Animals left behind can get burned, starve and hamper human evacuation and rescue efforts
November 18, 2011 – As the aggressive Caughlin wildfire and high winds threaten residents in Reno, Nevada and surrounding areas, RedRover encourages residents to bring their pets with them when they evacuate. Animals left behind during fires can get injured, fall ill, starve, die, and hamper human evacuation and rescue efforts.
Families threatened by the fires are encouraged to:
Bring pets along when they evacuate. Never leave pets behind to fend for themselves. Pets can be evacuated to:
- Galena High School (cats and dogs): 3600 Butch Cassidy Dr., Reno, NV 89511
- Reno High School (cats and dogs): 395 Booth St., Reno, NV 89509
- Feline Rescue of Northern Nevada (cats only): (775) 544-4475; donations of funds, cat food and litter are needed
- Livestock Events Center (horses and livestock): 1350 North Wells Ave., Reno, NV 89512; (775) 688-5751
Pet boarding facilities that are offering free or discounted boarding for evacuated pets include:
- Fantasia Pet Hotel: free boarding for dogs and small mammals with cage; (775) 322-1199
- Doggie’s Dream: dogs only; $10/night, prefer proof of vaccination; (775) 322-5400
- Urban Hound: dogs only; require vaccination records including Bordatella; free for two days; (775) 787-1410
- Advanced Pet Care: free boarding for cats and dogs, and exotic pets with cage; 2001 Prater Way, Sparks, NV 89431; 775-321-5300
- Franktown Meadows Equestrian Center: horses only; discounted rates; 775-849-1600
Hotels that are accommodating evacuees with their pets include:
- Victorian Inn: 1555 Victorian Ave, Sparks, NV; bring local identification; (775) 331-7775
- Grand Sierra: waiving resort fees and pet fees; $29/night
- Peppermill: waiving resort fees and pet fees; $29/night
- Silver Legacy: waiving resort fees and pet fees; $39/night
- Circus Circus: waiving resort fees and pet fees; $29/night
Identify all pets. Affix a collar with ID tag containing mobile phone number or temporary contact number (such as the phone number of a hotel or relative) to each pet so they can be more easily reunited if lost.
Assemble an animal disaster kit that includes food, water, medications, a leash or cat carrier for each pet, vaccination records and photos of each animal with family members to prove ownership if they are lost. Visit www.redrover.org/disastertips for more information.
Ask for help. If you unable to get home before your home is evacuated, ask a neighbor to retrieve your pets. If you need more help with your pets, call 211 or (775) 337-5800.
“For both human and animal safety, people should never their pets behind when disaster strikes,” said RedRover president and CEO Nicole Forsyth. “Animals left to fend for themselves during fires or other catastrophes suffer terribly, and evacuees can compound their own stress by worrying about the pets they left at home.”
The volunteer-driven RedRover Responders program provides free temporary sheltering for communities that become overwhelmed by natural disasters or animal cruelty seizures. Last month, RedRover and the Nevada Humane Society rescued and sheltered cats rescued from a hoarding situation in Virginia City. In 2011 so far, RedRover has deployed more than 200 volunteers to 15 emergencies, including flooding in Missouri and Mississippi and the Joplin, Missouri tornado.
MEDIA CONTACT: (916) 429-2457
RedRover, formerly United Animal Nations, focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. Learn more at www.redrover.org
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