How to Plan and Prepare for the Care of Animals During a Disaster Presented by Charlene Ruttle Banff, May 2013 Who Am I By day…mild, mannered Sgt. with Municipal Enforcement, Town of Cochrane, Deputy Director of Emergency Management. By night…volunteer with several animal agencies, travelled to Thailand, Iraq, Kuwait, USA, community advocate for animal issues, ANIMAL LOVER! …and my trusty partner Dot Gillis …Super Admin!!! Job Responsibilities • • • In my role as Animal Control Officer, I was assigned to incorporate an Animal Disaster Plan into our MEP. I learned to start with the Human Plan… then begin the Animal Plan as they are very similar. Animals also need the basics, food, shelter, medical care, etc. In essence you are setting up a Reception Centre for Animals Comparison to the Human Plan HUMAN – Reception Centre ANIMAL- Shelter Location Location Reception Centre Manager Shelter Manager Registration & Inquiry Supervisor Intake Supervisor – Reclamation Food, Clothing, Lodging Supervisor Facilities & Supply Supervisor Personal Services Supervisor Triage Supervisor Volunteer Services Supervisor Volunteer Supervisor Security Supervisor Security Supervisor Transportation Supervisor Transportation Supervisor Org Chart Disaster Social Services Manager Shelter Manager Intake Supervisor Reclamation Supervisor Facilities and Supply Supervisor Triage Supervisor Volunteer Supervisor Security Supervisor Transportation Supervisor Animal Care Supervisor Would you like to work like this… Or This?… Let’s Start Building A Plan – A Common Sense Approach Begin Locally Utilizing resources found within your town, city or county in which the event might occur. Find a temporary shelter location Hand shake agreements, or can be supplemented by Mutual Aid Agreements (MAA) or Memorandum Of Understandings (MOU). Assemble Your Executive Team SHELTER MANAGER Direct link to the EOC Social Services Representative Finds the location of shelter Oversees operations of shelter – Activation and Deactivation Liaise with Reception Centre Mgr. Brings the team together, trains together VOLUNTEER SUPERVISOR Works with Executive Team to supply volunteers to their areas Recruits and manages volunteer resources Process, record, track and retain information on volunteers Trains volunteers in the mandatory HR functions, OH&S, WCB, ANIMAL CARE SUPERVISOR Oversees animal care within shelter Trains volunteers in their area Manages animal care volunteers in their area Executive Team INTAKE SUPERVISOR Oversees operations of Intake Area Trains the volunteers in their area Manages the volunteers in their area RECLAMATION SUPERVISOR Oversees operations of Reclamation Area Trains the volunteers in their area Manages the volunteers in their area TRANSPORATION SUPERVISOR Manages transportation of small and large animals – from Reception Centre to Shelter, moving animals within Animal Area, Identifies, records and retains records of volunteers who can provide; vehicles, trucks, horse trailers, etc. Executive Team TRIAGE SUPERVISOR – LOCAL VET or VET TECH Oversees Triage Area, administers medication Procures and manages medication and supplies (drug procedures) Trains volunteers in their area Manages volunteers in their area FACILITIES & SUPPLY SUPERVISOR Oversees acquisition and deployment of resources Small and Large Animals: Crates, pet carriers, food, litter boxes, leashes, toys, collars, bowls, bedding, muzzles, shovels, disinfectant, water hoses, halters, lead ropes, rakes, pitchforks, buckets, hay, Manages office supplies – forms, tape, scanner, camera, pens, computer/printer, phones, flashlights, etc. Trains volunteers in their area Manages volunteers in their area The Shelter Types of Services in the Shelter Care Comforting the animals Feeding Medicating Walking Grooming Waste Management Triage SHELTER The area where the animals are cared for until they can be reunited with their care givers or placed in foster care. The temporary shelter must be designed to grow as the animal population changes. When a temporary shelter is set up, you never know how many animals are going to be cared for, what types of animals will arrive, and how long the shelter will be needed. SHELTER Try and keep all animals you are responsible for in one location. This keeps it easier for people to find animals they are missing. The more places people have to look, the less chance they will locate their animals. In some cases, you may need to set up additional holding areas, for different types of animals, i.e. dogs, cats, farm animals, quarantine areas, etc. Intake Supervisor The animal intake area is a very important part of the temporary shelter when it comes to keeping track of all the animals. Services provided in this area are: Complete Animal Intake Form Looks for and records current local identification e.g. Tags, micro-chips, etc. Photograph all Incoming Animals Put identification on all Incoming Animals & their crates or areas Assist people in finding their lost animal Manages and trains volunteers in their area Types of volunteers Clerical, administrative, generalists, Intake Reclamation Supervisor RECLAMATION • The Reclamation Area is where all the reunions take place. Volunteers assigned to this area get to see the end result of a lot of people’s hard work. Services provided in this area are: Complete all necessary paperwork for an animal to be returned home Make sure that the family has all the food and supplies they need to continue taking care of their animals in the weeks to come Manages and trains volunteers in their area Reclamation This image cannot currently be display ed. Volunteer Supervisor • • • • • Works with Executive Team to supply volunteers to their areas Recruits and manages volunteer records Process, record, track and retain information on volunteers Assigns volunteers according to abilities, desires, or needs Trains volunteers in HR functions, OH&S, WCB Thailand 2012 Volunteers Facilities & Supply Supervisor Oversees acquisition and deployment of resources Small and Large Animals: Crates, pet carriers, food, litter boxes, leashes, toys, collars, bowls, bedding, muzzles, shovels, disinfectant, water hoses, halters, lead ropes, rakes, pitchforks, buckets, hay, Manages