Pets still not accepted at evacuation shelters?

[rockhillmanor]

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. 😞

[dturm]

EV2 wrote:

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
I have a dog, and basically always have. And I would appreciate being able to take him with me. But what about folks like myself who are allergic to cats, or another animal? I could not stay in an area with much cat dander or I would become ill. Are you proposing to push people out, to make room for pets?

X2

I've thought for a few days on a response--

First, I'm familiar with serious sensitivities and allergies, Sandy has multiple chemical sensitivities and allergies that have required ER visits (crab that was in a salad), hives with antibiotics and inhalers when exposed to people bathed in fragrance. We often go to movies at the earliest matinee after the movie has been out for weeks and still have had to move seats due to the overwhelming cloud of perfume.

It is unreasonable to expect a shelter in an emergency situation to prevent every exposure of every person to every potential allergen. If you are that sensitive, YOU need to take precautions - have medications and/or an epi-pen in your go-bag if you are that critical.

No one is saying that people should be turned out in favor of pets, that is a terrible hyperbolic argument and not worthy of this discussion.

If the answer is to let the cats or dogs die because of some people having allergy, sorry TOTALLY DISAGREE.

Doug, DVM

[BCSnob]

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[pennysmom09]

All the pictures I saw had the animals inside in crates along with the Evacuees. There was no mandatory evacuation since they had no possible working plan to do so. Too many people too few routes out. Read local articles, not rags like the UK Daily Mail.

[keepmotoring]

Not all shelters allow pets. That was the reason some people left their pets behind because they had no idea which shelter would have room for them. If you had your pets with you to find out shelters that allow pets were full, what do you do? Can't go back home, can't live outside in the storm and waters.

I have tried to put myself in their shoes and can't imagine what these people went through. I love my pets and some need meds everyday and all are seniors. I would take them with me and hope for the best. I hope I never, ever have to go through this.

[doxiemom11]

Perhaps this particular locations was a "pet free" shelter where people with allergies or who do not like animals could go while the other locations allowed pets.

[EV2]

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
I have a dog, and basically always have. And I would appreciate being able to take him with me. But what about folks like myself who are allergic to cats, or another animal? I could not stay in an area with much cat dander or I would become ill. Are you proposing to push people out, to make room for pets?

X2

[wanderingaimles]

I have a dog, and basically always have. And I would appreciate being able to take him with me. But what about folks like myself who are allergic to cats, or another animal? I could not stay in an area with much cat dander or I would become ill. Are you proposing to push people out, to make room for pets?

[Johno02]

Interesting that the article was in a foreign newspaper that probably doesn't even know where Texas is. If anyone wants to criticize things in Texas, they should get up off their priviledged as-, and either get there and help. or send lots of money and help to those that are trying. Yes, sometimes taking care of pets is a problem, but taking care of idiots is a useless cause.

[rockhillmanor]

Everyone should check with their Governor/Mayor/City councilman with a copy of this bill in hand to make sure that they are aware and have instituted a plan for shelters to accommodate pets. BEFORE a disaster strikes. :C

[azrving]

Thanks for posting. I didn't know this and we do have pet pig which is absolutely wonderful pet. I'm glad that there is a law allowing this.

[rockhillmanor]

When I lived up north we didn't have evacuations because tornadoes unfortunately to not give us any notice.

But what we do have that is exact in nature is shelters for those displaced by the tornado.

Most shelters set up another room if possible within the building or section off an area within the shelter for people who have pets.

From what I can tell by videos and pics that is what the Houston Convention Center has done. They have another area for evacuees with pets.

All I can say is that after this bill passed that in my state all the shelters that would NOT take pets in the past were all required to do so. It was a true blessing for us.

Which was so needed because people were staying in their unsafe torn apart homes because they had pets. Which in turn put a strain on our emt resources which were deployed to watch/assist these people when they were more needed elsewhere.

People and their pets together in a safe shelter during a disaster is the only way to go.

[1995brave]

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.

[OH48Lt]

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.

[rockhillmanor]

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.