Hurricane Preparedness

Pet Preparedness-Plan Ahead for Your Animals - Surviving the Storm...It's Everyone's Responsibility

	Register for a Pet-Friendly Public Shelter		Animal Services Pet Friendly Shelter Registration Form
	Other Shelter Options		Pet Identification Form
	Disaster Supply Kit for Pets		Citizens with Special Needs Registration Form for pet pick-ups
	Preparation Tips
	After a Storm Tips

Register for a Pet-Friendly Public Shelter:

Pinellas County pet owners have new options when it comes to pet-friendly emergency shelters. The Pinellas County School Board and Pinellas County government provide these three pet-friendly shelter locations.

Oak Grove Middle School
1370 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater
Thurgood Marshall Middle School
3901 22nd Ave. S., St. Petersburg
Dunedin Middle School
70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin

Prepare to Survive - Animal Services - Pet Prepardness

The facilities are substantially-built, have large indoor gyms and separate air handlers to ensure the comfort and safety of allergic citizens who shelter there.

Residents must preregister themselves and their pets for these pet-friendly shelters, as space is limited. Mobile home residents are given first priority.

Call (727) 582-2150 or download a registration form and return it to:

Pinellas County Animal Services
12450 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33774

Fax (727) 582-2637

Pet Pick-ups From Special Needs Citizens During Evacuations

This registration is for citizens that are classified special needs evacuees and are already registered with their local fire department and have a pet which they need help evacuating. They should call Pinellas County Animal Services at (727) 582-2600 to register pets for pick-up or fill out the form and send to Animal Services at the above address. The Fire Station that is closest to them will be the one that evacuates them in an emergency. For more information they can call their local Fire Department or Emergency Management at (727) 464-3800. If they have not done so yet, they must do so in order to register for PCAS pickup.

Other Shelter Options:

Animal shelters, such as Pinellas County Animal Services, the Humane Society and the SPCA, cannot accept your pets.

Also, please don’t assume that a boarding kennel or hotel/motel will accept your pet. Check ahead and look for kennels in non-evacuation zones. For pet-friendly hotels/motels call the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (727) 464-7200 or during an evacuation go to www.visitstpeteclearwater.com

Other online sources for pet-friendly hotel/motel information:

Disaster Supply Kit for Pets:

Proper identification
Immunization records
County license rabies tag
Food and water (2 wks. supply)
A carrier or portable kennel
Medications
Muzzle, collar and leash
Manual can opener
Current photo of pet
Feeding and water bowls
Favorite toys and blanket
Cat litter/pan and scoop
Grooming items
Plastic bags to handle waste

Preparation Tips:

Make sure your pet has proper identification with either a collar tag or a microchip implant. Have proof of current county-issued rabies vaccination available. A license is your pet’s ticket home. Download a Pet Identification Form here. Fill out this form and adhere to your pet carrier or kennel. This form will contain all needed information about your pet for your stay at Pinellas County pet-friendly shelters.

Plan for your pet well in advance if you live in an evacuation area.
Write down your plan or create a check list.
Take your pet when you evacuate.
Know your evacuation route and when you will evacuate.
Ask friends or family living outside of evacuation areas if they can keep
your pet.
Make sure you have a collar and leash for keeping your pet under control.
Keep a pet carrier (portable kennel) for each pet – one that allows your pet to stand and turn around. The carrier should be marked with your pet’s identification.
Make sure all your pet’s vaccinations are current and have proof available of its current county-issued rabies vaccination.
Pack supplies for your pet including current veterinary records, a two-week supply of food and water, medications with instructions, bowls, favorite toy and blanket, cat litter/pan, plastic bags, collar/leash, disinfectants to handle pet wastes and a current photo of you with your pet.
If you must use a kennel as a last resort, make sure it is not in an evacuation zone and reserve space as soon as possible. Kennels require proof of vaccinations.

After A Storm:

Walk pets on a leash until they become re-oriented to their home. Often, familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and pets could easily be confused and become lost.
Reptiles brought in with flood water and debris can pose a threat for animals after a disaster.
Bring along a picture of your pet for identification.
After the disaster, animals can become aggressive or defensive. Monitor their behavior.

Post-Disaster Animal Collection Temporary Collection Sites:

After a storm, stray animals will be collected and staged at temporary collection sites prior to transfer to more permanent shelters. The location of these collection sites will be determined based on prevailing conditions. Every effort will be made to inform the public of these locations so that animals can be returned to their owners as quickly as possible.

Once the site(s) have been determined you should look for your pet(s) at the location nearest your home and where you last saw your pet. To report a lost pet, call Pinellas County Animal Services at (727) 582-2600.

Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center
Department of Emergency Management
(727) 464-3800
During an emergency activation call the
Citizen Information Center at (727) 464-4333.

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