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Evacuation andSheltering of Pets

Dave TomkinsTexas Animal Health CommissionDave TomkinsTexas Animal Health Commission

Texas Animal Health Commission

started in l893...110 years ago!

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Two Ag Agencies in TexasTexas Department of Agriculture (TDA)

Marketing

CropsCrops

Pesticideapplicatorlicensing

Pesticideapplicatorlicensing

Weights & measures regulations Weights & measures regulations

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)

Livestock & poultry health regulatory agency

Livestock & poultry health regulatory agency

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TAHC ensures the health of production livestock

poultry and fowl, exotic hoofstock & equine animals

TAHC ensures the health of production livestock

poultry and fowl, exotic hoofstock & equine animals

Why we’re here…Since March 2001:

TAHC on Emergency Mgmt

Council…

Requested byGDEM as the

“animal” agency

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Pets andservice animals

No state agency responsible for

companion animals

Companion Animals

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PETS Act

HB-88

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No Animals

Left Behind

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Sheltering

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At a friend’s homeAt a friend’s home

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At a pet-friendly motelAt a pet-friendly motel

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At a pet-only shelterAt a pet-only shelter

Poses transportation challengesPoses transportation challenges

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In pet-friendlyshelters

In pet-friendlyshelters

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In largelivestock

facility

In largelivestock

facilityTransportation

& lodgingchallenges for

owners

Transportation& lodging

challenges for owners

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What to do Locally

Animal Issues Committee (AIC)

Animal Issues Plan (AIP)

CommunityAnimal Response Teams (CARTs)

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Local Animal Issues Committee Suggested Members

Emergency Management Coordinator TAHC or USDA-APHIS local representative

County Extension Agent Local fair committee or agriculture association reps

Local veterinarians Local feed store and stable owners

Local animal industry representation High school, college or university agriculture faculty

Law enforcement personnel Environmental and wildlife specialists

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Animal IssuesPlans

Appendicesto local EM plan

annexes

CARTsCommunity Animal

Response Teams

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Local Preparation

Use of TAHC’sTexas

Rural Awareness, Compliance

and Education (TRACE)

personnel assigned to each county

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Requesting Assistance forNatural & Man-made Disasters

Requesting Assistance forNatural & Man-made Disasters

Mutual Aid

FEMA

TAHC Area Command

SOC

On-scene ICP

DDC

City or County EOC

TXSARTMACC

CombinedRegional

EOC

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TXSARTTexas State Animal Resource Team

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Natural and manmade disasters affect humans

and animals!

Be prepared!

Establish a local animal issues committee

Develop a localanimal response plan

Pre-select animal shelter sites

Be ready to accept human and animal evacuees!

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“Because Animal Health& Safety Matters!”

“Because Animal Health& Safety Matters!”

Produced by the Texas

Animal Health Commission

Produced by the Texas

Animal Health Commission