office supplies – forms, tape, scanner, camera, pens, computer/printer, phones, flashlights, etc. Construction, Debris removal, Garbage removal Water and food – volunteers and animals Fans or heaters, fencing, crates, Restrooms, Tents Manages and trains volunteers in their area Types of volunteers Errand runners, plumbers, electricians, grounds people, handy persons, janitors, Facilities & Supply Transportation Supervisor Manages transportation of small and large animals – from Reception Centre to Shelter, moving animals within Animal Area, Identifies, records and retains records of volunteers who can provide; vehicles, trucks, horse trailers, etc. Identifies vehicles utilized in transportation Arranges for holding and disposing of deceased animals Manages and trains volunteers in their area Types of Volunteers Drivers, errand runners, people who can lift heavy loads, people good with animals, etc. Transportation Animal Care Supervisor • Daily Animal Care – water, feed, walk, groom • Complete all daily log charts • Report to Triage (Vets/Techs) any change in animal status i.e. vomiting, etc. • Cleaning of kennels and animal housing • Disinfecting, cleaning, removing animal waste • Manages and trains volunteers in their area Triage Supervisor LOCAL VET or VET TECH Oversees Triage Area Manages procurement and supply of medications (drugs) Administers medication and vaccinations Monitors special dietary needs of animals Provides on-going care for sick and injured animals Treats skin problems Identifies which animals must be taken to vet clinic for care which you cannot supply Triage Security Supervisor This function is generally a mobile function that is tasked with ensuring the safety of the volunteers and animals. • • • • • Security Assists in directing people to specific areas within the shelter. Determine method of communication, radios, cells, etc. Seek advice or training from local police, i.e. what can we do, what can’t we do Manages and trains volunteers in their area Security VISUALS Thailand, 2012 Hurricane Katrina, 2005 Photographed by Charlene Ruttle [email protected] 403-851-2967 wk • Stock photo – internet Are You Prepared? The first step in preparing for a disaster is to have a plan for the human members of a household. If you are not prepared yourself, you are reducing the chances you will be able to care for your animals. For assistance on creating a human plan, visit http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/epwk/index-eng.aspx for tips and advice; Begin on your animal plan. The two most important things to do to prepare for the needs of your animals are: 1. Determine how you can safely evacuate all your animals 2. Know in advance where you are going to house them temporarily The more animals you have the more challenging this will be. Pack an emergency kit for them for a 72 hour duration. Include; • Food, Identification, Medication, Vet information, Water, Carriers, Leashes & Harnesses, Stake out chains, dog runs, etc. • Consider utilizing Pet identification stickers on your house…Animals Inside…Please rescue my dog, cat, and include Pet name and your information. • Practice you plan and include your animals as part of the whole household. QUESTIONS? I just met you, and this is crazy, but here’s my number, so Call Me Maybe …(Carly Rae Jepson) Charlene Ruttle [email protected] 403-851-2967 work Learning from High River Municipal Enforcement Officer Lisa Coyne of High River, shared with us some details regarding the June floods in High River. She is preparing a report for her community and will be willing to share it with other municipalities. She can be reached at 403-603-3499 for a copy of the report and she is willing to speak to small groups regarding High River’s experience. (But not till 2014…too busy now) ! High River What she told me: • • • • • • • Municipality took over 3 days into event – they were tasked elsewhere during the initial disaster Taking over from concerned citizens was an exercise in diplomacy Regarding safety, liability, etc…people want to help, but don’t always see the legal side of things 1140 animals were rescued successfully. 20 perished – some being in crates and basements and washed away. Used local agencies for boarding and sheltering animals i.e. Heaven Can Wait Kennels Issued a phone number for the public to call to ask for assistance in locating or extracting animals from flood affected homes Worked in teams, with a professional and a volunteer and extracted animals which were in immediate distress High River • • • • • • • Those able to be safely retained in their homes were left and cared for on a daily basis – dry and sheltered – no further distress Lots of professional help, SPCA, City of Calgary Animal Services, Calgary Humane Society, Fish & Wildlife, etc. Information changed rapidly – as to whether people could return home or not Used locksmiths to gain entry into locked homes – some homes just were open. (All with authority of animal owner). Worked in teams – no single rescues Used foster homes, specialists for certain types of animals i.e. – snakes, lizards, chickens, etc. 30 cats to date not back home – no id, some surrendered as families cannot cope with everything Can’t crate animals of different species together in same areaa, i.e. cats, dogs, birds Charlene’s Travels to IRAQ • • Charlene just returned Monday, November 4th from Erbil, Iraq. Her mission with SPCA International, at the request of US Consulate was to conduct a TNR (Trap/Neuter/Release) clinic for cats. Visit http://spcainternational.org for more information. Erbil also written Arbil, or Irbil is, with a population of approximately 1.3 million, the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul. It is located 80 kilometres east of Mosul, and is the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Wikipedia Once-Calm Area of Iraq Is Shaken by Bombings - NYTimes.com www.nytimes.com/.../relatively-calm-kurdish-region-of-iraq-is-shaken-by-r... Sep 29, 2013 - A car bombing in Erbil was among at least five explosions in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. Six or more people were killed. • Here’s some photo’s Charlene took…
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