Leave No Pet Behind

If you had to leave your home suddenly, due to a flood, tornado or some other type of disaster, what happens to your pets?  The Tri State County Animal Response Team (CART) recommends that all pet owners have a plan, including the placement of a microchip in the animal to help reunite you if you do become separated.  “So many people let their pets loose when hurricane Katrina was moving in, we are still helping rescue groups in that area find homes for all the stray dogs and cats from that disaster,” said Bonnie Morrison with CART.  “Reunification with their owners would have been much easier, if the pets had a microchip or were wearing a dog license on their collars.”

CART recommends that when you are putting together a disaster plan for your family, make sure you include your pets.  “Plan to have enough pet food and water to shelter in place for up to a week,” said Morrison.  “In a disaster, if you can’t take your pet with you, unchain him so he can at least save himself.”  Morrison said that a permanent marker can be used to tattoo the inside of the animal’s ear to help you identify him after the danger has passed.

The all volunteer CART organization covers 10 counties in Indiana 11 in Kentucky, and eight in Ohio.  The volunteers are trained and work with emergency responders to locate, rescue, care for, and reunite animals and their owners who become separated during a disaster; CART also works with animal shelters to foster and adopt stray and unclaimed animals following the disaster.

If you are interested in learning more about Tri State CART, visit the Web site www.TriStateCART.com.