Don't leave pets behind in disasters

MANILA - The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reminded the public on Wednesday to secure the safety of their beloved animals, especially during natural disasters like tropical storm Ondoy (international code name Ketsana).
Jason Baker, Director of PETA Asia-Pacific, said in a phone interview that though people care about the safety of their pets or livestock, most do not know what to do when a disaster strikes.
"I think people are concerned about what happens to their pets, it's just that they think they'll be able to come back sooner than they think. A lot of people leave their pets in cages or tied to chains, but that means they have nowhere to go," he told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.
Baker also said that most pet or livestock owners hesitate to bring their pets with them during evacuation, because they think that they will be turned away at evacuation centers.
Pictures of dead cats and dogs, some of whom drowned in their cages or were left hanging from electrical wires after the deluge, circulated on video uploading site YouTube.
"I hope these images resonate with everyone," Baker added.
Animal care tips for disasters
To educate people on what to do with their animals when a disaster strikes, PETA reissued a 7-point list of animal safety tips during disasters, or even when going out on an errand.
"It's not a thing people think about that much, but I think now that we've experienced a typhoon, people will pay more attention," Baker told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.
Before a disaster:
All animals should have collars with identification tags. Make sure you have a current photo of your companion animal for identification purposes.
Hotels often lift "no pets" policies during emergencies, but keep a list of hotels that accept companion animals just in case. Include the Philippine Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) phone number, (02) 475-1688, in your list of emergency numbers. It might be able to provide information during a disaster.
Keep packed a carrier, lease, extra animal food, and any other supplies that you will need so that you can grab them easily if you need to evacuate in a hurry.
In case pets are left behind:
Do not tie animals outside, leave them caged, or keep them in a vehicle unattended. Leave them in a secure area inside your home.
Leave out at least 10 days' supply of water. Fill every sink, bowl, pan, and plastic container with water and set them on the floor. Do not leave just one container because it may spill. If your toilet bowl is free of chemical disinfectants, leave the toilet seat up to provide animals with one more source of water, but do not let that be the only source.
Leave out at least 10 days' supply of dry food. Canned food wil go rancide quickly.
If you can't get to your home, contact a reliable neighbor or friend to check on animals and get them out, if possible. Provide specific instructions for care.
'Ondoy' like 'Hurricane Katrina'?
Baker had also been part of a team that rescued stranded animals in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina battered the southern coast of the United States in 2005.
He said the experience with storm Ondoy was the same since there were also many dogs and cats who died in the deluge because their owners did not know what to do.
"I saw many cats dying of dehydration. And I saw one house where the pet was inside and there was a carrier by the door. So the owner could have easily carried their pet, but didn't for some reason. I think people care, it's just that they aren't prepared for disasters themselves. The main thing is educating people," Baker said.
He added, however, that the Philippine experience had allowed more leeway for volunteers to navigate through flood-hit areas.
"The difference is that the areas are easier to enter now. In New Orleans, there were places that were completely blocked off and we had to use sledgehammers to get inside areas and knock down doors," Baker recounted.
Animal rescue
PETA and PAWS had teamed up to help rescue and provide shelter for animals after Typhoon Ondoy brought floods that submerged areas in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces on September 26 (Saturday).
Baker said PETA has received phone calls from people who want to volunteer in animal relief efforts, or from owners who reported their missing pets.
"A lot of people are distraught that their pets died or are missing. Some of them witnessed their own pets drown. It's too bad that animals can't speak up about missing people too," he said.
"We're focusing on bringing adequate food and water to the animals and PETA is concentrating more on educating people on what to do," he added.
Already, many celebrity volunteers like Isabel Roces, a PETA model, have helped raise funds or donations for rescued animals.
Baker said they have informed owners that the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center in Quezon City launched 24-hour operations to accommodate rescued animals.
Their efforts have been focused on Metro Manila areas for now.
He said it is "virtually impossible" to get records on how many animals were injured, killed, or left missing during storm Ondoy because many of these cases are not reported.
Baker said society should also consider the number of farm animals affected, not just pets like cats and dogs.
He also said they have not received reports about the condition of animals from zoos in flood-hit areas like Metro Manila and Rizal. Report by Kristine Servando, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak. Photos taken from YouTube video here.