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Don't forget furry friends when disaster strikes
By Ashley Fruno |
March 25, 2011, Friday
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AFTER PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) learned about Japan's earthquake and tsunami, I caught the first available flight into Tokyo the next day and traveled by train to Niigata, where I met a team from a local animal shelter and then traveled by car to Sendai.
As many people have seen on TV, the tsunami ripped through the region with such force that cars were smashed into houses, debris was swept for miles through rice fields, and entire families drowned in their homes. Travel was extremely difficult because of miles-long lines at gas stations and the rationing of gas.
There were few signs of life in the hardest-hit areas, but we encountered some citizens who refused to leave their badly damaged homes because many evacuation centers are not allowing companion animals inside.
At one evacuation center that was housing some animals along with people, one of the center coordinators told me a touching story about his Akita, Shane. When the man heard the tsunami warning, he rushed to warn his neighbors after letting Shane out into the yard. He tried to get back to his house to get Shane, but the tsunami was rapidly approaching, and he was forced to go to the school on higher ground.
He said he had given up hope of ever seeing Shane alive again. But six hours later, one of the people staying in the center said that they saw a dog outside. The man went to look, and it was Shane!
The dog had never been to the school before, but somehow his instincts led him there. Shane had managed to swim through deep water to be reunited with his guardian.
The man took us to see Shane, who was staying at his house, which is now dry. Shane must have clung to debris, as he had cuts on both his elbows. We instructed the man on how to clean Shane's wounds and gave him some ointment. We left fuel with a local veterinarian who volunteered to visit more evacuation centers in Sendai, and he returned to check on Shane and provide him with antibiotics.
It is for Shane and for the countless other animals whose plight so often goes overlooked in the aftermath of disasters that I beg people never to leave animals to face a disaster on their own. Shane's guardian had little choice, but making an emergency plan now can help prevent tragedies from being repeated during the next disaster.
Remember, if conditions are too dangerous for you, they are too dangerous for the dog in the backyard, the cat sleeping on the front steps, and the caged hamster. If at all humanly possible, it is vital to take animals with you when forced to evacuate. In the wake of catastrophic earthquakes and storms, animals aren't safe at home because, even if the home itself isn't damaged, impassable roads may prevent homeowners from returning for weeks, leaving animals stranded without food and water.
While many evacuation shelters do not allow animals, many hotels do, and others will often waive their restrictions on animal guests during disasters. If you can't afford a hotel, and you don't have friends or relatives with whom you and your animals can stay, your animal companions are still better off going with you, even if you have to camp out at a campground or in your car.
If you absolutely must leave your animal companions behind, leave them inside the house, with access to upper floors and at least 10 days' supply of dry food and water. Fill multiple sinks, bowls, pans, and plastic storage containers with water.
Before the next storm strikes, invest in a sturdy, roomy carrier for each of your animals that, if worst comes to worst, can serve as their temporary living quarters. Be sure that all your animals are up to date on their rabies vaccinations and are wearing collars with identification tags, and remember to pack leashes, bowls, towels, blankets, litter pans and litter, and at least a week's supply of food and medications.
Don't wait until the next disaster strikes - make an emergency plan today. Your animal friend might not be as lucky as Shane.
(Ashley Fruno is a senior campaigner with PETA Asia-Pacific. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.)
As many people have seen on TV, the tsunami ripped through the region with such force that cars were smashed into houses, debris was swept for miles through rice fields, and entire families drowned in their homes. Travel was extremely difficult because of miles-long lines at gas stations and the rationing of gas.
There were few signs of life in the hardest-hit areas, but we encountered some citizens who refused to leave their badly damaged homes because many evacuation centers are not allowing companion animals inside.
At one evacuation center that was housing some animals along with people, one of the center coordinators told me a touching story about his Akita, Shane. When the man heard the tsunami warning, he rushed to warn his neighbors after letting Shane out into the yard. He tried to get back to his house to get Shane, but the tsunami was rapidly approaching, and he was forced to go to the school on higher ground.
He said he had given up hope of ever seeing Shane alive again. But six hours later, one of the people staying in the center said that they saw a dog outside. The man went to look, and it was Shane!
The dog had never been to the school before, but somehow his instincts led him there. Shane had managed to swim through deep water to be reunited with his guardian.
The man took us to see Shane, who was staying at his house, which is now dry. Shane must have clung to debris, as he had cuts on both his elbows. We instructed the man on how to clean Shane's wounds and gave him some ointment. We left fuel with a local veterinarian who volunteered to visit more evacuation centers in Sendai, and he returned to check on Shane and provide him with antibiotics.
It is for Shane and for the countless other animals whose plight so often goes overlooked in the aftermath of disasters that I beg people never to leave animals to face a disaster on their own. Shane's guardian had little choice, but making an emergency plan now can help prevent tragedies from being repeated during the next disaster.
Remember, if conditions are too dangerous for you, they are too dangerous for the dog in the backyard, the cat sleeping on the front steps, and the caged hamster. If at all humanly possible, it is vital to take animals with you when forced to evacuate. In the wake of catastrophic earthquakes and storms, animals aren't safe at home because, even if the home itself isn't damaged, impassable roads may prevent homeowners from returning for weeks, leaving animals stranded without food and water.
While many evacuation shelters do not allow animals, many hotels do, and others will often waive their restrictions on animal guests during disasters. If you can't afford a hotel, and you don't have friends or relatives with whom you and your animals can stay, your animal companions are still better off going with you, even if you have to camp out at a campground or in your car.
If you absolutely must leave your animal companions behind, leave them inside the house, with access to upper floors and at least 10 days' supply of dry food and water. Fill multiple sinks, bowls, pans, and plastic storage containers with water.
Before the next storm strikes, invest in a sturdy, roomy carrier for each of your animals that, if worst comes to worst, can serve as their temporary living quarters. Be sure that all your animals are up to date on their rabies vaccinations and are wearing collars with identification tags, and remember to pack leashes, bowls, towels, blankets, litter pans and litter, and at least a week's supply of food and medications.
Don't wait until the next disaster strikes - make an emergency plan today. Your animal friend might not be as lucky as Shane.
(Ashley Fruno is a senior campaigner with PETA Asia-Pacific. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.)
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