Animal Rescue Primer
Here are some guidelines that will allow you to effectively help both pets and their owners in a disaster zone. This outline was used for the relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina. Many future disaster that involve mass evacuation will pose similar problems for people involved in animal rescue so the below primer should offer insight and help.
DO NOT JUDGE WHY PEPLE LEFT THEIR PETS. Yes some are/were irresponsible. But there are countless stories where people were forced out of their homes without their animals. Or they were not let back in to feed and remove the animals as the disaster went from being a hurricane to an actual flood. Just because you are healthy remember many pet owners were infirmed, aged or other varied circumstances where they were not in the position to help their pet. We are NOT here just to help the pets. Our mission is also to help the people, many who are traumatized by not only their loss of their home and belongings, but more often by their inability to help their animals.
The most important concept is to work in teams. Ideally each team should be 3-4 people. NEVER WORK ALONE. One person should be in charge of communications. They should be in contact both with the base and if possible to the owner of the location they are going to. When entering a premise, the person who is in charge of communication should remain outside. The rule of thumb is the more complicated the rescue is the more backup is needed in case something goes wrong. NEVER PUT YOURSELF OR YOUR TEAMATES LIFE IN DANGER!
- WATER
This is the primary goal. If the animal has access to fresh water then its long term chance of survival will increase dramatically.
So instead of just simply leaving water out, drip pans can be used. Put a large basin under a faucet. Simply let the water DRIP into the pan. There is no need to flood the house or yard with a steam of water.
If there is a hose the drip system can be taken to the street. Again let the water come out very very slowly in a neighborhood where there is no apparent activity. The animals will find this source! I will flush out the standing water for a minute or two just to ensure that there is fresh water.(Important! I am restating this, Let the water drip into the pan or trickle into the street. Even with a drip it will create gallons of water that will be available.)
- FOOD DROPS
Create a system to drop food. We had a system that placed two large bins, one for cats and one for dogs in the back of the van for the dry food. With large scoopers we would drop the food in protected areas. Then we used the bowls, aluminum pans or anything else we could get our hands on for the water. If we saw live animals then we would then place out canned cat food. (Dogs loved them also) Place the wet food away from the dry food as the cans will draw flies.
Do not just throw the food onto vacant corners! A pile of food that may last weeks will be ruined after the first rain. Find carports, porches or any other cover to place the food.
If it is a dog food drop put the food into two distinct and separate piles. Dominant dogs will sometimes not allow the weaker and smaller dogs to feed if there is only one pile of food.
- PET RESCUE
We find many pets do not need to be rescued! Unless you have an end destination for them most animals are AT their homes. Given food and water they will be ok until their owners get home.
Log their location so we can track their progress. If they are in a secure area DO NOT rescue them! Pets do not seem to wander more than a house or two. Many pets, once they are picked up and randomly placed in the system will not get reunited with their owners and many will not be adopted!
Food and water still may be a better option if the animals are not sick or injured. It will take many people much longer to get back for countless different reasons. The object is to triage your time and resources for the animals most in need. If you spend time on a pet that really didn’t need to be rescued then you may take critical time away from another animal that is in dire trouble.
Important! People are returning with their pets. The word needs to spread to pet owners to mark their house both on the front door and in the front yard that their pet is okay and being cared for! Again see the rule above. Feeding is often a better option as many are coming or have come back!
If people are going off a rescue list the first primary duty is to see how current that list is. If possible if it is a match to the owner than someone needs direct contact with the owner within last 24 hours!!!! Some of these addresses have been visited by multiple organizations, multiple times.
READ the signs on the houses. Often they will say no animal found but they will not leave food and water! These are great places to leave food and water as the animals are often just hiding.
REMEMBER! IT IS ILLEGAL TO ENTER HOMES WITHOUT OWNERS PERMISSION. There was slack being given in the early days of the rescue. That said the rules change all the time and one does not need to be charged with a felony for breaking and entering!
Most Dogs at this stage are extremely scared. Often they are running before you can get out of the car. If you call to them you can get them to stop and then they will observe where you did the food drop. Instead of chasing the animal, back off to show that you are not a threat. Do a food drop. If you are just trying to feed you can then also drive past them and do an alternative drop on the far side of them. Believe me. If they are hungry they will be out the food as soon as you leave.
Observe other food drops. If there appears to be a lot of activity, then leave more food. Often the elements will give you signs to how active or how many animals are in the area.
Rescuing Pets out of houses.
Again, there is no reason to be entering houses without specific permission from owner.
Know exactly what you are looking for and how many. I was in one house where the SPCA rescued the dog. Unfortunately they never bothered to look into the next room where there were two cats. If it is a dog, know what type of dog. The type of pet will dictate your actions. For instance if it is a large dog, even one that is supposedly friendly then a more defensive posture is needed.
Once permission is granted then gaining access to the house is the next step. Most houses have already been searched so gaining access is often the same place where the rescuers went in. If not consider a window, they are sometimes easier than doors.
Once inside the biggest piece of advice is to move slowly. The first reason is because of the danger. Furniture, flooring, the possibility of the ceiling collapsing among dozens of other pitfalls lends one to watch every single step one takes.
The second reason is the best way to search is to use ones eyes. Look for clues. In one house where the water got within 4 inches of the ceiling there was zero chance to find a living animal. To be honest, after finding the first dead pet I had given up and was letting my partner do the search. However after standing in the same place for nearly a minute I saw a sign a disturbance in the mud. On close inspection it was a fresh set of kitty tracks. Following the tracks led us to its hiding place. The lesson is sometimes it is better to look for the signs of the animal, look for where the pet goes to the bathroom and how fresh will give you great insight on how and where this pet may be hiding. In absence of a body I will always assume the animal lived. Leave fresh food and water. In more than several instances we found animals where the SPCA had marked that there were none. Often they did not leave food and water.
NOTE: Important!
Be honest in your capabilities. If you are not an expert in handling dogs and you come across one that has the potential or appears aggressive then do not put yourself or the animal in danger by attempting a rescue you are not qualified to perform. Make a note of the location and get proper help.
Keep Records
This is the MOST important action you can take. If you have an address of a known sighting of a live animal, then POST the actions of the date and the action taken such as feeding and watering. This will help others that follow proper information as to the status of that animal. Please do not spray paint people homes. Simply using water soluble markers is sufficient or Pen and paper. If you rescue and animal out of a specific location it is imperative you give the people the number and location on how they can reclaim their pet.