesses (e.g. kennels, dog clubs, veterinarians), and concerned citizens (volunteers). Some states do not have animal response teams, other states have statewide teams, and still other states have statewide, local, and/or autonomous teams. Establishing partnerships Pet-friendly shelters are established and operated only as a result of partnerships between the pet-friendly shelter organizer and the local mass care provider, the local emergency management agency, and the owner of the shelter facility. Pet-friendly shelter organizers should also coordinate with animal care organizations, private businesses, the media, and non-profit organizations that can provide valuable expertise, resources, and visibility for the shelter. For assistance identifying potential partners in your community, refer to the Florida State Agricultural Response Team s training course on Pets and Disasters: Identifying Community Needs and Resources at secure/detail.cfm?content_id= Shelter organizers must establish strong relationships with the local mass care provider since the pet section and the human section of a pet-friendly shelter are typically operated and funded independently of one another. Depending on the jurisdiction, the primary mass care provider may be the American Red Cross, social services, a church, or a school board. Since the mass care provider will often be concerned that the pet shelter staff will rely on them for assistance during an emergency, the pet shelter organizer should be able to clearly demonstrate that it will be able to operate independently. To this end, the pet shelter organizer and the mass care provider should consider developing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Page 6 clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of each participating organization. Strong support from local emergency management agencies can also help shelter organizers win the cooperation of reluctant mass care providers. Creating operating procedures Shelter organizers must develop standard operating procedures (SOP) for pet shelter operations in order to win support from mass care providers and other potential partners. These SOPs will allow shelter organizers to demonstrate that they have established procedures and processes to manage shelter operations. Established SOPs will help the shelter organizers to dissuade fears that the pet shelter would be a burden on human shelter operations. A shelter SOP should clearly describe the shelter s operations and management structure, including: Facility checks before and after shelter operations. Animal registration and intake. Shelter rules. Providing security to staff and animals. Owner visitation policies. Staff management and organization. Animal care and handling procedures. Roles and responsibilities. Copies of required forms and documentation. For samples of specific jurisdictions pet-friendly shelter SOPs, see the list of Plans under the More information section at the end of this section. Shelter staffing The pet shelter should be staffed by qualified animal care personnel with animal handling experience. Some shelters plan to rely solely upon local animal control staff, whereas others plan to use groups of trained, registered volunteers from the community or region. If a shelter organizer plans to use volunteers to staff the pet section of a pet-friendly shelter, that organization should take measures to register and train these volunteers in advance of an incident. Registering and training volunteers before an emergency allows the shelter operator to rely upon a preestablished cadre of skilled volunteers during an event. Shelter organizers should consider designating a volunteer coordinator to manage volunteer recruitment, registration, job assignments, and orientation. Some volunteer-dependent shelters have also developed protocols to register and use spontaneous (i.e. convergent), untrained volunteers when additional manpower is needed. These protocols establish processes to quickly register spontaneous volunteers and to assign them to tasks that they are qualified to perform. Shelter staff training All pet shelter staff members (and volunteers, if possible) should complete the following training courses to prepare themselves to operate under the shelter management system and to respond to emergency situations: Adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic first aid. Animal first aid. Disaster animal response. Incident Command System (ICS). National Incident Management System. National Response Plan. SHELTER FACILITY Potential facilities Pet-friendly shelters can potentially be set up in any location that is suitable for a human emergency shelter. Typically, pet-friendly shelters are created by developing plans to establish pet shelters in buildings already designated to contain human shelters during an emergency. Buildings often have features such as restrooms, running water, adequate lighting, and electricity that can greatly facilitate shelter operations. Buildings also offer protection if the shelter is going to be used during a weather-related event such as a hurricane. Since hurricane-vulnerable jurisdictions have the most experience in petfriendly sheltering, this section will focus on petfriendly shelters that use these indoor facilities. Pet-friendly shelters can also be established at outdoor locations for non-weather-related emergencies or post-disaster sheltering. Outdoor shelters should be established at locations that are open, accessible, and easy to locate such as fairgrounds, parking lots and sports fields. The Mississippi Domestic Cat and Dog Sheltering Plan recommends that outdoor shelters have access to running water and be set up under a sturdy structure, such as a military-grade tent, in case of inclement weather. Physically separate human and animal shelters The majority of emergency shelters, notably American Red Cross shelters, require animal shelters to be physically separate from human shelters. State health and safety regulations generally do not permit humans and pets to be sheltered in the same room. Stressed animals are more likely to exhibit violent behavior, so there is an increased risk for injury and potential infection from animal bites and scratches. Housing pets together with humans also poses serious health risks for some people, particularly immunocompromised people and people with asthma or allergies triggered by pet dander, feathers or fur. For more information, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s (CDC) Animals in Public Evacuation Centers fact sheet at animalspubevac.asp. When locating an animal shelter in the same building as a human shelter, shelter staff should take measures to ensure that the facility minimizes these health risks to the human evacuees. For example, shelter staff should consider whether the human shelter and the animal shelter can be established in nonadjacent areas of the building. Shelter staff should also determine whether the human and animal areas would be operating on the same heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) Elite

