Conyers’ Chemical Fire and Hurricane Helene
Are Georgia’s Agencies and Pet Owners Prepared When It Comes To Animals / Pets During Disasters?
Disaster preparedness is essential to protecting animals during natural disasters and manmade disasters. Even though Governor Kemp declared a State of Emergency, most agencies and pet owners do not have a clue what to do with animals during these disasters. Why? Lack of terrain, and evacuation and sheltering options are limited or nonexistent. This disregard for companion animal welfare during a disaster can have public health consequences.
WE ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT BY PROVIDING THIS VITAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR ANIMALS TRAINING AT THE 25th ANNUAL APAW EXPO IN GEORGIA.
www.APAWexpo.org this October 18 and 19 in conjunction with the Georgia Veterinary Association in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Our speakers, attendees, and lawmakers round table including Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, and local Commissioners. Many law enforcement offices will be in attendance.
Pet owners may be stranded at home, unwilling to leave their pets behind. Others refuse evacuation orders or attempt to reenter evacuation sites illegally to rescue their animals. Zoonotic disease risk increases when pets are abandoned or left to roam, where they are more likely to encounter infected wildlife or unowned animals than they would if they were safely sheltered with their owners. Emergency planning for companion animals and food and farm animals during disasters is a need in communities with a significant pet population, and will increase resilience and improve public health.
Due to the Conyers’ Chemical fire, all animals in the Rockdale county shelter had to be evacuated or possibly face death. What if they did not have the transport trailer or the human resources to act quickly? Many animal shelters do not have these resources. What if livestock/poultry is in peril; how will this affect Georgia economy?
Just ask first responders, who often are unable to provide any information on where to house pets during a crisis and may explicitly instruct owners to leave their pets behind; emergency management groups frequently do not include companion animals in their evacuation plans; and animal welfare groups that try to address …
WHAT?
Training in Animal Related Cases, Animal Crimes, Dog Fighting, Dangerous Dogs, Dog Bite Cases, Emergency Disasters, K9 handlers, Search and Rescue dogs cases, Mass Shooter Profiling, AI in Investigations in Animal Cases
4 Tracks – Live, in person and Virtual Training
- Animal crimes/law enforcement and prosecution training
- Emergency Disaster Training related to animals and Georgia agencies
- Animal Shelter and Spay-Neuter initiatives
- Public Safety Animal and Search and Rescue dogs, including a mock trial
Keynote – How Artificial Intelligence Changes the Animal Related Cases
Virtual Classes – in addition to the live class, other subjects are offered in virtual classes
Dog Bite Cases
Mass Shooter Profiling and Animal Cruelty Indicators
When: October 18th and 19th, 2024 – full days
Location: APAW Expo, Hotel Avalon, 5230 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
More about the APAW Expo
Click here for more info www.APAWexpo.org.
Click here to find the 2024 Course Agenda
Click here to register
House pets:
It is essential to bring your pet inside when a storm is announced for your area and bring them with you if you must evacuate. You can check FEMA for information on which shelters accept pets. You should also make an emergency kit for your pet containing the following items: enough food and water for a week, any items needed to manage waste (litter boxes, poop bags, paper towels, etc.), medical records, a 1-2 month supply of pet medications, toys to ease stress, pet carrier(s), leash(es), and a pet first aid kit. It is also important to make sure your pet is microchipped in case they get lost in the storm. Keeping your animal up-to-date on vaccinations is vital as well as contaminated flood water may carry disease.
Equine:
For horses it may be more difficult to evacuate, so it is especially important that your animals have up-to-date medical records and have all recommended vaccinations. Make an evacuation plan ahead of time that includes a place for your animals. It is important to remember that if a storm is not safe for you it is also not safe for any animals in your care. Have the contact information of a local veterinarian, but recognize that storms lead to an influx of injured animals and be prepared to manage injuries without assistance. Make sure to rid the area your horses will be kept in of any debris that could become dangerous in hurricane winds. Keep at least two-three weeks worth of food and hay available as they may be harder to purchase in the aftermath of a storm.
Livestock:
As with horses and house pets, it is vital that livestock be vaccinated and have up-to-date medical records. Many of the principles that are important in equine management during disasters also apply to livestock such as clearing their barn or pasture of any debris. Make sure any equipment necessary to care for your animals such as vehicles and hand-tools should be properly fueled before the storm hits, and extra fuel should be kept on hand. If possible, it is best to avoid keeping animals in locked barns where they might drown in the flash flooding that is anticipated to affect much of Georgia. Make sure to turn off electrical power to barns and storage areas, but keep power to electrical fences on. Coordinate with neighbors who are also transporting animals, working as a community can help ensure best outcomes for livestock.
Preparing for an emergency disaster is essential to the protection of human and animal lives, and by following these instructions Georgians can help protect themselves and their animals from injury and disease.
