Sheltering with Pets

• Evacuating with Pets
• Disaster Kits for Pets
• Public Pet Shelter
• Pet Shelter Eligibility
• Registration

Pet owners are responsible for the health and safety of their pets and must have a disaster plan that includes them.

Public, pet-friendly shelters are a much-needed resource, but should not be your first choice if you have other options. Check with your pet-friendly relatives or friends that live outside the evacuation area. If that's not an option, try pet-friendly lodging a safe distance away. Friends, family and hotels that allow pets are much more comfortable for you and your animals than pet-friendly public shelters. These should be considered as a last resort, but preferrable, of course, to leaving your animal home alone or boarding at unfamiliar kennel that may not be fully prepared for a storm.

Preparing to evacuate with your pet(s):

• Have a plan. Do not wait until the last minute to form an evacuation plan when you have the additional responsiblity of planning for your pet(s).
• Confirm your plan 24 hours before you leave in the event things have changed.
• Bring all pets into the house so you won't have to search for them if you have to leave in a hurry.
• Make sure all pets are wearing their collars and I.D. tags. Be sure the I.D. tag has your cell phone number on it if your pet is lost.
• Be sure your pet's hurricane kit is ready (see below).
• Keep all dogs securely leashed and cats in sturdy carriers during travel - even a normally calm pet may panic and try to escape or even bite in a stressful situation.

Prepare a disaster kit for your pet(s) to include:

• Secure pet carriers for cats and small dogs and sturdy leashes/harnesses for larger dogs and appropriate-sized crates or cages for other type pets such as reptiles, birds, etc. If you are the least bit concerned about your animal's behavior in stressful situations, please also bring a muzzle.
• Medications (two week supply) and medical records (including proof of current vaccinations - ALL DOGS MUST HAVE PROOF OF RABIES, DISTEMPER AND BORDATELLA VACCINATIONS, CATS MUST HAVE PROOF OF RABIES VACCINATION AND FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calici, Panleukopenia) and licenses, in a waterproof container. Your vet may offer a laminated card with proof of current vaccinations that can be used at lodging facilities for travel and evacuations. If your pet is not accustomed to large crowds and other animals, consider asking your veterinarian for a mild sedative for your pet.
• If you have a color photo of you pet, include that as well in the event you are separated. Be certain each of your animals have name tags, rabies tags, etc., securely fastened to their collars. Also attach information about your temporary location to the back of your pet's ID tag.
• A two week supply familiar food and water. Also take bowls and a manual can opener if necessary.
• Cat litter pan, extra litter, litter scooper and plastic bags.
• Doggie pee-pee pads, paper towels and spray cleaner for accidents.
• Portable pet beds, a familiar blanket and lots of toys.

Last Resort Public Pet Shelter

Escambia County has identified a pet friendly shelter FOR CATS AND DOGS ONLY for hurricane evacuations:

Molino Park Elementary School (see map)
899 Highway 97
Molino, FL 32577

The pet friendly shelter should be a choice of last resort.  Encouraging pet owners to identify other locations to shelter their pets before disaster is typically the best option to minimize stress on both the owner and the pet(s). Friends homes, family member homes, and pet friendly lodging outside of local evacuation zones should be explored first for sheltering pets and their owners, and will always be more comfortable, more private, less stressful, and a more controllable environment for the pet owner. 

There is limited space at the pet friendly shelter and once the pet friendly shelter is open, space is available on a first come first serve basis only. Pet owners will be required to shelter in the Red Cross shelter adjacent to where the pet friendly shelter will be located so they will be available to care for their pets as required. The people and pet friendly shelters are separate facilities, but the buildings are adjacent to each other.

Care of Pets
Care of pets will be the responsibility of the pet owners. This will include feeding (food and water), walking/exercise, cleanup, etc. Shelter staff will not be responsible for pet care, except for reporting issues and problems with pets due to stress, healthcare, or other troublesome patterns that raise concern for the life safety of a pet. All the responsibilities are identified in the registration form.

Pet owners are responsible for the administration of any medications at the appropriate times for proper healthcare of their pets.   

A list of supplies required by the pet owner is also identified in the registration forms and will include all food, water, dietary, and clean-up items. Pet owners are responsible to cleanup after their pets.  

