Establishing and Operating a Disaster Pet Shelter: Difference between revisions
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66% of Americans own a pet; 35% of them own more than one. In 2022 over two million pets were affected by disasters. Shelters for people who have lost their homes are some of the most important facilities to be created after a disaster, providing evacuees a safe place to stay with food, community and other resources. But sometimes these shelters do not allow pets (though they are required to make accommodations for service animals). What happens to the pets of the rest of the evacuees? In order to provide a safe place for cats and dogs to stay, as well as birds and other small animals, we will need to set up an emergency pet shelter. [[File:Setting up pet shelter v4 (720p).mp4|thumb|Setting Up Pet Shelter video| | 66% of Americans own a pet; 35% of them own more than one. In 2022 over two million pets were affected by disasters. Shelters for people who have lost their homes are some of the most important facilities to be created after a disaster, providing evacuees a safe place to stay with food, community and other resources. But sometimes these shelters do not allow pets (though they are required to make accommodations for service animals). What happens to the pets of the rest of the evacuees? In order to provide a safe place for cats and dogs to stay, as well as birds and other small animals, we will need to set up an emergency pet shelter. [[File:Setting up pet shelter v4 (720p).mp4|thumb|Setting Up Pet Shelter video|left]] | ||
= Setting Up A Shelter = | = Setting Up A Shelter = | ||
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More Than One Animal Form | More Than One Animal Form | ||
Deceased Animal Form[[File:Running pet shelter v4 (720p).mp4|thumb|Running A Disaster Pet Shelter video| | Deceased Animal Form[[File:Running pet shelter v4 (720p).mp4|thumb|Running A Disaster Pet Shelter video|left]] | ||
= Running A Shelter = | = Running A Shelter = | ||
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All dogs need to be walked at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. Additional walks are allowed if a volunteer wishes, if it can be done without disturbing other nearby animals. Be sure to take two plastic bags with you if you are walking dogs, to safely clean up after the dogs. At the end of the walk poop bags should be disposed of in the proper trash container. Please note on the cage card for an animal if you notice any diarrhea, blood or pus present in their poop. | All dogs need to be walked at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. Additional walks are allowed if a volunteer wishes, if it can be done without disturbing other nearby animals. Be sure to take two plastic bags with you if you are walking dogs, to safely clean up after the dogs. At the end of the walk poop bags should be disposed of in the proper trash container. Please note on the cage card for an animal if you notice any diarrhea, blood or pus present in their poop. | ||
Dog crates must be cleaned daily, as described above. A good time to clean a dog’s cage is when they are out for a walk | Dog crates must be cleaned daily, as described above. A good time to clean a dog’s cage is when they are out for a walk. Crate trays should be removed if possible and the entire crate should be sprayed with a soapy water and 10% bleach solution, followed by a wipe down with a towel. | ||
Plastic food and water bowls are hard to disinfect and may become stained or chewed up, so only stainless steel bowls should be used. Each crate should contain one bowl for water and one for food, and both should be cleaned and disinfected daily. | Plastic food and water bowls are hard to disinfect and may become stained or chewed up, so only stainless steel bowls should be used. Each crate should contain one bowl for water and one for food, and both should be cleaned and disinfected daily. | ||
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Cat crates should be cleaned and disinfected daily. Sweep litter out of cages each day and add new litter if necessary. Cats with injured paws cannot use litter, so you can add human incontinence pads or shredded paper to the crate of an injured cat. | Cat crates should be cleaned and disinfected daily. Sweep litter out of cages each day and add new litter if necessary. Cats with injured paws cannot use litter, so you can add human incontinence pads or shredded paper to the crate of an injured cat. | ||
Stainless steel bowls are recommended, however paper | Stainless steel bowls are recommended, however paper French fry holders can be used for food, as cats do not typically chew up paper bowls like dogs do. Food and water bowls should be cleaned and disinfected daily. | ||
Cats should be fed dry food twice per day, typically 0.25 cup in the morning and 0.25 cup in the afternoon, and water should be offered at least twice daily. It is important to monitor food intake so if a cat has not eaten its morning food before the second feeding, do not add more food | Cats should be fed dry food twice per day, typically 0.25 cup in the morning and 0.25 cup in the afternoon, and water should be offered at least twice daily. It is important to monitor food intake so if a cat has not eaten its morning food before the second feeding, do not add more food but do make a note on the cat’s cage card. | ||
Cats do not need to be walked. | Cats do not need to be walked. | ||
=== Shelter hours and scheduling: === | === Shelter hours and scheduling: === | ||
Shelter hours of operation should be determined and | Shelter hours of operation should be determined and posted for all to see. Shifts for volunteers typically are: Shift 1: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Shift 2: 3 p.m. – 11 p.m. Shift 3: 11 p.m. – 7 a.m, if you have enough volunteers. Typically a shelter would be open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. NOTE: The shelter is never left without a team of volunteers inside, in case the shelter needs to receive animals after hours, if there is an emergency with an animal, or if the shelter must be evacuated. | ||
=== Sample daily schedule === | === Sample daily schedule === | ||
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= Other = | = Other = | ||
== Slip Leads == | === Slip Leads === | ||
Pet leashes will be returned to owners at intake, so when an animal is taken out of its crate for a walk you should employ a slip lead as an improvised leash. | |||
[[File:Improvised Slip Lead.png|left|thumb|Improvised Slip Lead]] | |||
== | === Animal Body Language === | ||
[[File:Animal Body Posture.pdf|left|thumb|Animal Body Posture slide deck]] | |||
For everyone's safety, shelter volunteers should familiarize themselves with animal body language. | |||
= Printable Forms = | = Printable Forms = | ||
== Intake Form == | === Intake Form === | ||
== | === Cage Card === | ||
== | === Dog Being Walked Card === | ||
== | === Deceased Animal Card === | ||
== | === Notification of (Human) Injury === | ||
== Animal Count Form == | === Animal Count Form === | ||
