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Hurricane Shelter For Pets Expands

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By GEOFF FOX

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 1, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - The county's pet-friendly evacuation shelter at Pine View Middle School is opening its doors to a broader area this year.

The Parkway Boulevard shelter previously was available only to residents in Evacuation Zone A, as well as mobile home residents. The area now encompasses zones A, B and C, covering all of coastal Pasco County.

The shelter can hold 200 cats and 100 dogs. Pets stay at the Pine View Middle shelter, and their owners stay at nearby Pine View Elementary.

People interested in using the pet-friendly shelter must preregister. Forms are available at Pasco County libraries or at www.pascocountyfl.net/ PetPreReg.pdf.

Preregistering is important so pet owners will "think of their pets in advance of an emergency" and make the necessary arrangements, Pasco Animal Services said in a statement.

"Another reason is so we will have the proper staffing levels available for the number of animals expected. "Due to limited space, the pet-friendly shelter should be their last option, not their first," the statement said.

"Additionally, the pet owner needs to assure that their pet is up to date on all of its vaccinations well in advance of entering any pet evacuation center."

Also, the agency is seeking volunteers for the Pasco Animal Response Team, which helps run shelters during an emergency.

PART volunteers help with "all aspects of animal-related emergencies under the direction of Pasco County Animal Services," the agency said. Specific duties could include traffic control, setting up cages, walking dogs, cleaning and feeding animals.

"They also assist with paperwork during the admission and discharge phases of the operation," the agency said. "This is a labor-intensive venture, and the aid of volunteers is crucial. All volunteers will go through training and a background check."

PASCO ANIMAL RESPONSE TEAM
For information about the Pasco Animal Response Team, e-mail pascoanimalresponseteam@yahoo.com.

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or gfox@tampatrib.com.

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