SACRAMENTO (October 19, 2005) – United Animal Nations (UAN) is encouraging Floridians evacuating in advance of Hurricane Wilma’s landfall to take their animals with them when they leave. Animals left behind can get injured, fall ill, starve and hamper human evacuation efforts
Families are encouraged to seek refuge in a hotel that allows pets, to place animals in a pet-friendly evacuation shelter or to board them at a professional kennel safely out of Hurricane Wilma’s reach. Most hotels and motels are pet-friendly, and even those who might not normally accept pets make exceptions during disasters.
Evacuees are encouraged to visit www.petswelcome.com or www.petfriendlyhotelsandtravel.com for listings of pet-friendly accommodation options.
Equine evacuation information is available here and from the Sunshine State Horse Council.
While UAN does not advise leaving animals behind for any reason, families deciding to leave animals at home should:
- leave companion animals inside with access to the kitchen, hallways and bathrooms;
- close off doors to your more cluttered rooms (the ones with the best hiding places);
- provide plenty of food and water; and
- secure a sign to your front door with the word “PETS” written in large letters. On the sign, also write the type and number of animals inside to aid rescuers.
Through its volunteer-driven Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), UAN has been heavily involved in animal relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Nearly 300 trained EARS volunteers deployed to assist with the operation of four emergency animal shelters in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and provided support for animal rescue and recovery operations in St. Bernard Parish in Chalmette, Louisiana.
Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations (UAN) is the nation’s leading provider of emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services and a key advocate for the critical needs of animals.
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