Implementing the Pet Evacuation Implementing the Pet Evacuation and Transportation (PETS) Act of and Transportation (PETS) Act of 2006 in Radiological Emergencies2006 in Radiological Emergencies

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Gordon Cleveland

Veterinary Services (VS)

National Center for Animal Health

Emergency Management (NCAHEM)

Radiological Advisory Team for Environment,

Food, and Health

Jeleen Briscoe, VMD, DABVP

Veterinary Medical Officer/Avian Specialist

Animal Care Emergency Programs (ACEP)

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About the PETS Act• Evacuation attempts during Hurricane Katrina in

2005 indicated many people refused to evacuate without their household pets.

• At the urging of numerous animal welfare organizations, the PETS Act was signed into law October 2006.

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Snowball, Katrina, and the PETS Act

The dog was taken away from this little boy, and to watch his face was a singularly revealing and tragic experience. This legislation was born at that moment. --Rep Tom Lantos (D-CA)

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Hurricane Katrina and the PETS Act• Pre-Katrina recommendations: Leave pets with three

days of food and water.

• Post-Katrina recommendations: Do not leave your pets behind. Pets cannot survive on their own and, if they do, you may not be able to find them when you return.

• FEMA information for pet owners is located at http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/animals.shtm

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A Hurricane Katrina survivor reunites with her dog.

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The PETS Act . . . • Sets standards and provides funds for State and local

plans and responses.

• Requires local and State jurisdictions to submit disaster preparedness (evacuation) plans that take into account household pets and service animals.

• Pet evacuation and sheltering should be done in conjunction with human evacuation and sheltering.

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The PETS Act . . . (cont.)

• USDA APHIS provides for the safety and well-being of household pets by supporting Department of Homeland Security/FEMA in accordance with the Emergency Support Function (ESF) #11 annex of the National Response Framework.

• Under ESF #11 guidelines, USDA APHIS has been tasked to assist FEMA with implementing the PETS Act.

• USDA APHIS Animal Care Emergency Programs implements the PETS Act

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PETS Act and APHIS

• APHIS is establishing regional teams to respond to PETS Act issues. They will have two primary functions:

Assist States with planning and preparedness.

During a disaster, staff ESF #11 position at the unified Incident Command Post, and/or State desks, to provide technical assistance.

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Federal Responsibilities for Household Pets

• Integrated response between FEMA and various agencies will ensure the safety and health of household pets during emergency events.• FEMA – transportation• ESF #6 – mass evacuation and sheltering• ESF #8 – medical care• ESF #9 – search and rescue operations• ESF #11 – technical expertise, critical needs assessments, and ESF #11 – technical expertise, critical needs assessments, and

expediting needs requests (APHIS)expediting needs requests (APHIS)• ESF #13 – security (law enforcement and and local animal control) • ESF #14 – long-term care

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APHIS Emergency Operations Center

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APHIS Contacts:• Nationwide (Riverdale, MD) Dr. Allan Hogue

Dr. Jeleen Briscoe Dr. Anne McCann

• Western Region (Fort Collins, CO) Dr. Kevin Dennison • Eastern Region (Raleigh, NC) Dr. Jeanie Lin

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PETS Act Issues: What is a Pet?

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What is a Household Pet? (cont.)

FEMA’s policy:

• Domesticated animal such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, or turtles kept for companionship/pleasure (not commercial purposes) that can travel in commercial carriers and be housed in temporary facilities.

• Does not include reptiles (except turtles), amphibians, fish, insects/arachnids, farm animals, horses, and animals kept for racing purposes.

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Estimating the Pet Population

• Average household size is 2.5 people • 60 percent of households have one or more pets• 50 percent of households with pets have two pets• A survey may determine what proportion of the

households with pets will bring their pets with them to reception/ decontamination centers

Source: 2002 U. S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Source Book

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PETS Act Issues in Disasters

• Owners are expected to care for their pets when sheltered to the extent possible.

• Businesses, such as pet shops, kennels, and veterinary hospitals, are expected to have their own contingency plan in the event of a disaster or emergency.

