Emergency Intake

 Please carefully read all of the following information.

Pets In Disasters
The United States is home to almost as many pets as people, with an estimated 140 to 210 million pets. While an estimated 38 percent of households have children, 43 percent have pets. Psychological studies have proven that the elderly live longer and stay in better health if they have pets for companionship. The connection that people have with their pets is called the “human-animal bond.”

Many communities have not considered disaster planning for animals as an integral part of their emergency planning for people. Perhaps emergency management officials are assuming that animals will pose few problems if left to fend for themselves. Or they worry that the public will question the value of spending tax dollars on animals instead of people. These officials may never have considered the significance of the human-animal bond, or they may believe that bond will somehow cease to exist during an emergency. Hurricane Katrina should have proved them wrong.

Flagler Humane Society wants to be proactive and focus our efforts on preparing every animal owner and the community to plan ahead and take care of the animals in their charge. In any given disaster there are animals that suffer and die before anyone can arrive to attempt a rescue.

It is imperative that those closest to those animals – their owners or community members – have plans in place long before disaster strikes to avoid or minimize danger to people and animals.

Flagler Humane Society will become a PETS ONLY EVACUATION SHELTER. This means that in a MANDATORY evacuation, Flagler Humane Society will house a limited number of domestic pets so that owners may evacuate to safety. Owners will be required to pre-register (please see the attached guidelines and registration). When the disaster occurs, the shelter will take in 50 dogs and 50 cats on a first-come first-served basis. Residents with special needs must register with Flagler County Emergency Operations Center. Flagler Humane Society houses all pets of registered special needs residents.

UNDERSTAND THAT THE BEST SOLUTION IS ALWAYS TO PLAN AHEAD TO KEEP YOUR PET WITH YOU!

FLAGLER HUMANE SOCIETY “PETS ONLY” EMERGENCY SHELTER RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Submit a completed a registration form and emergency release for every animal.
2. NO LIVESTOCK.
3. Owner must have a suitable carrier or cage for each animal. Each cage must have the owner’s name permanently written in plain site.
4. Submit a photocopy of each animal’s current vaccination history, including rabies (Dogs, Cats, Ferrets), DHLPP & Bordatella (Dogs), and FVRCP (Cats).
5. All animals must have their own food and water dish. Cats & Ferrets must have their own litter pan.
6. Owner must supply food for reptiles and exotics.
7. Submit a photocopy of driver’s license or identification card with current address.
8. Submit a photo of pet with pet’s name and owner information on the back.
9. Owner and each animal will be banded with matching numbers. DO NOT REMOVE BAND!
10. Owner must reclaim pet(s) within 3 days following disaster.

If any of the above rules and requirements are not met, you will not be allowed to leave your animal at the Flagler Humane Society Pets Only Shelter…NO EXCEPTIONS!