Should a medical emergency or need arise with a sheltered pet, staff will attempt to contact the pet owner either by cell phone or through the Red Cross representative at the adjacent public shelter for the pet owner to come and take care of their pet. Should the pet owner not be located, an on-call veterinarian may be consulted and actions taken in the best interest of the pet, either at the discretion or direction of the consulting veterinarian and/or pet shelter staff. Any costs incurred for treatment of the pet will be the responsibility of the pet owner.   

Rules and Responsibilities
All rules and responsibilities of pet owners can be found in the registration form and will be strictly enforced. 

Pre-Registration
Pre-registration is required for those people and pets who anticipate they will be evacuating with their pet to the pet shelter. The registrations forms can be downloaded and printed from here. Once completed, you may fax (850-595-3081) or mail the registration forms to:

Escambia County Animal Shelter
Attn: Pet Shelter Registration
200 West Fairfield Drive
Pensacola, Florida 32501

Pre-registration does not reserve a space at the pet shelter and the pet shelter does not take reservations. Shelter usage/space is based upon a first come-first served basis until the facility is full. 

In-take and Registration Process
Upon arrival at the public shelter, a person must register both at the general population shelter with the American Red Cross and must also register their pets as they are received in the pet shelter facility.

A pet must be registered with the county at the time of entry and must produce all the information required (see registration information) to allow the pet into the facility. Cats and dogs will be separated as much as possible to minimize the stress of the animals. 

Pets Eligible for Admittance in the Pet Shelter

Eligible Shelter Pet
Pet shelter eligibility will be limited to household dogs and cats only. This will include only those pets that are traditionally kept in the home for pleasure and not for commercial purposes, can travel in commercial carriers, and be housed in temporary facilities. Animals and pets not allowed include reptiles (including turtles), amphibians, fish, insects/arachnids, farm animals (including horses and pigs), rabbits, rodents, exotic animals, and animals kept for racing purposes.

Service Animals
Service animals are allowed in any building accessible by the person and to the extent of federal, state, or local laws.  Service animals may accompany their owners in general population and/or special needs shelters where pet may not be allowed. This will include any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protections or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.  (FEMA Disaster Assistance Policy DAP9523.19, dated October 24, 2007)

Equine Animals
The county Equestrian Center accepts equine animals (horses, donkeys) during an evacuation as a result of hurricanes. Once the stalls have been filled, people may bring their animals and keep them in their animal travel trailers if desired. All care of the animals will be at the responsibility of the animal owners. No feeding or care services will be provided by the county or pet shelter managers.

Exotic Animals
Exotic animals are not allowed in the pet shelter. Exotic animals are those not considered to be a domestic cat, dog, fish, or horse.

Livestock
Livestock will not be considered pets as it relates to the eligibility of entering the pet shelter as established, this will include animals typically raised for food or other products, or kept for use, especially farm animals such as meat and dairy cattle, pigs, and poultry, even if they may be considered a pet to an individual or family.

Animal Rescue
This shelter can not take in rescued animals. The shelter is providing pet owners in need of public shelter, the opportunity to evacuate and shelter with their pets at the same location. Animal rescue efforts will be coordinated through ESF 17 and animals will be taken to the appropriate local animal organization. 

The Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit organization, working to provide appropriate care to injured or orphaned indigenous wildlife. The Sanctuary's primary objective is rehabilitation and release, but they also provide a sanctuary for non-releasable wildlife.
105 North "S" Street, Pensacola 32505
850-433-9453
Hours: 7 days a week: 8-5
ws@wildlife.gccoxmail.com

The Humane Society of Pensacola's mission is to spread information about spaying and neutering, to prevent animal cruelty and abuse, and to provide pet education programs.  The Humane Society operates a "no kill" shelter and adoption center for homeless animals on private donations and fundraising activities. Staff cares for abandoned or neglected animals until they go to good homes.
5 North "Q" Street, Pensacola 32505
850-432-4250
director@humanesocietyofpensacola.org

The Junior Humane Society is a non-profit, all volunteer, animal rescue group. For the past 20 years, they have taken in owner-released pets so they won't be taken to the animal shelter. All animals waiting for adoption are placed in foster homes. Before placing the animal in a permanent home they provide necessary vet care, including but not limited to shots, spaying and neutering.
Junior Humane Society
c/o F. Van Horn, Cantonment 32533
850-968-3260