Forum Discussion

rockhillmanor's avatar
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Aug 30, 2017

Pets still not accepted at evacuation shelters?

I was 'very' proud to see the Convention Center in Houston all set up prepared, and accepting victims of the hurricane that had pets with them.

Unlike the Katrina disaster. Where we all viewed the horrific aftermath of people who would not leave during Katrina because they had pets, the shelters would not allow pets and the thousands of deaths of humans and pets that occurred because of it.

Pet owners from all over rallied and got a bill passed so that this would never happen again.

Thought yup, we all did our part rallying in getting a bill passed that shelters had to accept pets during an evacuation disaster. And it passed.

In 2006, the federal Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 5196a-d (2006)) was passed. PETS directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop emergency preparedness plans and ensure that state and local emergency plans take into account the needs of individuals with pets and service animals during a major disaster or emergency.



So, why am I seeing pictures like this at shelters in and around Houston?

""Kenneth and Minnie Bice prepare to sleep outside the M.O. Campbell Red Cross shelter in Aldine, Texas, on August 28, 2017.
Pets are not allowed inside and so the two are sleeping on the portico with their two dogs and a cat.""



Yes they are close to supplies/food etc, but they still should NOT have to be sleeping outside on on two chairs pushed together no less. because they had their pets with them. :(
  • evanrem's avatar
    evanrem
    Explorer II
    Aug 30, 2017
    This is a tough one. With all the chaos going on and tight living space then to mix a bunch of pets in the mix. Barking dogs, cats and who knows what else could just cause that much more chaos. I have never been to a shelter but from what I see they look pretty tight. The majority of pets might be able to handle it but I'm sure there is a percent that would not be able to and they would still show up. On the flip side some well behaved pets might offer a sense of calming to the situation. We have a dog and it would most certainly leaving our home with us and not sure how we would handle the situation if turned away from the shelter.
  • 1995brave's avatar
    1995brave
    Nomad
    Aug 30, 2017
    The story from the UK paper makes no sense, there was never any mandatory evacuation orders given for Houston. I love reporters, lets change the truth so the story sounds good and everyone feels sorry.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Aug 30, 2017
    1995brave wrote:
    I love reporters, lets change the truth so the story sounds good and everyone feels sorry.
    Those reporters, anyway. I wouldn't call the Daily Mail one of the most reputable papers around.

    That said, the only inaccuracy appears to be the word 'evacuated'. They evacuated themselves.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Aug 30, 2017
    I'm a pet owner, and I can certainly understand both sides. Not sure what I'd do under those conditions, but when camping, eating out, shopping or anything, if my dog can't go there, I don't either. When camping, or even at home, if we need to go to the grocery store, one of us goes in, the other stays with the dog in the car/truck. My adult son lives with us, so when we go "out" he's home with the dog. Otherwise, even at home, the dog is never alone. We both have the ability to work from home. My wife works from home full time now. She doesn't have her own desk in the office any more either. I work from home 50/50 now. I'm required to be in the office 2 or 3 days a week. So, one of us is always with the dog. In a disaster? Not sure what we'd do, but we wouldn't abandon our dog or cat or leave them in a kennel either. We quit taking the dog to my mother's house, because the dog stressed out so bad. So kenneling is absolutely not an option. I suppose we'd be sleeping outside too!
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Aug 30, 2017
    1995brave wrote:
    The story from the UK paper makes no sense, there was never any mandatory evacuation orders given for Houston. I love reporters, lets change the truth so the story sounds good and everyone feels sorry.

    The technicality of whether it was a mandatory evacuation or not, I pretty ddamn sure this couple HAD to leave. People just don't sleep outside shelters if they don't need to.

    newman fulltimer wrote:
    two words "red cross" they feel animals belong in animal shelters

    Red Cross is the one running the Houston Convention Center that is accommodating evacuees with pets.
  • OH48Lt's avatar
    OH48Lt
    Explorer
    Aug 30, 2017
    PETS does not make it mandatory that FEMA-sponsored emergency shelters must accept pets. It only requires FEMA (and only FEMA) to consider pets in their planning to manage shelters. Pets bring along a whole new set of problems in these situations. Feeding, noise, sanitation, waste, animal fighting, etc.
  • 1995brave's avatar
    1995brave
    Nomad
    Aug 30, 2017
    For more information about Harvey check out the Corpus Christi Caller newspaper.
    CC newspaper

    The George Brown convention center run by the Red Cross is allowing pets in with the owners. Don't know where the other center is, but there must be a reason the people and their pets were outside. Hotels have their own rules for pets and do not have to allow them in the rooms.

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