ANIMAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

It is obvious from the lessons learned in past disasters that the lack of communications, logistics, and a plan to establish health care for animals in disaster areas creates major problems for response personnel. Emergency responders( i.e., veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal control officers, animal welfare and Red Cross personnel) perform vital tasks during disasters, but conflict and confusion result when functions of those responders assisting animals are not integrated into the emergency plans of other responding agencies. In Nevada, responders must be prepared for such major disasters as earthquakes, grass fires, floods, bioterrorism.and foreign animal diseases.

Emergency responders also play an important role in the human/animal bond effect seen during disasters. It is evident that the human/animal bond provides emotional and physiological support for disaster victims, because owners have difficulty abandoning their pets in times of emergency. Pet owners consider their animals as family members that are entitled to the same care and consideration that all family members will receive during emergency situations. It is not unusual for pet owners to suffer grief and other psychological trauma, including feelings of guilt, if pets must be abandoned during disasters. Proper shelter, food, and water with available medical and surgical care for pets and livestock is important to the psychological welfare of human refugees.

The following Animal Disaster and Response Guide should be used by the counties in developing their own contingency plans and should be compatible with the state plan. By not having a plan responders are presented with such problems as animal owners refusing to evacuate, early return of animals owners to unsafe areas, spreading animal diseases to other animals including people, removal of animal carcasses polluting water sheds, and economic losses.

A. Refusal to Evacuate and Early Return to Unsafe Areas

Since human evacuation shelters do not allow pets in facilities, pet owners requiring sheltering must choose between deserting their animals, refusing to evacuate, or evacuating their animals to a pre-determined site. Without advanced planning, this can be a difficult decision. Farmers and ranchers who depend upon animals for their livelihood are often unwilling to leave their animals unsupervised in the event of a disaster. Some key facts to consider are:

• Up to 25% of pet owners will fail to evacuate because of their animals; this represents 5-10% of the total population directed to evacuate.4

• 30-50% of pet owners will leave pets behind, even with advance notice of evacuation.4

• Approximately 50-70% of people leaving animals behind will attempt to reenter a secure site to rescue their animals; this represents 5-15% of the total population directed to evacuate.

• The 10-25% of individuals who refuse to evacuate, or attempt to return to the evacuated areas because of their animals, risk injury, exposure to hazardous materials, and their own lives, as well as those of emergency response personnel who must rescue them. The most effective and efficient way to minimize human and animal health and safety risks is for individuals and responding agencies to be properly prepared to address animal issues well in advance of a disaster.

B. Public Health and Safety Risks Caused by Animals at Large

Animals that are not cared for by their owners during a disaster may become a public health and safety risk. Loose and displaced animals are possible carriers of disease (such as rabies and plague) and can become a nuisance or danger to people. Animals "at large" are the responsibility of local animal control officials.

C. Public Health and Safety Risks Caused by Animal Carcasses

Another public health and safety risk is the presence of animal carcasses. Decaying carcasses can contaminate water sources or lead to outbreaks of diseases such as salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis or giardiasis. Timely carcass removal is critical. The methods for environmentally acceptable disposal of animal carcasses are limited. Deep burial or burning can be done if local air and water quality regulations permit. A good alternative is composting the dead animals with straw and urea added on top. The existing bacteria in the animal’s body will digest the carcass, without causing much oder. Disposal can be particularly difficult and expensive when there are a large number of animal carcasses.

D. Economic Considerations

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E. Public Relations Considerations

Society views animals as dependent upon human care and support. Many pets are considered integral parts of families. Animals and animal issues attract media attention. This is particularly true during a disaster. Media involvement in the rescue of "Rodeo," a border collie stranded in the 1997 floods, brought intense media coverage to these issues. Public concern and support for animals during the disaster was so high that more money and supplies were donated to care for animals than for people. The failure to deal with animal issues in disasters not only results in utilizing more resources and placing additional human lives at risk, but can result in significant public outcry and negative media coverage.

F. Control of Self-Responders and Misuse of Donations

Experience has shown that when animals are impacted by disasters, a large number of self-responders will arrive to address the situation. These well-meaning, but untrained and emotionally driven individuals, can be very disruptive and create many law enforcement challenges. Additionally, these situations may encourage the arrival of "rescue groups." Some of these groups are well-trained and helpful, and some are not.. Effective control of self-responding individuals and rescue groups is critical. This can occur only when a well-coordinated official response is in place. A county animal plan allows for appropriate identification and utilization of all available resources within the structure of the county animal response plan. This will minimize the intrusion of untrained and unsolicited volunteers in a crisis situation.