Help for Rhode Island Cities and Towns in Preparing for Emergency Animal Care
Why include pets in local emergency plans?
- It's the law (the "Pets Act")
- It can reduce local costs.
- It's the right thing to do for animals that depend on people.
- it's the right thing to do for people who depend on pets.
- It's right for first responders, who end up dealing with them anyway.
- Preparation requires less than you might think
...and here's help:
Models to Use or Adapt
Public information to minimize suffering, sheltering, and rescue:
Advice for Animal Owners Facing a Disaster, gateway to guides specifically for large and small animals, pets and livestock, before, during, and after an emergency in Rhode Island.
Free brochures:
- Prepare For Emergencies Now: Information For Pet Owners,
- Prepare Pets for RI Emergency (RI DEM)
- Caring for Animals (FEMA)
- Pets and Disaster Safety Checklist (ARC)
- Disaster Preparedness Brochures and Make a Disaster Plan for Your Pets (HSUS)
- Emergency Pet Preparedness (ASPCA)
- Saving the Whole Family (AVMA)
Guides and Plans for Local Emergency Animal Care:
Forms (from the DEM Emergency Response Plan)
From the DEM Emergency Response Plan
*U.S. Public Law #109-308: The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 (PETS Act) amends the Stafford Act by requiring FEMA to ensure state and local emergency preparedness operational plans (including evacuation plans) take into account the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency. The PETS Act also authorizes the FEMA Administrator to provide funding to state and local governments for animal emergency preparedness purposes, including the procurement, construction, leasing, or renovating of emergency shelter facilities and materials that would accommodate people with their pets and service animals that would be used following an evacuation.