4 Where to Go, pt 2
And what if your only option is the Red Cross shelter? Idealy, the pet shelter will be set up next to the people shelter so you can go over several times a day and care for your own pet. This gives you something to do besides sit and worry about your house, and it comforts your pet to have their familiar person around. This concept is called co-sheltering, and it's what the organization in charge will try to do but it might not always be possible. It depends on the available facilities and how many people they are trying to shelter. During the '08 flooding in Cedar Rapids, IA, there were several Red Cross shelters in the suburbs, and the pet shelter (which operated for a month and a half) was located in the equestrian show barn at the community college. People were encouraged to come visit their pets, but transportation was sometimes an issue. Volunteers were often doing the feeding and walking. While I can't speak for animal sheltering organizations other than the one I volunteer with, there will likely be some system of identification to prove you are the pet's rightfull owner, and you will have to check in and out when you come to care for them. You might also be escourted to and from your pet. Children might not be allowed in the shelter. This is for the safety and liability of everyone involoved. Think of this pet shelter in terms of a daycare center of sorts; we want to take very good care of these animals and make sure they get back to the right person. Be prepared to put up with some red tape.
The pet shelter will likely be operated by, or under the authority of, the local animal authorities (often Animal Control). They will dictate how the pet shelter will operate. They will dictate when the shelter will end and you willl have to have your pets out whether you have a place to stay or not. They will also dictate what will happen to unclaimed pets. In some cases this will be based on an arrangement with Emergency Management, in other cases it might be based on their staandard policies for stray animals. Idealy, they have mutual-aide agreements with surrounding communities for assistance.
Notice that I said "Red Cross Shelter" above. In the hurricane that went up the east coast in 2011, there were reports in the news of shelters allowing pets to shelter with their owners. During the wildfires in SanDiego a few years back where Qualcom Stadium was turned into a shelter, news coverage showed families and their pets sheltering together. What's the difference? I'm told the Red Cross can not allow pets in their shelters because they cook and serve food and therefor have to adhere to resteraunt health codes. The Red cross is the organization communities usually turn to to shelter and care for displaced persons after a disaster. I gather from what i heard that the shelters that opened during Hurricane that were pet friendly were community run shelters, probably for people living in high risk areas to ride out the hurricane in. If they serve any food, it's most likely MREs They can make their own rules about allowing pets. That's the difference. Please note that bonified service animals MUST be allowed anywhere the person they assist goes, and will always be an exception to No Pets rules. I was told by someone from Florida that some communities and military bases offer shelters like this for their people, and it's a case of "OK, here's the building. Bring everything you need." or "There's some cots and cases of MREs stored in the back, set it up yourself." I'm not sure what the case was with Qualcom was; maybe this was a community shelter, or maybe the way the building was set up got around the resteraunt codes. This where it pays to find out what threats are most likely in your area, and what your local Emergency Management's plan is.
No matter what the arrangement for an emergenccy pet shelter is, you are better off making your own arrangements if you possibly can. So PLAN AHEAD!!!
