With Florence moving slowly toward the Carolinas, now is the time to make sure you have an evacuation plan, especially if you have pets.
Many evacuation shelters will not take pets, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov site.
“If you leave your pets behind, they may be lost, injured – or worse. Never leave a pet chained outdoors,” DHS warns.
“Many animal owners are hesitant to evacuate unless they know their animals will be safe. But staying behind can put families in harm’s way, and leaving pets behind can hamper the efforts of first responders entering the area to deal with human life and safety issues,” Clemson University veterinarian Charlotte Krugler said in a press release.
North Carolina emergency officials say pet owners need to be prepared with the right documents and supplies if people evacuate to a pet-friendly shelter with their animals. Pets should have immunization records, collar and leash or carrier to be admitted to a shelter, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s ReadyNC.org site.