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Emergency Animal Rescue Q & A
What can you do to protect your pets in an emergency? What’s it like to rescue animals in a disaster situation – and how can you get involved? Kelly Nilsson, the ASPCA’s director of Disaster Response Services, explains it all.
What are the most important things that people can do to protect their pets in the event of an emergency? Does planning ahead really make a difference?
Yes – planning ahead can make all the difference! Be prepared to leave with your pet. Make sure you have a leash, muzzle, and carrier for each one of your pets handy and ready to use (i.e., don't bury them in storage). Having the resources to transport your pet safely with you when you have to evacuate is very important.
Set up a buddy system with a friend or neighbor to evacuate your pets if you can't get home to do so yourself. Have your pets microchipped; they should also wear a collar and tags, or a band to identify them. Keep your contact information up-to-date on the tags and microchip database. You should also have photos of you and your pet together in your purse or wallet – just in case you are separated from your pet and need to search shelters.
Have a place already lined up to go, outside of your immediate home area. If this is a friend's or family member’s home, make sure you have discussed the possibility in advance of sheltering your family and pets at their home. If you don't have friends or family outside of your local area that you could stay with, locate pet-friendly hotels outside of your area now, before a disaster strikes. Keep their phone numbers with other important contacts in your purse or wallet. Emergency evacuation shelters should be your last resort.
How did you get involved in emergency animal rescue and disaster preparedness?
I was introduced to it in 2000, when I met Nan Stewart of Code 3 Associates at a conference. I was working for ASPCA National Outreach at the time, and had recently finished a seven-year enlistment in the National Guard and missed the disaster response work. Joining a volunteer animal response team was a way to mesh my two interests together – animal protection and disaster response.
What kind of hands-on training did you undergo?
I joined American Humane's Red Star team and Code 3 Associates’ team. My training began with Technical Animal Rescue (swift water and rope rescue), Technical Large Animal Rescue (horses and cattle), Equine Investigation, CPR & First Aid, and Incident Command System 100 through 400 training. Since then, I have continued in college for a degree in Emergency Management and continued my technical training (swift water, rope rescue, emergency sheltering, etc.).
What was your very first animal rescue like?
More or less, it reminded me of the work I did as an animal control officer, before I joined the ASPCA. It was fulfilling and gratifying to be able to help an animal in need. Animal control officers and humane investigators do this kind of work every day, whether it is due to a disaster or just your everyday crisis.
How do animals usually react when you are trying to rescue them?
It depends on each situation and animal. Some are happy to see a human friend, and some are fearful. They may be ill, in pain or discomfort, too, which may influence their reaction.
What’s the hardest part of your job?
Communication and coordination. You can have a great plan, and you can have a well-trained team, but every disaster is different – and you have to be flexible, adapt with the situation, people, and the resources at hand. In some cases, you are working with volunteers or local agencies who are new to disaster response. That can be quite a challenge as well.
We know you were a big part of the ASPCA’s hands-on rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina. Please tell us a little about it! What was your toughest moment?
The toughest part of the job was the working environment: the 100-degree heat and the hazardous materials in the water we were wading through were challenging; the unstable and contaminated homes with mold growing up the walls like wildfire made it tough to breathe; having to traverse the streets in boats with utility poles hanging precariously overhead and power lines down all around you, and the natural gas blowing out of the mains like a jet engine. Some of the houses we entered were pretty eerie, too. You were afraid something would pop out at you.
What are the most important things that people can do to protect their pets in the event of an emergency? Does planning ahead really make a difference?
Yes, Planning ahead can make all the difference. Be prepared to leave with your pet. Make sure you have a leash, muzzle, and carrier for each one of your pets handy and ready to use (don't burry them in storage). Having the resources to transport your pet safely with you when you have to evacuate is very important. Set up a buddy system with a friend or neighbor to evacuate your pets if you can't get home to do so yourself. Have your pet microchipped; they should also wear a collar and tags, or a band to identify them. Keep your contact information up to date on the tags and microchip database. You should also have photos of you and your pet together in your purse or wallet - just in case you are separated from your pet and need to search shelters. Have a place already lined up to go and stay, outside of your home area. If this is a friend's home, or family, make sure you have discussed the possibility (in advance) of sheltering your family and pets at their home, should you have to evacuate yours. If you don't have friends or family outside of your local area that you could go and stay with, locate pet-friendly hotels outside of your area now, before a disaster strikes. Keep their phone numbers with other important contacts in your purse or wallet. Emergency Evacuation Shelters should be the last resort.
What advice do you have for people who’d like to get involved in emergency animal rescue?
TRAINING & EDUCATION ARE A MUST! You must be familiar with the Incident Command System if you want to participate. You can take free courses through FEMA or your local emergency management agency. Join your County and State Animal Response Team organizations. If you want to assist in emergency animal sheltering, volunteering at your local humane society or animal control shelter is great training. You can also take a course in emergency animal sheltering through one of the national response organizations. If you want to assist in technical rescue, contact one of the national response organizations for technical rescue training.
Do you have pets at home?
Yes, I have two cats, Paulie and Prettygirl, and one dog, Peanut.
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