Don't forget about pets

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), April, 2006

Recent weather disturbances, particularly Hurricane Katrina, show that states must consider pets in evacuation and sheltering plans. "When pets are barred from public transit or Red Cross shelters," says Priscilla Feal, president of Friends of Animals, Darien Conn., "people understandably risk their lives by avoiding evacuations Dogs shouldn't be pulled from the arms of kids. People shouldn't be stranded on a fridge with a cat because no one will transport or shelter both of theme."

Some 21 states, including Michigan and Kansas lack a disaster plan regarding pet evacuation and sheltering. Some other states, such as Alaska and Virginia only briefly mention pets in their current disaster plans.

Hurricanes and floods are not the only danger to households. Other disasters according to the Federal Emergency Management Administration Washington, D.C., similarly have jeopardized lives or safety because pets were not included in evacuations:

* After a white phosphorus and liquid sulfur spill in Dayton, Ohio, in 1984, people attempting to rescue heir pets created traffic jams by driving directly against the evacuating traffic.

* After a tornado hit West Lafayette, Ind., in 1994, several people in public shelters showed psychosomatic symptoms as a result of having lost pets.

* Some Georgia residents who weathered the floods in 1994 put off calls to evacuate because they could not take their pets with them. People in boats were obstructed when attempting to retrieve pets from flooded houses.