All crisis plans need to include pets

16 years ago
ImageBy Norma Milton
Special to the Aroostook Republican

    Despite all the hoopla concerning both of the political conventions this past week, many of us considered the conventions of minor importance when considering the wrath of the latest hurricane destined to hit our southern neighbors.


Image     Alana, a 5 month old feral teenager kitten, enjoys some comforting moments with Cinnamon who is a long time resident of a CPR foster home. Cinnamon is a 2-year-old spayed female with coloring the dusty orange of a mountain lion and with the strutting self-confidence to match. She was returned to the CPR foster home when it was discovered that people coming into the shelter would not adopt her as she “wasn’t pretty enough.”  Cinnamon now spends her days helping with comfort care in the foster feral cat room. She is kind and responsive to the feral youngsters often cleaning ears and allowing the 5 feral teenagers to sleep curled up beside her. Although 3 of the ferals still refuse human loving, they no longer hide from the human at feeding time, but now approach the food dish at the same time as their friend Cinnamon.  Cinnamon is clean, calm, quiet, extremely kind and carries herself with a royal air. She will be a great match for any family wishing a loving, dependable adult cat. All of the fosters have barn homes to go to as soon as they are spayed. Call CPR at 498-3800 for more information.


   The few times I tuned to the news, my heart ached for the people and animals that are undergoing another major weather crises by the name of hurricane Gustav.  As an animal lover and a member of the Caribou Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.), I also felt pride in the many types of relief measures being set up to help these people and their pets.  
    During Katrina, the world learned the depth of love each of us has for our personal pets. They are very important members of our families.  In Aroostook County this spring, we received a very personal taste of people being as concerned for their pet’s safety as they were for their own personal safety.   As Caribou C.E.R.T. member, I was privileged to help a couple of stranded animals for a Van Buren family who had lost all that they owned. As an animal lover, I had no doubt about the need to evacuate pets along with their family.
    I was extremely proud to see my C.E.R.T. teammates hurrying toward Fort Kent in the C.E.R.T. Food Vehicle this spring to provide meals and other assistance to the rescue workers. The commitment and compassion practiced by the C.E.R.T. members is not to be underrated.  They are all very busy people, but they take the time to care. They take the time to study and to train. They take the time to “be there” for the family in crises.
    On the television news this weekend, I was proud to see several C.E.R.T. canopies set up to assist evacuees. I gave full attention when I saw the hundreds of pet carriers piled to the side so people could have appropriate accommodations to safely bring their pets with them on the various modes of transportation. Nothing was being left to chance during this crisis. These were difficult lessons learned with Katrina and Rita and one of the most difficult for animal lovers to remember is that less than only 3,000 of the listed 15,000 missing pets from Katrina have been located and reunited with their families at this time.
    People worked hard to prevent that from happening.  However, the disaster planning was poorly implemented for the Katrina Hurricane.  Thousands of pets were lost from their families.  Most of them were lost forever.  Fortunately, for the people and pets involved in Gustav, this shouldn’t happen again.  
    During the coming year, you will see C.E.R.T. and CPR offer a few low-cost microchip clinics for your pets national identification purpose. The microchips will enable C.E.R.T. members to quickly reunite families with a lost pet. The microchip cost through a CERT/CPR clinic will only cost $15.00 per pet/chip.
    It is wise to plan ahead for our response for any type of crises whether it would be fire, flood or an act of terrorism.  My connection with C.E.R.T. is through my involvement in animal welfare. We all have talents and all of these talents are important when they are needed.  
    Chief Roy (Jack) Woods of the Caribou Fire and Ambulance and president of CPR, is also the director of this area’s C.E.R.T. team. If you have an interest in learning about the C.E.R.T. or becoming a member, you should contact Jack at the Caribou Fire Station.    
    Tent Sale:  We have new items in our tent sale.  As fall approaches, you will find no reasonable offer rejected.  In fact, even most unreasonable offers will be accepted. Please drop by, shop at your leisure and pay the employee on duty at the shelter. If the shelter is closed, shop anyway and drop your donation in the mail to CPR, PO Box 488, Caribou, ME. 04736.  We trust you. Animal lovers will not cheat the animals.   
    The average daily cost of providing medical care and surgery, direct animal care and comfort care to each animal until he is adopted is $5.64.   
    Returnable bottles: continue to spay/neuter many precious animals.  The 88 Bennett Drive Redemption continues to pass on your donation as well as your wonderful comments. Thanks so much for your support.
    Call 498-3800 for information or check out our pets at www.cariboupetrescue.petfinder.com  Caribou Pet Rescue, 6 Richards Rd., PO Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736.  Neuter and Spay – It’s the ONLY Way.