7 system, which could spread animal allergens and pathogens to the human shelter. Coordination with facility owner Before setting up a pet-friendly shelter, pet shelter staff members and a facility representative should conduct an inspection of the animal area to ensure that the space meets basic safety requirements and to identify any preexisting damage or problems. A documented and validated walk-through will also ensure that pet shelter staff will not be held responsible for any of the facility s pre-existing conditions after the shelter s closing. Pre-occupancy inspections typically confirm/identify: Adequate lighting. Ingress and egress through all doorways. Readily available fire extinguishers. Functioning water and power. Functioning restrooms. Non-carpeted floors. Operational ventilation. Scratches, scuffs, and damages to floors, window, walls, and doors. Mass care providers and pet shelter organizers can only use shelter facilities with the permission of facility owners. Facility owners are principally concerned that shelter operations do not damage the facility and that their facility can reopen immediately after the shelter s closure. Pet shelter organizers should develop procedures to protect the facility throughout shelter operations and to quickly restore the facility to its original condition after the shelter s closure. After shelter operations, pet shelter staff must thoroughly clean and disinfect all building facilities, including floors, handrails, water fountains, and doorknobs. To speed the shelter s closure, shelter-owned equipment such as animal crates and kennels may be removed to an off-site location, where they can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected without delaying the facility s restoration. PET SHELTER OPERATIONS Management Pet shelter staff should use ICS (the Incident Command System) to organize and manage the shelter s operations. ICS is a management structure that facilitates command, operational, planning, logistical, financial and administrative activities. Command personnel should include a public information officer to communicate with the public and a safety officer to monitor the safety of shelter operations. All pet shelter staff (and volunteers, if possible) should complete basic ICS training to familiarize themselves with its terminology, organizational structure, and functions. Shelter managers should take all possible measures to make the command structure clear to volunteers who do not normally work together in their shelter roles. For example, the Community of Hillsborough (Florida) Animal and Agricultural Response Team (CHAART) displays the shelter s ICS organizational chart prominently within the shelter as a reference for volunteers and shelter staff. In addition, the CHAART provides each staff member with a color-coded badge that identifies which jobs each person is qualified to perform during an incident: Black: Signifies the incident commander and his/her assistant. Duties include all the below, except veterinary-related responsibilities. Red: All the below, plus handling aggressive or agitated animals and providing medical care to injured or ill animals. Yellow: All the below, plus duties in the animal sheltering areas, such as animal observation and animal care. Green: Administrative duties such as shelter check-in, paperwork, set-up, and break-down. Necessary supplies Pet shelter organizers must identify the types and quantities of equipment and supplies that will be needed to operate the shelter. These supplies typically include: Administrative supplies. Animal care supplies (e.g. food, litter, bowls). Cages or crates. Cleaning supplies. First aid/medical supplies. Signage to guide evacuees. Pet shelter organizers should coordinate with the facility owner to identify whether any of the building s supplies or equipment would be available for use by shelter personnel. Frequently, however, shelter staff will not be able to use any facility resources other than the actual floor space. Shelter organizers should determine early in the planning process which supplies the shelter will provide and which supplies pet owners will be required to provide. Some pet-friendly shelters provide all the supplies necessary for operating the shelter, which allows these shelters to readily accept and support unprepared pet owners. However, since self-sufficiency is costly, many shelters ask pet owners to supply their animal s cage or crate, regularly taken medication, water bowl, leash or harness, and toys. Pet owners who bring the requested items will significantly reduce these shelters resource requirements. Still, many of these shelters maintain backup supplies to accommodate pet owners who arrive without these supplies or with supplies that are unsuitable for shelter use. Shelter organizers should consider purchasing a trailer to store all the equipment needed for the pet portion of a pet-friendly shelter. Shelter organizers can store the trailer off-site and quickly transport the equipment to the shelter site in the event of an emergency. Shelter organizers should carefully consider whether to use plastic, airline-type animal crates or wire cages to house the sheltered animals. Plastic airline transport cages may not provide enough ventilation for animals kept in facilities without air conditioning, whereas wire cages allow for improved air circulation. However, plastic airline cages contain animal feces and urine far better than wire cages. Shelter managers should choose the type of animal crate based upon their specific environmental and facilityrelated requirements. Safety and security Pet shelter staff may be exposed to numerous hazards during shelter operations, including obstructed corridors and fire exits, electrical shock, and hazardous chemicals. Pet shelter managers should require all shelter staff to undergo a safety training program to mitigate the risk of injury due to these hazards. Pet-friendly shelters should also take provisions to maintain the security of shelter staff, the animals, and any controlled substances (e.g. veterinary medicines) housed on the premises. For example, controlled veterinary substances should be secured within locked cabinets or rooms; access should be limited to only authorized veterinary personnel. Shelter staff should also develop procedures for nighttime operations that include locked doors and a staff presence at all hours. If the shelter is going to be open for a significant period of time, shelter managers should consider providing security personnel to maintain a 24-hour presence at the shelter. Registration and animal intake All pet-friendly shelters require pet owners to complete registration documentation that releases the shelter from liability and provides the identification information of owners and their animals. The registration process allows pet shelter staff to document which animals belong to which evacuees, so the staff can return the animals to their correct owners when the shelter closes. Pre-registration Some jurisdictions require potential evacuees to register for the pet-friendly shelter prior to the shelter s establishment. Jurisdictions with limited pet-friendly shelter space sometimes choose to pre-register the most vulnerable people to ensure that they are guaranteed shelter space during an emergency. For example, Pinellas County, Florida, reserves space in its pet-friendly shelters for the people who would be most at risk during a hurricane: those who live in manufactured homes and in the most high-risk storm surge zones. Jurisdictions that choose to pre-register shelter occupants should develop contingency plans to handle non-registered pet owners who might arrive prior to or during an emergency. For example, Pinellas County Animal Services plans to ask non-registered pet owners to make other arrangements but will accommodate them at the shelter when tropical storm-force winds are imminent. If the non-registered pet owners do not have proper immunization records, their animals will be isolated from the other pets at the shelter. Shelter operators may want to use pre-registration to better plan for the number of people and animals that will use a shelter during an emergency, but pre-registration numbers will often differ substantially from actual shelter usage. Many individuals who pre-register do so as part of a larger disaster plan and do not actually need to use the pet-friendly shelter; on the other hand, pet owners who do not preregister often do not plan for an alternative and Elite Page 7