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Federal Resources to Assist with Pet Care• USDA APHIS Animal Care

Allan.T.Hogue@aphis.usda.gov • USDA APHIS Veterinary Medical Officers and Animal

Health Technicians Eastern Region (919) 855-7250 Western Region (970) 494-7400

• National Veterinary Response Teams (formerly VMAT) Meta.Timmons@hhs.gov

• National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps (NAHERC) during declared emergencies Thomas.M.Cunningham@aphis.usda.gov

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State and Local Resources to Assist with Pet Care• Local veterinarians and veterinary technicians• County Animal Response/Rescue Teams• Volunteer animal care and rescue organizations*• State Reserve Veterinary Associations• National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural

Emergency Programs info@NASAAEP.org • Emergency Management Assistance Compact veterinary

resources from member states

*Use caution to avoid unqualified volunteers

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Planning for Pet Evacuation and Sheltering

http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/pets.html

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Pets, Emergency Response, and Decontamination

• NRF Radiological Incident Annex 2008: “USDA provides support for assessment, control, and decontamination of contaminated animals, including companion animals, livestock, poultry, and wildlife.”

• Radiological Advisory Team for Environment, Food and Health

• NASAAEP Best Practices Working Group on Animal Decontamination

• Contingency plans for businesses

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Pets, Emergency Response, and Decontamination

• Contaminated pets can be easily decontaminated if the animal is not susceptible to the bioagent.

• Chemical contaminants can often be diluted sufficiently or removed through chemical neutralization.

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PETS Act and Radiological Events• Unlike biological or chemical contamination, the presence

and type of radiological contamination is easily determined.

• Radiological contaminants can be removed from animals with some difficulty: decontaminating a horse requires a thousand gallons of water (reference to be inserted).

• Externally decontaminated animals may still be in danger, and a threat to others, if radioisotopes have been ingested.

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PETS Act and Radiological Events (cont.)

• There are a number of drugs and procedures designed for human victims that are, or may be, useful in mitigating the effects of various radioisotopes ingested by contaminated animals.

• It is generally accepted that these mitigants should be administered in the same proportions as to humans based on body weight (Ansari A, CDC Radiation studies)

Potassium Iodide Radio-Iodine Blocker

Prevents the uptake of radioactive iodine by the

thyroid gland

Prussian Blue Decorporation Agent

Binds with cesium & thallium which are

eliminated in urine/stool

Bentonite Decorporation Agent

Binds with cesium & thallium which are

eliminated in urine/stool

Ca/Zn DTPA Chelator Removes plutonium, americium, & curium by elimination through stool

and urine

Bicarbonate of Soda/CaO3

Urinary Alkalization

Removes uranium through urination

Aluminum/Mg Phosphates

Alginates

Radio-Strontium Blocker

Prevents absorption of strontium through the gastrointestinal tract

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Recommended Radiation Therapies

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APHIS and the IAB: Potential Collaboration

• Radiological Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Issues in Pets and Other Animals: A DRAFT White Paper

• Identifies eight critical issues regarding pet decontamination

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APHIS and the IAB

• Identify and train APHIS personnel with expertise in animal care who will respond operationally and in technical assistance roles

• IAB: Strategic Planning, Health Medical and Responder Safety, Training and Exercises

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APHIS and the IAB

• What tools should be in the ToolBox: operational procedures and decision algorithms for APHIS responders

• IAB: Strategic Planning

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APHIS and the IAB

• Research and validation of operational procedures to ensure efficiency and efficacy

• Example: vacuum units vs washing of pets

• IAB: Science and Technology, Standards Coordination

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APHIS and the IAB

• Decontamination equipment and agents: access and mobilization• National Veterinary Stockpile

• IAB: Strategic Planning, Health Medical and Responder Safety,

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APHIS and the IAB

• Education and preparation of the public• Animal Care Legislative and Public Affairs

• IAB: Information Management and Communications

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APHIS and the IAB

• Management of large-scale animal facilities with specific needs: zoos and aquaria, biomedical research facilities, food animal operations

• IAB: Strategic Planning

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APHIS and the IAB

• Research on correct pharmaceuticals and dosages for decontamination of different species

• IAB: Strategic Planning, Science and Technology, Standards Coordination

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APHIS and the IAB• Planning and prioritization for

evacuation, rescue, and containment of pets, livestock, zoo animals, wildlife in effected zones• Recovery phase

• IAB: Strategic Planning, Health Medical and Responder Safety, Training and Exercises

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Questions and discussion

• Gordon ClevelandGordon.S.Cleveland@aphis.usda.gov

Office (301) 734-8091

• Jeleen BriscoeJohanna.A.Briscoe@aphis.usda.govOffice (301)734-0685