More pet-friendly storm shelters sought
Next time a monster storm comes knocking, Palm Beach County’s animal authorities aim to have four or five pet-friendly shelters instead of just one.
Consider it a lesson learned from hurricanes Irma and last year’s Matthew, said Animal Care and Control Director Dianne Sauve.
With Hurricane Irma still one day away, Palm Beach County’s only pet-friendly public shelter filled, and authorities had to get permission to send the overflow to the neighboring high school, where only humans were supposed to be bunked.
And that was with several limitations on who could stay there.
Still, Palm Beach County Administrator Verdenia Baker said Tuesday that she wasn’t yet willing to commit to the additions. “We have not totally debriefed on that. It is something we’ll talk about. You have to be able to staff; you have to be able to provide all the amenities. Those are factors we have to consider.”
In the end, the county tallied that more than 330 animals and nearly 200 people took shelter at the West Boynton Recreation Center and Park Vista High.
Officials requested that only people living in mandatory evacuation zones and people living in mobile homes or substandard housing come to that shelter. They also imposed a “one caretaker” rule per pet.
“The ‘one caretaker’ rule came into being when we saw the magnitude of the storm and made estimates on the number of people that might evacuate. During Matthew, we quickly filled with more people than pets, as some families were very large. ... We knew we needed to assure that we had enough room for as many pets as possible,” Sauve told The Post in an email this week.
The solution was to let one person stay with the pet, while the rest of the family went next door to the high school. There were exceptions, such as those made for single parents. “In general, most people understood and were willingly compliant,” Sauve said.
But that rule is something that will be evaluated with each storm.
The addition of other shelters across the county would also address the issue of geography, Sauve said.
The West Boynton shelter off Jog Road and south of Hypoluxo was convenient in that it was in the middle of the county, but it was also in the middle of a very large county, making distance an issue for some people.
In a county with 127,000 licensed pets and thousands more likely flying under the radar, Sauve expects to need more room based on the response to both Matthew and Irma.
“We k new that larger storms would mean more residents with pets seeking shelter, and we also know that the majority of pet owners will not leave their pets behind,” Sauve said. “The animal-human bond should never be underestimated, and we must prepare accordingly.”
Public shelters are not the only option when it comes to boarding pets in a storm. Private veterinarians also are available.
“My cats were with my veterinarian,” Sauve said. “It’s important for folks to assure that they are comfortable with the building and to check to make sure the practice has a backup generator.”