Have hurricane plan for pets, Pasco vet encourages

If Ryan and Kristen Trippe of Lutz were forced to evacuate because of a major hurricane, they say there is no way their beloved dog, Jackson, wouldn't go with them.

The couple's emphatic stance was applauded this week by Jackson's veterinarian, Heidi Goss, who owns Quail Hollow Animal Hospital on State Road 54. Goss has seen the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida in 1992, and Hurricane Katrina, which left much of New Orleans underwater in 2005.

Goss volunteered in Louisiana a few weeks after the storm hit.

"The No. 1 for me is that you cannot leave your animals behind, and you have to prepare ahead of time," Goss said. "Four weeks after Hurricane Katrina they were still pulling animals off rooftops and out of houses. It was devastating to me. We have to have evacuation protocols for animals."

Jim Martin, Pasco County Emergency Management Director, also implores people with pets to treat the animals like family if an evacuation order is issued.

There will be one pet-friendly shelter available in Pasco. This year, that shelter will be at the Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter, 11611 Denton Ave., Hudson; last year, the pet-friendly shelter was at Pine View Middle School in Land O' Lakes.

Martin said people who may want to use that shelter should pre-register; information about registering will be available at www.pascoemergencymanagement.com. The shelter probably will be able to hold about 200 animals, he said. There are about 50,000 registered dogs in the county.

Goss said knowing where animal-friendly shelters and hotels are located along evacuation routes can be as important as getting pets in traveling crates and leaving.

She said about half the animals she helped find in Katrina had had microchips with contact information implanted.

"We learned then that it's best if the chip also provides an out-of-state contact," she said, as many of the animals rescued could not be reunited with their owners.

People with more than one pet should have separate crates for each animal. Other common-sense tips include having all vaccines updated and ensuring that collars have current information.

If you have to evacuate with your pet, Goss recommends bringing seven days worth of pet food and enough water to last two weeks. To keep animals comfortable, she also recommends bringing a few "comfort toys" and treats. If your pet is on medication, be sure to bring along a two-week supply of it.

Danielle Marks, an intern in Goss' office, said her family has horses, and they have written the family's contact information on the animals with grease paint when past hurricanes approached.

"We kept them in the pasture away from the trees and any potential projectiles," she said.

It isn't just dogs and cats that should be evacuated. Venomous and non-venomous snakes also are popular pets.

Goss said snakes can be carried in pillow cases. As with other pets, owners need to remember the reptiles' food, which can include frozen mice, she said.
Not every animal can be transported.

"Fish is a toughy," Goss said. "That's a difficult thing to do. I have saltwater fish. If there's a hurricane and I lose power, they'll die. And you can't put them back in the ocean, because they're not used to that environment and won't be able to fight off diseases. That's the one pet you might be in trouble" of losing.