Plan to Protect Your Pets During Irene
Irene is coming for a visit. Whether she arrives as a hurricane or a tropical storm people are racing around to make sure they have everything in order. It important to remember to take precautions for your pets as well.
“At Animal Kingdom, USA and Animal Kingdom USA Wildlife Rescue, we are preparing for the worse and hoping for the best,” said Kimberly McCowen a spokeswoman for Animal Kingdom. “We are doing all that we can within our organizations to prepare ourselves and we wish to encourage the rest of you to do the same.”
Hurricane Irene has been moving up the East Coast and is expected to hit the New York area, including Westchester and Putnam counties, as a category 1 hurricane or a strong tropical storm on Saturday night that will continue through Sunday afternoon.
The ASPCA offers the following tips:
- Bring pets indoors at the first sign of the storm. Animals can become disoriented and wander away from home during a disaster.
- Arrange a safe haven for yourself and your pets in the event of evacuation. Do not leave pets behind.
- Store an emergency kit—with items such as pet food, bottled water, medical records, a blanket, a flashlight and leashes—as close to an exit as possible.
- Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification.
- Affix a rescue alert sticker to your front door or window to let rescuers know that there are pets inside your home
- Choose a designated caregiver to take care of your pet in the event you are unable to do so.
McCowen recommends planning ahead of time in case you must leave your home on short notice. Shelters do not allow you to take pets with you. So if you need to go to a shelter an alternative plan needs to be arranged for your pet.
While Animal Kingdom USA in Brewster cannot house dogs, cats or fish, the store can temporarily board exotic animals that need heat to survive.
“If you have an exotic pets such as lizards, reptiles or amphibians, that need heat even during the summer, we can temporarily board them until power can be restored,” said McCowen. “Since it is summer birds do not need to be heated. In the winter we had to take in some birds because people lost power.”
“It is a safe place for the small animals to go,” she said referring to the building which is located at 100A Independence Way in Brewster. “It is a large building and we do not need to worry about high winds or any trees falling down. You can call the store at 845-278-6400 with any questions or concerns for your pets’ safety.”
Animal Kingdom USA Wildlife Rescue, which operates out of the store, assists injured or orphaned wildlife. “There are 3 certified wildlife crew members in the store,” said McCowen. “If anyone finds an injured or orphaned wildlife they should not try to treat it themselves, they should call our hotline. 1-866-WILD-331 (1-866-945-3331).”
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.