In times of disaster, many Kentucky pet owners are hesitant to part with their dog, cat, rabbit, ferret, or other animal. June is National Pet Preparedness Month. Safety suggestions came Thursday during an event at the Lexington Humane Society. John Bobel, with the city’s Division of Emergency Management, says during an emergency many people want to take their pets with them. “If they’re not sure whether or not a shelter or facility has capabilities for their pets, they will stay at home. And in some cases, that’s very dangerous.”
Bobel says that happened during the last ice storm several years ago in Lexington. He says two trailers have been acquired to shelter up to one hundred pets during an emergency.
Tim Brown, public information officers with Lexington-Fayette Animal Control, says such mobile emergency shelters offer a degree of comfort. He says an emergency could find animal control workers rounding up 60 pets or so. “We have everything set in place to make sure that, if that situation were to arise, we are ready and equipped and ready to go,” noted Brown.
Lexington Humane Society’s Ashley Hammond says pet owners should have copies of photo ID’s and vaccination histories in two or three different places. In addition, a pet emergency kit should contain items like food and water for three days, bowls, medications, collars and leashes, and carriers. ?
