By Norma MiltonSpecial to the Aroostook Republican
Caribou Pet Rescue (CPR) continues to be the voice of the homeless and helpless. Pet owner’s must have emergency plans for their pets in case of a disaster.
Contributed photoThis little cat was brought to Caribou Pet Rescue when it was found on the side of the road after being struck by a car. After several days of medical care, the kitty is back at CPR recovering. This kitty's medical care was sponsored by a special volunteer who wishes to be anonymous. If you would like to sponsor medical care or the spay/neutering of a pet, please call CPR at 498-3800.
If there were a terrorist threat, an environmental disaster, a flood, or a fire in our neighborhood, would I leave my pets to be evacuated. Not unless I saw a safe alternative for my pets and that we would be reunited reasonably soon. This is a moral directive for community disaster teams since the horrors of Hurricane Katrina.
In Caribou, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), training under the guidance of Chief Roy Woods, Caribou Fire and Ambulance, plans for all types of emergency disasters. In this context the word “family” includes the family dog and cat.
Over 15,000 pets have been found by rescue groups since Hurricane Katrina. Only 3,000 have been reunited with their owners. People did not prepare identification for their household pets before the hurricane. Hurricane Katrina proved that when disaster strikes, rescue programs and workers must be as prepared to help the family pets as the family itself. There are still over 12,000 rescued pets from Katrina who have not been reunited with their families. No one can estimate how many non-rescued pets are still roaming the streets or faced death sentences in municipal pounds.
The first step is identification. For dogs, a collar with his license tag, rabies tag and a name identifying his name, owner’s name, telephone and address. For cats, you need to also consider the safety of a break-away collar. Cats will climb and can become entangled trapping or hanging the animal. Break-away collars will disconnect should that happen. I have seen cats who have strayed and gotten into serious injury or death situations because the collar did not have a break-away feature.
Tattooing and microchip are becoming popular. Both require the expense of having a professional involved. In time, I think the microchip will be the most popular. The microchip reader is now available to all humane shelters, police departments and EMA rescue workers.
We can safely identify and protect our pets with other low-cost features: (1) Have a durable, safe collar with a quality ID tag. (2) Have several photos of your pet taken at different angles to show color patterns and specific features. (3) Have all medical records showing vaccinations, special diet, chronic illnesses (heart or diabetic) or allergies. Keep a plastic enclosed copy of records in the pet’s area, a copy for you and an additional copy in the house of a friend or relative – just in case of fire or flood. And (4) have a five-day supply of food and water kept aside for the pet.
If you need to leave in a hurry and quick rescue is uncertain, you will have provided rescuers with supplies needed for those first few days. Do not cap the water jugs. (A Katrina person did so only to find that her pet had severely dehydrated trying to chew off the plastic cap). Do not leave unopened canned pet food (even if he will not eat anything else-who is going to operate the can opener for him). If the pet is hungry, he will eat the dry food
In case of a multiple family disaster (flooding or apartment fire), the CERT team would quickly and effectively provide shelter, food, water, emergency medical needs and communication services to residents affected by the disaster. The CERT pet rescue members will help provide services for your family pet. If you have provided the CERT rescuer workers with pet identification, we can reassure you that your pet is safe.
Please donate nicely used articles for CPR’s Tent Sale during the Caribou City-Wide Yard Sale. We will also do a bottle drive that day. Please bring your returnable bottles right to the shelter when you visit our Tent Sale.
Caribou Pet Rescue is joining forces with the Emergency Management (EMA), C.E.R.T. personnel, Caribou Police Department, Caribou Fire and Ambulance during “Caribou Cares about Kids” week. We are adding in “Caribou Cares About Pets” as well as kids. Together we are planning a big shindig on August 9th. Please mark your calendar.
Call 498-3800 for information or check out our pets at Caribou Pet Rescue is located at 6 Richards; and the mailing address is PO Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736 Neuter and Spay – It’s the ONLY Way.
