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

Pet Evacuation Considerations Federal PETS Act 1/2006 Executive Order RP 57 3/2006 State of Texas HB 88 “Simba’s Law” 5/2007 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

Need a Lift? March 2009

What kind of pets? http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2008-04/xu-jirong-fat-cat.jpg [cat] http://z.about.com/d/exoticpets/1/0/s/j/artiebp26.JPG [snake] http://www.fordogtrainers.com/ProductImages/pictures/dog-harness/leather-dog-harness/studded-dog-harness-h15/pitbull/pitbull-studded-leather-dog-harness.jpg [pit bull] March 2009

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

What does your pet do in the car? Sleep? Sit quietly? Stays in the back seat? Travels in a crate? http://mercedesrules.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/dog-in-car-seat.jpg March 2009

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

What do “stressed” companion animals do? Pant Bark, Growl Make odors Bite http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/PPT1907.jpg [panting dog] March 2009

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

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

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. http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/uploads/1/aggressive-dog2.jpg [dog] http://jacobspears.com/upload/Image/madcat.jpg [cat] March 2009

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

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

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

Planning Strategies Some people are allergic March 2009 http://itchmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/pd_allergy_cats_070702_ms.jpg March 2009

Planning Strategies Some people are terrified of animals March 2009

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

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