1. Agroterror Preparedness Laura Robinson, DVM, MPH
Public Health Aspects of Animal Evacuation “Dog Bites, Cat Fights, Allergies and Ringworm”
Suzanne Burnham, DVM
Agroterror Preparedness Laura Robinson, DVM, MPH
Zoonosis Control
March 2009

2. Pet Evacuation Considerations
Federal PETS Act /2006
Executive Order RP /2006
State of Texas HB 88
“Simba’s Law” /2007
The Governor’s Division of Emergency Management shall develop and implement a plan to address the evacuation and sheltering needs of individuals with companion animals.
HB 88, called Simba's law, which requires that the Governor's Division of Emergency Management assist county governments in developing plans for evacuation, transport and temporary sheltering of service animals and household pets in a disaster.
An Act
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006'.
March 2009

3. Need a Lift?
March 2009

4. What kind of pets?
[cat]
[snake]
[pit bull]
March 2009

5. What do companion animals bring?
Fleas
Ticks
Dander
Skin diseases
Zoonotic diseases
March 2009

6. What does your pet do in the car?
Sleep?
Sit quietly?
Stays in the back seat?
Travels in a crate?
March 2009

7. Not a calm breed, ping pong dogs and ping pong cats
March 2009

8. What do “stressed” companion animals do?
Pant
Bark, Growl
Make odors
Bite
[panting dog]
March 2009

9. Aggressive Animal Behaviors
Dominance aggression
Fear aggression*
Protective or territorial*
Predator aggression*
Re-directed aggression*
Pain related*
March 2009

10. Cat may not like this, but he is not in danger of losing his life
Cat may not like this, but he is not in danger of losing his life. Read the signs.
This image is not a picture of aggression. Notice the ears, the skin around the teeth, the eyes and the reaction of the cat.
March 2009

11. Warning Signs before the Bite
Disobedience
Stillness
Vocalizing
Posture changes
Bumping, mounting, refusing to move, stops doing whatever was doing and stiffens, growling, snarling, rumbling, Dog will not avert eye contact, ruff goes up, head goes down.
[dog]
[cat]
March 2009

12. Early Warning Signs Dog pulls his mouth closed very tightly
Stiff body language
Hair stands up
(maybe)
March 2009

13. Planning strategies Consider risk of injuries No vaccinations
Animals are stressed
More than 1 pet/family
March 2009

14. Planning Strategies Animals may not be “travel ready”
Animals may need medications
Animals may be old, ill, lame
Animals may never have been in a vehicle before
March 2009

15. Planning Strategies Some people are allergic March 2009
March 2009

16. Planning Strategies
Some people are terrified of animals
March 2009

17. Planning Strategies Some people cannot resist touching animals
Some will not be separated from their pets
March 2009

18. Animal Bites - What to do?
Dog Bites
Cat Scratch
March 2009