FL
Planning for Stormy Weather
by: Lauren R. Tharp
Summer is here! Unfortunately, that means that Hurricane Season is here as well. From early June through November, you’ll need to be prepared—not just for your own safety, but for that of your dog!
The Importance of Being Prepared
We cannot stress enough how important it is to be prepared for disaster ahead of time. Some items to keep on hand are:
- Your dog’s medical records. Pet shelters, if you end up needing one, will require proof of vaccination. Tip: Pet shelters fill up very quickly during disaster situations. Call in ahead of time!
- A leash and a collar with identification tags (and Rabies tags, if possible). You might also consider getting a muzzle. Your doggie pal may be the most gentle animal on this earth, but, in the face of a hurricane, his nature may change. Animals experiencing extreme fear have been known to act out of character.
- Your dog’s crate, if you own one (for easier travel). If you don’t have one, now is the time to go shopping – check Goodwill or even a garage sale, just be sure to wash with hot, soapy water!
- A current photograph of your dog. If possible, scan it in and save a copy onto two separate flash drives—save one for yourself and send one to a trusted friend or relative.
- Food and water. You probably already have some “emergency kit” food and water set aside for yourself—Do the same for your dog!
- A WRITTEN COPY OF YOUR EVACUATION PLAN. Yes, you’ve got a plan; however, if disaster strikes, you may be too panicked to remember it! Write it all down and keep it with the rest of your evacuation items. And don’t forget to include your pooch in on the plan: Take note of the names of pet shelters, local vets, and any other potential doggie sanctuaries in your area.
Tip: Keep all paperwork in waterproof containers
After the Storm
Depending on how hard your area is hit by the storm, things in and around your house may change severely. Dogs are creatures of habit and this can be just as frightening for them as the hurricane itself! Stay calm and walk your doggie on his leash and reintroduce him to his home and neighborhood. Over the next few days, monitor his behavior closely until you’re sure he’s “cool” with everything. And, good luck!
Puppy come: Home from Dog Day Afternoon
Safe Haven sent almost a dozen dogs home to new parents on Saturday May 14th at Gettel Toyota’s Dog Day Afternoon. Jill fell in love with this adorable lab mix.
This puppy is now safe in his new home, with Jill and her daughter.
Thanks to Mary Lupi, for bringing all the dogs and sharing their stories with the potential pet parents.
a href=”http://sarasotadog.com/2010/10/11/woofgang-bakery-more-than-just-a-treat/”>WoofGang Bakery Lakewood Ranch one of our anchor sponsors graciously donated cookies and dog food for inclusion in our goodie bags.
Thanks for your ongoing support!
Manatee County moving toward No-Kill community
There is a growing groundswell in Manatee County to make our county no-kill. At present, around 55% of animals turned in at or captured by Manatee County Animal Services are euthanized, in large part because there is nowhere for them to go.
On Saturday April 30, five residents of Manatee County, including three members of The Animal Network and two managers of Manatee County Animal Services, attended a one-day presentation on how to create a no-kill community. The presentation, in Houston Texas, was given by Nathan Winograd. Winograd is the leading expert on creating no-kill communities and has successfully done so across the country.
The attendees were:
Laurie Crawford, Animal Network President and President of the Manatee County Animal Services Board
Sue Kolze, Vice President, Animal Network
Jean Peelen, Animal Network member and member of the Manatee County Animal Services Board
Kris Weiskopf , Chief, Manatee County Animal Services
Joel Richmond, Supervisor, Manatee County Animal Services
The no-kill presentation was fact-filled and thorough and a step-by-step guide for how to create a no-kill community. All of the participants came home convinced that with the help of the public, the media, the rescue groups and shelters we will successfully create a no-kill county in Manatee.
For more information about no-kill, fostering, adopting, or volunteering your time to save animals call Jean Peelen 896-5827 [email protected], or Sue Kolze, at 729-8631 [email protected].
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