Animal emergency planning
Plan for livestock and pet sheltering and safety during disasters
Parish pet plans
State law ( La. R.S. 29:729 ) requires every parish in the state to have a local director for the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness. This director must submit a Parish Pet Plan to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry by March 1 every year. A Parish Pet Plan outlines the local parish's plans for providing the following:
humane evacuation
safe transport
temporary sheltering of service animals and household pets in times of emergency or disaster
Priorities for providing services
Pet owners who have the means to transport their own pets to safety usually won't need evacuation or transport services, though they may require temporary shelter for their animals when circumstances compel them to leave their home. Therefore, parishes will prioritize evacuation and transport for pet owners who lack the means or ability to transport their own pets to safety during an emergency. People in this situation are said to have "Critical Transport Needs" (CTN).
Evacuation Plan Information Form for animal facility (shelters, veterinary clinics, etc.)
LDAF Pet Evacuation & Sheltering – Standard Operating Procedure
Emergency planning resources
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When people must leave their home during emergencies, they want to keep their pets and service animals nearby. That's why the so-called "mega shelters" that Louisiana has established to shelter its residents during emergencies also include shelters for pets. This enables owners to care for their pets, which not only gives them peace of mind but also reduces the number of shelter workers needed to look after the displaced animals.
Different shelters for different needs
The type of public shelter where pets will live during emergency evacuation depends upon their owners' health, mobility, and personal transportation options as well as the size and number of pets that need emergency shelter.
During emergencies, people who can transport both themselves and their pets to mega shelter locations and look after the animals while in the shelter will have that option.
All Critical Transportation Need (CTN) evacuees who need assistance getting themselves and their pets to safety will first get a ride to their local Parish Pickup Point (PPP). In most cases, they can bring one small (under 35 pounds) cat or dog on their lap along with them in the evacuation vehicle. Larger pets will be linked to their owners at the parish pick up point and transported separately to shelter near their owners; this way, owners can care for both their small and larger pets while sheltering nearby.
Pet owners whose health problems would interfere with their ability to take care of pets at a mega shelter can get shelter for their pets and appropriate medical accommodations for themselves at specialty locations where workers care for people's pets onsite.
Locate pet friendly hotels along your evacuation route and keep a list in your pet’s emergency kit: petswelcome.com , travelpets.com , dogfriendly.com , or pettravel.com .
Emergency planning for livestock
LSU AgCenter resources
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) resources
Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association resources
Related links
Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP )
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD)