Make TBO Your Home Page| Subscribe To The Paper| Advertise With Us| Contact Us| Login| Edit Profile| Register
Suncoast Pasco News
Email
Print
Part Volunteers To Aid Pets During Emergencies
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: June 11, 2008
NEW PORT RICHEY - Many West Pasco residents can't bear to part with their pets during an evacuation. The county's new PART volunteer group says it can help in such situations.
Pasco Animal Response Team is a group of volunteers willing to help with all aspects of animal-related emergencies. It operates under the direction of Pasco County Animal Services, according to Dr. Terry Spencer, the county's staff veterinarian.
The primary purpose this summer probably will focus on setting up and staffing Pasco's first pet-friendly hurricane shelter in the event of an emergency.
Pine View Middle School, in the Land O' Lakes area, will have room to house up to 200 cats and 100 dogs. The pet owners can stay across the street, at Pine View Elementary School.
When activated, PART volunteers will help cover with plastic the locker rooms in which the animals will be sheltered, Spencer explained.
Until now, School District officials have been reluctant to allow school buildings to be used as a pet shelter. They were concerned about the health affects of dander or other allergens the dogs and cats might leave behind.
PART volunteers have worked with the staff of Animal Services, the middle school and the Tampa Bay Area Red Cross to develop standards for operating and cleaning up the shelter.
While PART volunteers might be most visible at the pet-friendly shelter, their mission is by no means limited to that one function.
Goals include assisting with animal search and rescue operations, educating residents about the need for disaster planning for pets and aiding with mass evacuations of animals.
Recently, PART trained 28 volunteers to help handle horses during disasters, Spencer pointed out. Pasco County Fire Rescue employees also took part in the class, along with participants from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
Training is conducted by PART members themselves, online through FEMA, the Florida State Agricultural Response Team, or SART, Web site, and other training opportunities throughout the state.
Background checks are performed on volunteers, Spencer said. Their training hours and areas of expertise are logged.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online ©2009 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General company. Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
