HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS

All of us living in Florida, Georgia and in the southeastern coastal states know that hurricane season can be unpredictable, especially after the 2004 season's number of intense storms. It is important to prepare in advance for these storms, not just preparing the house and humans, but preparing for your pets! DARE would like to offer the following suggestions to help you prepare for hurricane season. These are only suggestions. For complete information and to answer any questions, contact your local Emergency Management personnel.

FIRST, HAVE A PLAN!
If you do not plan ahead and wait until the last minute to evacuation, your only choice for refuge will likely be a public shelter, such as a school or church. REMEMBER THAT MOST PUBLIC EMERGENCY SHELTERS DO NOT ACCEPT ANY PETS. However, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS HOME ALONE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. Your pet may not survive the storm. He or she could be injured or killed by debris in the home. Or they could escape from the home through a broken window or door. Once loose they could die of starvation, dehydration, predators, contaminated food or water, untreated injuries, or even be run over on busy roads full of people trying to leave or come back into an area.
Try to plan with a family member or friend who does not live in an evacuation zone that you can stay with in the event of a storm, who will welcome you and your pets. Or find a pet friendly hotel/motel that is not in an evacutation zone at www.petswelcome.com. Contact your local veterinarian offices and boarding kennels (again, that are not in an evacuation zone) to see if there is space for your pet to be boarded during the storm. Keep in mind there are 100 times more pets than kennel boarding spaces. The local shelters (Animal Services, Humane Society, SPCA, etc.) can not accept your pets for boarding. They will need the space to accept lost pets during the post-disaster period. And be sure to plan for travel time to and from the shelter when creating your overall emergency plan for the whole family.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK FOR MY PET?
If you must leave your home in preparation for a storm, you should be sure to pack the necessary essentials for your entire family, including your pets. Be sure to put proper ID on all belongings.

• Collar with tags and a sturdy leash
• All medications - remember to consider if your pet may be due for heartworm and/or flea preventative and bring that along too
• Medical records, especially proof of vaccinations - if your pet is not up to date on vaccinations get them updated NOW, including a bordatello shot to prevent kennel cough, commonly spread when dogs are boarded
• Large zip lock bags - to store your pet's medicines, treats and paperwork in so they do not get wet
• Care instruction sheet - write up a sheet with instructions on how to care for your pet, how to administer their medications, likes and dislikes, fears, etc.
• Carrier or Pet Taxi - your pet will be most comfortable and secure in their carriers in a safe area until the storm has passed
• Food in a watertight container- at least 2 weeks supply per pet - remember a manual (non-electric) can opener if you feed canned food
• Fresh water - at least 2 weeks supply per pet
• Cat litter, liners and a pan
• Plastic bags, paper towels, newspaper to handle pet wastes
• Brushes and combs for grooming
• Favorite blankets and/or toys to comfort your pet
• Muzzle - if necessary
• Pet ID form with current picture - click here to fill out and print form

HELP! I'M LOST!
Last year in Florida thousands of pets were left orphaned when their homes were damaged or destroyed by the hurricanes and they escaped, only to roam the streets with no ID and no way to determine where they belonged. Many shelters set up emergency sites to house the dogs but with the hurricanes coming almost every other weekend at one point, the dogs had to be moved because the emergency shelters would not withstand the next hurricane. Fortunately other shelters, not affected by the storms, came in and took the homeless dogs back to their shelters with them to find their owners or new forever homes. But how sad for those pets lost from their owners forever.
MICROCHIP - A microchip is a small chip, the size of a grain of rice, that is implanted under the skin near the pet's shoulders that holds information about the owner and phone numbers where you can be reached, plus any special medical information on your dog. Implanting the chip will cause mild discomfort at the time of the implant but can be the solution to finding your pet should he or she ever get lost. And unlike a collar and tags, the micro chip can not fall off and be lost, leaving your dog ID-less.
COLLAR AND TAGS - If you do not usually keep your pet's collar on while he or she is in the house, put it on when the threat of a storm is near. Remember these storms can change course very quickly, with little warning, so don't wait for an immediate threat, put the collar on well in advance so you can focus on other preparations as the storm nears. You never know what kind of damage your home may sustain which could create the opportunity for your frightenend pet to escape so you want to be sure the collar and tags are on your pet. Having their rabies license on the collar is good but remember in a hurricane Animal Services may not have phone lines open and/or may not be able to look up your information based on the license number, should someone call them after finding your dog. Purchase an additional tag from the local pet store that has your name and phone numbers on it so you can easily be reached. This is also a good idea even if your pet has a microchip since that too requires reaching the micrchip company to retrieve your contact information. You can also order online or from the local pet store a collar that has your name and phone number sewn into the collar as part of the collars decoration. Write down your pet's rabies license number so that if he or she is lost you can give the ID# to those you call trying to lacate your pet.

AFTER THE STORM
Once the storm has passed and emergency personnel have given the all clear for you to return to your home, proceed with caution. Watch for downed and dangling power lines and other debris. Check your food and water supply for contamination. If you are without power, be extremely careful if you are using oil lamps or candles. Keep them in a place your pet will not accidently know them over. Use of battery powered lighting is best!
Walk your pets on a leash until they become re-oriented with their home. Your pet may be disoriented since normal landmarks and the scent trais could be obliterated. You pet may also temporarily exhibit different behaviors due to the stress of the storm. If your pet should become lost during the storm contact your local shelters to ask if he or she has been turned in. Have identification paperwork with you so you can provide it to the shelters to help assist in reuniting you with your pet.
If you encounter loose pets in the neighborhood, even pets you may know, use caution. Even normally friendly animals may exhibit different behaviors due to the stress of the storm.

Nikki UP DATE Nikki went to her new loving forever home this past weekend and is doing GREAT. We would like to thank everyone who helped with her care and recovery.

Can you help DARE? If you would like to help you can help by sending a check or money order to:
DARE 4495-304 Roosevelt Blvd. PMB 179 Jacksonville, FL 32210
or via the secure paypal link below:

Thank you!

Calendar Contest

The picture gallery is complete -- Click here to view it ... now it is time to vote for your favorites.

August 1st, we will open up our calendar page for voting. Vote early and vote often for your favorite one(s). Those pups with the most votes will be chosen to grace the pages of our 2011 calendar.
Those 2011 calendars will be available for sale in October. You can also pre-order calenders by submitting your order to calendar@daretorescue.com.

To vote Click here (link will be active Aug 1st after 10 am)
Thank you!

Visit Our New Special Needs and Senior Available Dogs Page

Many of DARE's dogs are older or special needs so we have decided to give them their own showcase page. Please visit this page to view these dogs that are in long term foster care, not because they can not be adopted, but because they have to wait for a very special home that may take a while to find them. All of these dogs were in danger of losing their lives before their time but DARE has committed to help them live out their lives in comfort either in foster care or in a new, loving, forever home.

Your help with these dogs while in DARE's care is greatly appreciated. Please click here to visit these wonderful dogs.