ARTICLES of Interest

for Pets and People

By Julian Pecquet

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

As Hurricane Katrina approached their Gulfport, Miss., home last Sunday, Lazare and Linda Cohen and their two sons grabbed a few sets of clothes and loaded their two cars with their most prized possessions - their German shepherd, Buddy, and two poodles, Missy and Poochy.

They'd planned to be gone only a couple of days, but the "no vacancy" signs at hotels along I-10 took them farther and farther from home, until they reached the Red Cross shelter on Thomasville Road in Tallahassee. Once there, they found out that pets weren't allowed, which made for a rough night for Cohen, who tried to sleep in his Ford Mustang.

"I stayed in the car with the three dogs," said Lazare Cohen. "When you get a huge dog next to you for hours going huh-huh-huh in your ear, it's stereophonic sound and there's nothing you can do."

Like many other evacuees, the Cohens wouldn't think of parting with their furry companions.

But thanks to a quick and generous response from the community, they were able, like many others, to provide for their pets despite the disaster.

On Monday, members of the Disaster Animal Response Team, which works in collaboration with the Red Cross, was able to put the Cohens in touch with a local clinic, the Bradfordville Animal Hospital. A veterinarian there, Steve Steverson, took in Buddy, Missy and Poochy as well as another dog, a cat and a bird, all belonging to evacuees, said DART's Joanie Batten.

"He's donating his shelter space and care to the victims," Batten said.

Many other groups are also helping out.

The Tallahassee Animal Service Center is collecting unopened bags and cans of cat food, dog food and other animal supplies at 1125 Easterwood Drive, near the entrance of Tom Brown Park. Officials plan to drive them to the devastated areas this week and next. Tallahassee Big Dog Rescue did the same thing in a Wal-Mart parking lot Friday evening, collecting food for hundreds of evacuated pets that are starving at shelters in Mississippi.

"They don't have near enough food for those animals," said Big Dog's Julie Osmond. "They're desperate for us to get there with our caravan of food."

And most of the area's 5,200 hotel and motel rooms are also becoming pet-sensitive, as usually happens when a hurricane strikes.

"Most of those typically have a no-pet policy," said John Citron, interim president of the Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "But virtually everyone I've talked to has waived that."

As of right now, there's more than enough room for animals.

"I've been getting calls every day from people with kennels," Batten said. "So far we're doing good."

But if more evacuees appear with their pets, the Red Cross might seek approval to open a pet shelter. DARE's director, Haven Cook, said that could be done in about an hour, with volunteers covering the floors with plastic sheeting and setting up kennels and crates.

Pets would then be photographed and registered, with the healthy ones separated from sick ones or those without proof of vaccination.

"It's important to also have your shot records with you, and any medication that they're on," said Cook.

Meanwhile, the Cohens are grateful for all the help they've gotten, but they miss their pets. They've chosen not to visit them until the family is ready to be permanently reunited.

PLACES FOR PETS

Most Red Cross shelters do not accept pets, but several are establishing on-site pet refuges. The shelter in Live Oak, about 80 miles east of Tallahassee on I-10, was the closest one with a refuge as of Friday afternoon. The Florida Hurricane Relief Fund keeps track of pet-friendly shelters on its Web site, www.flahurricanefund.org; just look for a paw print next to the shelter name.

To find out about hotel and motel availability, log on to the Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitor's bureau Web site, www.seetallahassee.com or call them at (850) 413-9200. The site indicates which hotels usually admit pets, but evacuees should call the hotels that don't directly because many are making exceptions for them.

And if you still can't find a place for your pets, or would like to volunteer to help with animals, contact the Red Cross (850) 878-6080. People with bigger animals, such as horses, can get in touch with the Tallahassee Animal Services Center, (850) 891-2950. For help with exotic birds, including long-term boarding, cages, food and medical help, call the Tri-State Avian Society's Christine Maples at (850) 562-2800 or Lisa Lazarus at (850) 877-0128.

Donate to the Hurricane Katrina Relief effort:

American Red Cross:
Humane Society of the United States
Salvation Army
United Way

or click HERE for the Governments National Emergency Response Website [NVOAD]

Hot Topics

* Animal Evacuations...

* Disaster Prepardness...

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Disaster Links

HSUS Disaster Center

Sunshine Horse Council-Evacuation Info

FEMA - Hurricane Tips

Univ of Fla/IFAS Disaster Handbook - Hurricanes

download the Disaster  Brochures (pdf):
Disaster Preparation for Pets
Disaster Preparation for Horses

Theaters to show rabies ad:

If you go to the movies this month at Governor's Square Theater or the Miracle 5, you'll see more than just the coming attractions before the film. Leon County Animal Control and the Animal Aid & Spay/Neuter Center have produced an advertisement on rabies awareness that will be shown at the theaters. In June, four dogs in Leon County were euthanized after they came in contact with a rabid fox. "When pets are exposed to wildlife and not vaccinated against rabies, it greatly increases the chance of contracting rabies and spreading the virus to the pet owner and family members, said Richard Ziegler, director of the county's Animal Control. State law requires pets to be vaccinated against the disease.
09/04/04

Posted on Wed, Sep. 01, 2004

Human Drug OK'd for Dog Skin Infection

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration approved using an antibiotic originally designed for humans to help treat skin infections suffered by dogs.

