Sheltering with Pets
Pet owners should have a disaster plan that includes care for their pets.
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 who live outside the evacuation area. If that is not an option, try to locate 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. Hamilton County has identified a pet-friendly shelter for dogs and cats only. The pet- friendly shelter should be a choice of last resort. Pet owners should identify other locations to shelter their pets before disaster. Space is limited at the pet-friendly shelter. Pet owners will be required to shelter in the EOC Shelter and must be available to care for their pets as required. The people and pet shelters are separate facilities.
For the protection of people and other pets at the shelter, animals brought in without proof of current vaccinations will be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian at the owner’s expense. We highly encourage making arrangements to move your pets from the shelter into other safe housing as quickly as possible. Owners will be issued a card that will be used to verify their ownership of their pets so that they can come visit them or care for them while they are staying at the shelter.
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, health care, 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 health care 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. 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 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 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.