Cohabited Human and Pet Shelter - Lessons from Louisiana

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY MIKE STRAIN DVM, COMMISSIONER

Cohabitated Human/Pet Shelter

Cohabitated Human/Pet Shelter Pilot Project Timeline NASAAEP SUMMIT – May 2016 USDA GRANT Proposal -July 2016 THE GREAT FLOOD – August 2016

WORKSHOP – November 2016 TABLE TOP – February 2017 FULL SCALE EXERCISE – May 2017

CELTIC STUDIOS The first Cohabitated pet shelter at the Celtic studios was initially opened without the assistance of LDAF or its partners to assist created response coordination challenges.

Celtic studios cohabitated pet shelter did not have identified command set up initially.

Unable to determine who was in control or lead agency.

OPENING CELTIC People with pets were sheltered at Stage 7 No organized shelter operations in place No registration for people or pets

No pet supplies or resources Unmanaged donations

LDAF RESPONSE Supplied Resources LSART VMRC was activated through Public Health for the first time to assess Celtic Center cohabitated pet shelter.

LSART VMRC provided Veterinary care and mitigated public health issues

Animal Control support Coordinated Transition Plan

Get Ready to Cohabitate Humans with Pets Identify and mitigate the critical issues related to Cohabitated Human/Pet sheltering.

ORGANIZATION Authority - Who is it?

Coordinating Elements Office Of Emergency Management, Animal Control, Local Veterinarian or VMRC, Public Health, Public Safety, Fire Marshall Humane Group/Volunteers, Donations Management, Public Information

Roles And Responsibilities Of ESF’s or Organizations

SHELTER OPERATIONS

Human Shelter Branch

Pet Shelter Branch

Registration, Intake, Discharge

Medical Unit

Kennel

Animal Control

Security

Donations Management

PREPAREDNESS Basic Requirements Develop the basic plan Define pet and establish the admission requirements and the RULES Develop intake, discharge and registration forms and protocols

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Pet owners are responsible for their pets at all times.

Pet owners must provide daily care for their pets.

Arrangements MUST be made if owner is unable to provide pet care.

No ABANDONDED pets allowed in shelter Only OWNED PETS allowed in shelter

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Proof of vaccinations and identification Three-day supply of food and water for each pet Leash and collar for each pet Medication Litter box Crate or carrier Comfort items Are these requirements always realistic?

Rescued with Pets This is really how people are rescued and evacuate. The reality is they have no time to gather supplies for their themselves, much less for their pets. Please keep this in mind.

SITE SELECTION

SITE SELECTION Space requirements - Fire Marshall and Red Cross Any site that can facilitate separation of those people with pets from those without pets.

Any site that can support cohabitated and colocated sheltering.

Any site that can provide a separate exercise and relief area from general population.

ESTIMATED SPACE REQUIREMENTS Contact your local Fire Marshall or Emergency Manager for space requirements for your area.

Traditional human sheltering requires approximately 30 to 40 square feet per person Cohabitation requires a larger footprint approximately 180 square feet for family of 4 and 2 pets

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Veterinary services are essential to protect the public health when sheltering with pets Day Two: Vaccinate, Deworm and De-flea program Separate by species, sick, aggressive non vaccinated pets from general population Separate area for people with pets Separate pet exercise and relief areas identified to limit contamination of feces

PUBLIC HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY Separate non pet owners from pet owners.

Only owners allowed to touch pets All animals to remain crated or leashed at all times Aggressive pets sheltered in another location. Animal Control or local clinic Report all Bite cases to Animal control and Public Health.

MOUS/CONTRACTS/ AGREEMENTS Animal Control Associations Humane and Animal Rescue Groups Local Veterinarians VMRC School of Veterinary Medicine State or local Animal response teams VOAD

PUBLIC INFORMATION

Stay ahead of the EVOLVING event !

Evacuation Information for Pet Owners Baton Rouge, La. (XXX, XX, 20XX) – Cohabitation emergency shelters are opening for residents evacuating with their pets at the following locations: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Cohabitation shelters allow people to remain with their pets at the facility provided certain requirements are met. Residents evacuating with a pet must meet the following requirements in order to be admitted to a co-habited emergency shelter: Proof of vaccinations and identification Three-day supply of food and water for each pet Leash and collar for each pet Medication Litter box Crate or carrier Comfort items Residents not meeting the above requirements will be sent to a co-located shelter. These facilities typically house people and one building and the animals in another.

