Animal Response Team Invites Volunteers to Join

Where, oh where has your little dog gone?

You may never know unless you develop a plan to include the pup in evacuation with the family before a disaster. And that applies to your cats, birds, fish, iguanas, horses and other critters who have lassoed your affection. 

“I never thought about including the cat,” said Monroe's Alli Irish who admitted to having a family evacuation plan for her three boys and husband. "The cat was a stray and we just sort of adopted each other." She did outfit "Keeper" with a collar and name tag, but she’s basically an outdoor cat. Still, if an evacuation happened, Irish determined that she couldn't just leave her. 

"I’m ready to evacuate with Nibbles," said Monroe resident Alina Morey. "We moved here 17 years ago with a hamster and we still have one." Her current pet has a carrier and supplies ready to go. "We know how to transport," she said.

Pets are the main reason many residents refuse to evacuate if it means leaving their companions behind. Pets are the main reason many owners return, or attempt to return, to their homes before local authorities declare their area safe after a disaster. Surveys indicate at least 80% of pet owners say they would risk their lives for their pets. And their "re-entry" attempts can risk the health and safety of those attempting to find and rescue those very animals.

A group of potential animal rescue volunteers eager to save "any animal in any disaster, anywhere" met Thursday night at Beardsley Zoo to apply for training as part of the Connecticut State Animal Response Team (CTSART) Region 1. Monroe sits at the northeastern tip of Region1 which covers 14 towns, from Monroe south to Long Island Sound and west to the New York border. There are five regions and teams in the state. One of the functions of CTSART is to run shelters for animals adjacent to disaster shelters run for people.

"If you don't take care of the animals," said Region 1 Director and Team Leader Sheldon Z. Yessenow, D.V.M., founder of Oronoque Animal Hospital, "you can't take care of the people, because the people won't leave their animals."

"Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of states' health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service animals that assist people with disabilities are the only exception," states the American Red Cross website. Evacuees arriving at Red Cross-run shelters with pets in tow have been a continuing problem for the organization. Many pet owners leave a safe haven rather than be parted from their pets.

After Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Yessenow deployed for three weeks to New Orleans. He worked in an animal shelter that housed 2,000 animals at any given time. He saw 8,000 pets separated from their families run through the facility to other states. Many were lost to their owners forever.

"I got to see what happens," he said, "when a community is not prepared."

The nearly two dozen volunteers who signed up for a chance to become an animal rescuer with Region 1 CTSART will have to take not only FEMA's online courses on National Incident Management, but also complete CERT certification, as well as two courses on animal handling.

There will also be optional training and hands-on activities such as Oiled Wildlife Response, Handling Exotic Animals and Reptiles, Large-Animal Handling Training, Pet First Aid and Amateur Radio Training.

Connecticut's animal rescue program is based on a similar one founded in North Carolina after Hurricane Floyd hit Sept. 16, 1999. News media reported that North Carolina had 36 people killed, $3 billion in damage, 7,000 homes destroyed, 56,000 homes damaged, 1,500 people rescued from flood areas and power outages affecting more than 500,000 customers.

Rarely reported was the fact that more than 3 million domestic pets and farm animals perished in that disaster. Responders agree that many could have been saved had there been a coordinated emergency response plan in effect. 

Statistics by the American Veterinary Medical Association indicate 60% of United States households have pets. Of the households that have pets, there are, on average, 2.6 pets in each. Nationally recognized formulas for calculating household pets, estimate that Monroe has some 4,175 dogs and 4,647 cats. The 14 towns in Region 1 are estimated to house 198,696 dogs and 166,806 cats.

Connecticut has more horses per capita than any other state. And Fairfield County has more horses than any other county in Connecticut, according to Monroe's Animal Control Officer Ed Risko. There is no tally or census on the number of horses in Monroe, he said, although he knows where most of them reside.

CTSART estimates the statewide herd exceeds 60,000 animals. As with farm animals, it is primarily the responsibility of the horse owner to safeguard their horses and have an evacuation plan including proper trailers for transport.

Attorney Cathy Kohut of Monroe has been on the Region 1 Team as a planner for the past two years helping it to develop. She owns and handles two search and rescue dogs.

"Every person here at the meeting is passionate about animals and people," she said. "You have to save one to help the other. Every town should be as prepared as possible and encouraged to have a plan, commitment and resources."

The Pet Evacuation & Transportation Standards Act of 2006, the "PETS Act," makes planning for household pet evacuation a requirement of state and local governments receiving Stafford Act homeland security funding. Further, Connecticut Public Act 07-11 requires that every Connecticut municipality include, in its Emergency Operations Plan, provisions for providing shelter to the household pets of evacuated citizens. It was co-sponsored by Connecticut Congressman Chris Shays and signed into law by President George W. Bush.

According to First Selectman Steve Vavrek, who has one dog, he and David York, Monroe's Director of Emergency Management are well aware of the PETS act. Shelter plans are already in place utilizing the shop area at Masuk High School.

Vavrek said, "We've also asked Officer Risko, who knows Monroe's animal population better than anyone in town, to put together a list of necessities for local animal rescue and evacuation, including a trailer. We have a lot of pets in Monroe. Once we know exactly what's needed, we can move forward to ensure that the town can take care of, not only its people, but their pets, in a disaster.” 

The Region 1 CTSART unit must be requested through state emergency management channels to assist a town overwhelmed by a disaster. The unit hopes to station one rescue trailer in Bridgeport and another in Stamford. If the disaster were widespread, such as a direct hurricane hit on Fairfield County, teams from other regions in the state could be called in, according to Yessenow.

According to Risko Monroe has 2,389 licensed dogs. However, he admits that "for every one licensed, there are two more who are not."  In an evacuation situation, rescuers need to know where pets are living. License records provide addresses.

CTSART is under the jurisdiction of local, regional and state emergency management and includes animal control officers, law enforcement, veterinarians, public health workers, farmers and concerned citizens.

The concerned citizens who attended Region1’s call for volunteers will next undergo one-on-one interviews to determine how their dedication and skills can best be used. Training will follow.

For information on joining CTSART as a volunteer animal rescuer or support member, visit www.ctcsart.org.