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ANNEX 4: DOMESTIC ANIMALS

While protecting human life should always take precedent over protecting animal life, many households within the Municipality of Anchorage have at least one pet. During disasters, animal owners frequently put themselves in danger and disrupt evacuation efforts to ensure the safety of their pets. For this reason, the care of domestic animals in disasters is important to the care of human life.

Operational concepts

A.      Protection of human life is the immediate goal of municipal emergency responders. During a disaster emergency, the Anchorage Police and Fire Departments are not responsible for the rescue, evacuation, sheltering, or welfare of animals.

B.      Animal owners should be prepared to evacuate and provide shelter for their domestic animals in the event of an emergency requiring evacuation.

C.      The Municipality will support the movement of evacuees transporting domestic household animals on municipal public transportation provided that residents are able to evacuate their pets in a manner that does not threaten the safety or welfare of other evacuees. All animals must be restrained or kenneled and no person shall be allowed to transport more animals than he or she can control. Priority will be given to service animals.

D.     The Municipality will establish and operate shelters to care for domestic household animals at a location near or adjacent to shelters.

E.      During a sustained emergency, the Municipality may relinquish its management of emergency animal shelters to an animal disaster response agency under a previously established memorandum of understanding.

F.      The Municipality will protect human life over protecting animal life and therefore may determine that it is unsafe for citizens to enter a disaster area to rescue animals. A person desiring to enter an evacuated area through an evacuation checkpoint will be advised by an emergency official of the associated risk and will be asked to sign a liability release document and surrender their identification for the duration of their entry if the entry does not impede the efforts of emergency officials.

G.     Volunteers will be used to the greatest extent possible to conduct domestic animal emergency response.

H.    Only service animals will be allowed inside areas designated as human shelters.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities listed herein are not intended to be departmental checklists. Each agency will develop internal policies and procedures to perform its assigned duties. At the discretion of the incident commander not all functions may be performed and nor all agencies used.

Primary Agencies

Anchorage Office of Emergency Management / Emergency Operations Center

1.      Coordinates overall strategic disaster response during a major emergency or disaster.

2.      Secures additional resources through state and federal agencies as needed.

3.      Coordinates with and supports requests from field agencies during a major emergency or disaster.

4.      Assumes strategic long-term planning for domestic animal emergency activities.

5.      Disseminates public information concerning domestic animal emergency response for the duration of any emergency involving evacuation or sheltering.

6.      Coordinates care of domestic animals during an emergency requiring mass evacuation or sheltering.

7.      Provides volunteer coordination to assist in setting up and staffing emergency domestic animal shelters.

Health and Human Services

1.      Coordinates with the EOC to identify suitable animal boarding facilities and shelters in advance of an emergency.

2.      Coordinates with the EOC in advance of an emergency to identify medical and non-medical volunteers and agencies that can provide domestic animal care and assistance.

3.      Provides guidance to evacuees for logistics related to pet and animal evacuation.

4.      Monitors public health and zoonotic disease issues, including the removal and disposal of animal waste and dead animals.

Health and Human Services, Animal Care and Control

1.      Assumes responsibility for activated animal shelters during an emergency until any memorandum of understanding transferring management is activated

2.      Coordinates rescue efforts of roaming animals outside evacuated areas after the initial emergency is under control.

3.      Supports animal sheltering activities through use of its facilities and equipment when feasible.

4.      Establishes liaison with local and national rescue organizations.

5.      Assists animal support agencies for long-term maintenance, placement, or disposition of animals that cannot be returned to their normal habitat or have been separated from their owners.

6.      Collects health status data as appropriate.

MUTUAL AID, STATE, OR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

Noah’s Wish is the official animal disaster response agency for the Municipality’s domestic animal emergency response.

All state and federal assistance is coordinated through the State Emergency Coordination Center.

Animal medical and rescue efforts may be supplanted by a Veterinary Medical Assistance Team and coordinated through the National Disaster Medical System.

Other sources of assistance may be provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association, United Animal Nations Emergency Animal Rescue Service, American Humane Association, Humane Society of the United States, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the American Horse Protection Association.

REFERENCES

Memorandum of Understanding, Noah’s Wish

Anchorage Emergency Operations Plan, Annex 1: Evacuation

Anchorage Emergency Operations Plan, Annex 3: Congregate Care

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