For more information, visit www.LDAF.la.gov or

DONATIONS Appoint a Donations manager Public information - Clear and Timely Offsite location to receive Donations Specific needs Money Ask for one type of food

Want to help animals? Consider a monetary donation Baton Rouge, La. (XXX, XX, XXXX) – Donations are needed to assist the animal relief efforts that are. underway by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) and parish governments. The funds collected will be used to provide supplies and equipment necessary to care for numerous pets and livestock in shelters operated by the LDAF and parish governments.

“During emergencies people will ask me how they can help out,” Strain said. “A monetary donation is the best way to help out animal relief efforts. The money goes directly towards purchases dog food, feed, bowls and other necessary animal care supplies.”

To donate, go to: http://gofundme.com/2kgag534 While monetary donations are preferred, individuals wanting to donate items should only bring donations to designated donation drop-off locations. Please do not bring donations directly to shelters

SHELTER OPERATIONS IMT, SHELTERING TEAMS, TRAINING SERVICE ANIMALS ADMIT/DISCHARGE, REUNIFICATION LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL RESPONSIBILITIES SECURITY -NON PET OWNERS – NOT ALLOWED

ESTIMATED STAFFING REQUIREMENTS A stand alone with non-fractious pets -1 responder per 12-15 pets Co-located shelter with a high rate of noncompliance - 1 responder per 25 pets Cohabitated or co-located shelter, where the owners are taking complete ownership responsibilities - 1 responder per 100 pets

STAFFING Shelter set up, signage , traffic flow, supply depot Registration/Intake/Discharge Animal Control – Day one -Assessment then on call/daily rotation Veterinarian – Day One or Two Vaccinate, deworm, de-flea, health assessments, on call or daily rotation

SHELTER OPERATIONS

Human Shelter Branch

Pet Shelter Branch

Registration, Intake, Discharge

Medical Unit

Kennel

Animal Control

Security

Donations Management

REGISTRATION Two lines – One for people with pets and one for non pet owners.

Register the pets first or simumstanously Complete Registration/Intake forms, vaccination form and give copy of rules.

Get an EMAIL ADDRESS for owner

Registration/Intake Triage pets – illness, vaccinated, aggression, meets definition of pet.

Co-locate those that are not allowed to cohabitate or find suitable sheltering options.

Band owner and pet – Cage number, ID

REGISTRATION/INTAKE Supply area -Cages, Food, Litter Pans, etc.

Self serve or attended supply area.

Signage - Exercise area, All pets crated or on leash at all times, Feeding time posted, Waste disposal, Cleaning supplies.

REGISTRATION / INTAKE /DISCHARGE DESK Post emergency numbers - local veterinarian – Animal Control Post hours when Veterinarian and Animal Control on site Post hours when Animal Support Team will be on site.

Post all information related to Operations

TRANSITION OPERATIONS Demobilization Or Transitioning To Traditional Sheltering Unclaimed Pets Considered Abandonned Animal Control Policy Clearly stated on registration form

REIMBURSEMENT Document, Document, Document Sign in sheets ( meals, volunteers, assignments) ICS 214 Fema Disaster Assistance Policy DAP 9523.19 Pets Fema Disaster Assistance Policy DAP 9525.2 Donated Policy

ESTIMATED COST TO SHELTER Cohabitated pets - approximately $1.00 per pet per day

Co-located pets - approximately $5.00 per pet per day

Stand Alone pets - approximately $25.00 per pet per day

WHAT WE KNOW NOW The Cohabitated pet shelter was successful in sheltering people and pets and in a less stressful environment for people and pets than our traditional co-located shelters.

Cohabitated pet shelters are quieter and more easily managed than co-located or stand alone pet shelters.

Pet owners need to be informed about pet shelter rules and possible transitions prior to entering if possible.

Veterinary care essential to mitigate public health and safety issues.

What We Know Now Incorporating Animal Control to support pet sheltering is essential.

Requests for supplies not always tied to a verified need which lead to donation management issues.

Recommend adoption of a donations management and solicitation protocol

Transitioning from a Cohabitated shelter to alternative sheltering requires coordination and managing expectations

What We Know Now Cohabitated Sheltering will prepare us to respond to a Catastrophic event.

Local Cohabited sheltering reduces the sheltering burden on state resources.

Sheltering the entire Family unit promotes recovery.

FORMS AND POLICY Organizational Chart – Call Down List Admin/Discharge/Registration/Rules Failure to Comply Owner log Volunteer Sign in/ Sign out Bite and Unclaimed pet policy Vaccination/Medical Form Prescript Public Information statements

SAMPLE FORMS Sample forms, policy, and templates are provided for your reference and use.

rpoirrier@gmail.com

Cohabitated Human/Pet Sheltering Checklist

Why We Do It?

Contact Information LDAF Emergency Programs John Walther, Director 225-935-2150 john_w@ldaf.state.la.us