Avalon Unveils Pet Evacuation Trailer

Avalon Unveils Pet Evacuation Trailer This borough seems to abide by the motto "Prepare for the worst. "There is a tremendous need for local communities, counties, and the state to embrace the issue of pets and their owners during significant storm events. Instead of avoiding the issue, Avalon embraced it as a public safety initiative to save lives. During two successive blizzards in February, 2010 the Avalon Volunteer Fire Department housed dozens of residents upstairs at the fire house; these residents had no electricity or communications in their homes due to downed power lines. "This evacuation made it clear to us in Avalon that we needed to implement a new program to accommodate pet owners who had no place to go during a major storm," Pagliughi said. We relocated these people along with their pets to our firehouse and immediately developed a plan that led us to the development of the county's first pet evacuation trailer. During an evacuation event, pet owners will travel with their own pets to Avalon's designated shelter. The pet owners themselves will help care for their own pets and offer them food and comfort during the emergency with assistance from Avalon shelter operators. Red Cross rules mandate no animals in emergency shelters, so borough officials knew their work was already partially planned: get a mobile pet shelter. Communities through the state learned during the Hurricane Irene event in August, 2011 that shelters throughout the state don't accept pets for various safety, health, and liability reasons. "We were lucky with Hurricane Irene," Pagliughi said. "Coastal residents need to realize that if we have got a major hurricane at the Jersey Shore homes may be without power, climate control, and communications for several weeks. The trailer now includes climate control, running water, an awning, a veterinary work station, a wash basin for pets, a refrigerator, and a generator hook up. At a cost of $24,000, deferred by $20,000 in donations, the air conditioned and heated trailer is ready to be transported where needed. The borough acquired and created Cape May County's first-ever pet evacuation trailer which will reunite pets with their owners during a localized or out of county evacuation event. Our number one responsibility in Avalon is to provide for the health, safety and welfare of our residents. This pet evacuation shelter helps us accomplish that goal. Earlier this year, the Borough acquired a pre-owned "Great Dane" trailer that is in excellent condition from Atlantic Utility Trailer Sales. Lives have been lost unnecessarily in other communities in the United States because officials did not embrace this issue. "This is a case where the Avalon Office of Emergency Management is meeting a need that has already been demonstrated in our community," Pagliughi said. And, Avalon will certainly make the trailer available to other partners in emergency management when a need arises in another community. The majority of pet owners stated they would not leave unless their pets could leave with them. This survey guided the Avalon Office of Emergency Management to develop a pet evacuation trailer that met the community's needs. The borough has been in contact with county and state emergency management officials regarding the availability of the trailer. Generous donations from corporate sponsors have defrayed most of the costs associated with the acquisition and customizing of the pet evacuation trailer. The Avalon Department of Public Works has customized the trailer with necessary amenities for the safety, health, and comfort of the pets. Last summer, Tipping volunteered at the Avalon shelter during the Hurricane Irene event. The trailer will have nearly 70 cages to accommodate cats and dogs of all sizes. Avalon Unveils Pet Evacuation Trailer Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 08/06/2012