Friday, August 31, 2012

Animal Evacuation for Isaac: Have We Learned From Katrina?

courtesty photo AP Photo David J. Phillip


As I write this blog on Thursday August 30, 2012, 8 a.m., Hurricane Isaac has already hit ground in the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama. Many homes have been destroyed and thousands of people have been evacuated. But the lingering question is What about their pets?

First of all, our prayers from all of us in North Andover, MA to all of the people affected by this storm. Included in our prayers will be the safety of your pets, livestock and wildlife.

Hurricane Katrina was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. As the rescue efforts began with Katrina, one of the worst mistakes that was made during the rescue effort was mandating people leave their pets behind. First responders were instructed to evacuate people only, save human life first, leave animals behind. More disturbing The Red Cross refused to allow pets into their designated shelters.

Yes, by theory it may make sense to some "save the human first" but to animal lovers this was absolutely not an option! As rescue teams came to help people from their rooftops, once these folks found out they were unable to take their pets with them, many refused to leave. In return, many people and pets lost their lives.
Question to you- Would you leave your pet behind in a natural disaster? The answer for me is NO. My Lani is my dog but she is my family. Leaving her is NOT an option I would even consider. If Mother Nature is going to take my dog, she is going to take me too! ( Would a Parent leave his/her child behind ?) NO, so why would I leave my Lani behind? Clearly from what happened with Katrina, thousands of other people felt the same way and did not evacuate.

During Katrina...

1. First Responders were told to save human life and leave pets

2. Red Cross refused animals into their shelters

3. Thousands of people refused evacuation because they were not going to leave their pets behind

4. Many pets that did make it to shelters were never reunited with their families: Family member may have died, animals may not have been micro chipped or had not identification on their collars or people became homeless and didn't have a place for their pet to live.

During Katrina, who could forget Anderson Cooper in the canoe filming and saving animals? Anderson was filming dogs on roof tops, tied to trees left to die and animals swimming for survival. He was the leader in educating the entire world on the flaws in protecting our pets, lack of inclusion in evacuation plans and informing Local, State, and Federal Officials that this was truly a life or death problem for animal and humans. I will never forget the raw emotion of Anderson yelling into the camera demanding first responders to get back out there and save the animals. Anderson Cooper opened the eyes to many in our country to the extent of this problem. He really is an Animal and Human Advocate !

Seven years later.....

There has been great progress with rescue to our animals and evacuation plans:

1. After Katrina many States, including Massachusetts passed legislation to include animals in evacuation plans.

2. Red Cross still doesn't allow animals in their shelters however, they have become more collaborative and have partnered with many rescue leagues. The rescue leagues are being allowed to set up shelter in the same location or near the Red Cross shelters. This will allow the families to still be near their pets. In many cases this will also save lives, people that may not have evacuated before will now as they can be with "ALL" their family members.

During Isaac...

1. Rescue leagues across the country have started their campaigns.

2. Media outlets have shown endless pictures of first responders rescuing families including their pet.

Since Isaac is still an active storm, we will not have the true assessment for a few days. However let's all say a prayer and hope there really were "Lessons learned from Katrina."

http://northandover.patch.com/blog_posts/animal-evacuation-for-isaac-have-we-learned-from-katrina#photo-11174597

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Help! My Dog Is Lost - What Do I Do ?








Losing a pet can be one of the scariest experiences a pet owner may ever be faced with. Here in North Andover, well we seem to know this well. This past year our town has seen an upswing in dogs getting away from their owners and taking a stroll around town.
The BEST way to find your dog is to act quickly. If your dog has taken off, gotten out of his collar, snuck out the door or you just can't find him: Call North Andover Animal Control, Amy McCarthy at the North Andover Police Dept. 978-683-3168

START your search immediately. Please do not wait for your pet to "just return home". Grab your leash, some treats, a bottle of water and a blanket. Put a crate in your car and begin your search.
As you are reading this STOP what you are doing right now and take a PICTURE of your dog !
( why not? He is cute anyway) Keep an up to date photo on your phone and download a copy to your computer. Update this picture a few times a year and make a note of any special markings your pet may have.
TIPS FOR FINDING YOUR LOST PET
  • Immediately contact NAPD , contact Bulgers Animal Hospital and also contact Andover Animal Hospital and the MSPCA to complete a lost pet report.
  • Make sure you supply the best telephone number to reach you any time of the day in case your pet is found.
  • Post fliers with your pet’s picture around the area where he was last seen and around your neighborhood.
  • Contact your Veterinarian

ADDITIONAL TIPS - SOCIAL MEDIA utilize every form of social media available
  • Post a picture of your pet on your Facebook page and ask all your family, friends, your dog walker, groomer and everyone else you can think of to share your post.
  • Craig's List is a must as your pet may leave your town and go over to a surrounding community. CL has a broad readership
  • Twitter - start tweeting, you just never know who will see your tweet and your pooch !

Granite State Dog Recovery - contact this non profit organization that is dedicated to finding lost pets. They have teams all around New England to help you find your family furry friend. The success rate from this organization is unbelievable and it is must for you to contact them ASAP

WHAT YOU NEED TO RECLAIM YOUR PET
  • Current government issued identification with your name and address (driver’s license; state ID, etc)
  • Current vaccination records
  • Pictures of your pet
  • Proof of ownership (vaccination records, adoption
    papers, bill of sale, dog license)
  • There are some fees involved in reclaiming your pet.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET SAFE
  • DO NOT leave your animal unattended for long periods of time. Many pets become lost because they have been outside in a yard or enclosure and they escape from an unnoticed opening. Sometimes they are just bored and want to roam.
  • Always be sure your animal is wearing an appropriate collar with an identification tag and your contact information. If you change your telephone number, make sure you get a new tag for your pet with the updated information and put your email address on it too!
  • License your dog. North Andover only charges $20.00 for a license. Dogs wearing dog licenses are much more likely to be reunited with their families
  • Microchip your pet. Most veterinarians and shelters/rescue leagues can provide this service at a low cost.
  • Secure all outside enclosures where you keep your pet
  • NEVER walk your dog off leash

http://northandover.patch.com/blog_posts/help-my-dog-is-lost-what-do-i-do#photo-10874793