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V. Getting Started: Forming a Planning Committee

To develop a comprehensive and effective plan in your OA, it is important that as many stakeholders as possible be included in the process. Including a wide range of groups concerned about animal issues in the planning process will foster cooperation, understanding, and commitment to work within the plan in your OA. The following is a list of possible stakeholders; specific groups will vary by county:

A. Government Agencies

County Emergency Services

County Agricultural Commissioner

County Health Department

County and City Animal Control

County and City Law Enforcement

County and City Fire/Rescue

County and City Parks and Recreation

Solid Waste Management

B. Voluntary Organizations

Nevada Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA)

Humane Societies

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)

Animal Welfare Groups

School groups (4-H, FFA, Animal Science Clubs, etc.)

Wildlife Rehabilitation Groups

Local Food Banks

Other Disaster Response Agencies (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.)

Animal Clubs

C. Industry Groups

Cattlemen, Dairy, or Equestrian Associations

Farriers

Animal Transporters

Pet Food and Supply Businesses

Commercial Animal Industries (breeders, stables, kennels, beef, dairy, and poultry producers, etc.)

Horse Track Representatives

Home Owner Associations for Rural Communities

Utilities

Local Zoos or Animal Parks

Local Fair Organizations

VI. Local Issues to Consider in Developing Your Plan

Types of Disasters Likely in Your Area

You should do an inventory of the possible hazards in the OA and the specific areas most likely to be affected by each of these hazards. This may already have been done as a part of the OA Emergency Response Plan. Keep in mind the following possibilities:

Earthquakes

Floods

Fires

Landslides

Volcanic Activity

Railroad Accidents

Oil/Chemical Spills

Nuclear Accidents

Animal Population in Your Area

Knowing the population of animals in your area will help in planning the scope and type of disaster response planning needed in your OA. There are several ways to estimate the animal population in your area.

1. Household Pet Estimate

For a rough estimate, you can calculate the number of pets in your area by using the following tables and information:

Table 1: Frequency of Pet Ownership in the United States

SpeciesPercent of U.S. Households Owning PetsAll Pets58.9Dogs31.6Cats27.3Birds4.6Horses1.5Other Pets10.7Source: U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, Center for Information Management. American Veterinary Medical Association. Schaumburg, IL. 1997.

Table 2: Average Number of Animals per Household

SpeciesAverage Number of Pets per Pet-Owning HouseholdDogs1.69Cats2.19Birds2.74Horses2.67Source: U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, Center for Information Management. American Veterinary Medical Association. Schaumburg, IL. 1997.

The number of households in your county can be found by looking at the demographics information in the Nevada State Demographer’s Office (775-688-6352/53) or the County Department of Community Development..

Production Animal Estimate

The number of production animals, such as dairy and beef cattle, poultry, pigs, and sheep by county, can be found by contacting your County Agricultural Commissioner, or in the Nevada Agricultural Statistics Service.

3. Survey Local Sources

The following is a list of possible sources that could be surveyed to make an estimate of the number of animals in your county.

Dog and cat licenses

Veterinary records

Major producers (livestock, poultry)

Industry groups

Pet and feed store sales records

Restricted species licenses from the Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW)

C. Location of Animal Populations in Your Area

It is important to identify where the majority of the animal population in your county is located. If your county is largely urban or suburban, this is probably the same area where most people live. If your county is largely rural, this is probably the location of large producers. Other sites such as kennels, racetracks, and zoos may also need special attention during a disaster. Because large animal transportation requires more equipment, effort, and time than small animal transport, special attention should be paid to these areas. Once you have located the highest concentrations of animals in your county, you should compare them to the areas most likely to be affected by specific disasters. If available, Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping techniques are particularly helpful in pinpointing potential trouble spots.

D. Location of Animal Resources in Your Area

It is important to pinpoint the location of resources needed for animal survival during a disaster. Resources include things such as: food, water, shelter and confinement areas, transportation, and volunteers. If any of the resources you identify are likely to be cut off during a disaster, consider an alternate resource base. Also, look at how disasters may affect access to these resources by volunteers and evacuees.

E. Liability Issues

When developing a county animal plan, there are various areas where liability issues may arise. You should consult with your county council and county OES office regarding exposure to risk and statutes that cover emergency activities, animal issues, and lost or abandoned property.

1. Releases

You may consider the use of release statements on some of the recommended documents in the Appendices of this Guide. A sample release developed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is included in Appendix A.

2. Volunteer Workers

All volunteers involved in your county animal disaster response should be Registered Disaster Service Workers. For additional information on volunteer workers, see Section VII, Part B.6 of this guide.