Simplicef was developed by Pharmacia & Upjohn Co., a division of Pfizer. Dogs ingest a single film-coated tablet once per day to treat wound infections caused by several types of bacteria including Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida and Staphylococcus aureus.

Infected dogs break out in rashes that redden, swell and roughen the dog's skin. As infection worsens, "hot spots" can deepen, ooze and cause the dog's hair to fall out.

It is common for veterinarians to turn to antimicrobials approved for humans when dogs suffer similar skin infections. The FDA approval provides guidance on how much drug can safely be given to the canines once Simplicef is available to veterinarians this fall.

Want to know how old you are in dog years?

Plane forced to land after case of cat air rage

CTV.ca News Staff
A Belgian airliner was forced to land after a scare in the air -- involving a house cat with a bad case of air rage.
Officials in Brussels say the trouble happened about 20 minutes after a SN Brussels Airlines took off on Monday, on its way to Vienna.
A grey cat named "Gin" had come on baord in what's been described as an internationally-approved "flight transport bag."
Somehow the cat got out of the bag.
It made a break for it while its owner took a nap.
"It is not yet clear how" the cat escaped, said an airline statement.
What is clear is what happened next.
"Once free, the animal proceeded to wander around the cabin," said the statement, slipping into the cockpit when meals were being delivered to the two-man flight crew.
But getting a bird's eye view of the plane's operations did not seem to sit well with the cat. "At this stage the animal became agitated and nervous," the airline statement said, and the cat scratched the co-pilot's arm. After that, the pilot turned the plane around and headed back to Brussels, as a precaution. The cat is said to be a prized animal that travels to cat shows around the world. SN Brussels Airlines says it may end up changing its procedures for pets in the cabin, in light of what happened. But, it says, there was no question about the safety for all those on board. "At no time throughout the incident was the passengers' security affected in any way," it said.
The passengers eventually got on their way to Austria two hours later on another flight. Notably missing were the cat and its owner who were put on a different flight altogether.

In 2003, the CDC received fewer than 40 reports of West Nile virus infection in dogs in the United States. Dogs show no symptoms from infection in experiments. According to the CDC, no evidence indicates that dogs can transmit the virus to humans. No treatment for infection exists and most dogs recover fully. The CDC says no vaccine exists and discourages the use of repellents containing DEET for pets because of the risk of possible ingestion. Ask your veterinarian for a safe alternative to these products. Limiting the amount of time dogs spend outdoors and keeping them away from dead animals, which may have been infected, reduces risk.

Cats

In 2003, the CDC received one report of West Nile virus infection in a cat in the United States. Infected cats usually display mild symptoms, which owners may not easily recognize. Some cats experience a slight fever or lethargy during the first week of infection. According to the CDC, no evidence indicates that cats can transmit the virus to humans. No treatment for infection exists and most cats recover fully. The CDC says no vaccine exists and discourages the use of repellents containing DEET for pets because of the risk of possible ingestion. Keeping cats indoors cuts down on the risk of infection.

Horses

In horses, West Nile multiplies in the bloodstream, affects the central nervous system, and inflames the brain. The symptoms, similar to those displayed by horses infected with Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), can include fatigue and an unusual, widened stance (left). Infection can cause death, but most horses recover. Infected horses should receive veterinary treatment. According to the CDC, no evidence indicates that animals can transmit the virus to humans or to other animals. Putting up screens in stables and eliminating standing water areas where mosquitoes breed reduces risk. Horses can now be vaccinated against West Nile but the effectiveness of the new vaccine remains unknown.

Squirrels

In 2003, the CDC received reports of West Nile virus infection in 19 squirrels. According to the CDC, being near an infected or dead squirrel does not pose a risk for humans. However, an infected squirrel suggests the presence of infected mosquitoes in the area.

Boaters find kitten 3 miles out

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. PETERSBURG - When Maggie Rogers spotted something bobbing in the water three miles into the Gulf of Mexico while on a scalloping trip with friends, she assumed it was a turtle or a piece of sea kelp.

But as the boat got closer and slowed down, she found it was a tiny, apricot-colored kitten. Nine inches long and screaming at the top of its lungs, the cat was paddling furiously.

"We scooped him up and he sat on the boat with me for eight hours," said Rogers, who is the finance director at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

"He was exhausted and stressed," Rogers said. "His heart rate was high."

The boaters on the 17-foot Scout Current Drift did not know how the kitten arrived in the Homosassa Bay. There were at least 40 boats in the crowded area where he was found, they said.

On Tuesday, three days after he was found, a veterinarian found the 10-week-old, 1-pound kitten had worms, but was otherwise healthy.

He was adopted by Rogers' sister-in-law - and named Nemo.

Homosassa Bay is about 45 miles northwest of Tampa.

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