Rescue Animals

[Has been]

Any state that gets FEMA funds is required to have an evacuation plan for pets in case of a disaster. The plan was prompted by the Pets Evacuation and Transporation Standards Act of 2006.  Has anybody in a CAP copasity or CAP unit or CAP tasking been involved in this? Can you tell me how it came about? What did you do on mission/sortie? How did you get tasked? Is there something else I should know?

[MSG Mac]

I would think the SPCA has this one locked in.

[Майор Хаткевич]

I would think the SPCA has this one locked in.

A lot of heart ache on the East Coast over lost/displaced pets.

[Eclipse]

Has anybody in a CAP capacity or CAP unit or CAP tasking been involved in this?

I can't imagine how we would ever get involved in this, nor should we.  Pet rescue is a background task that rarely even gets secondary status
during large scale events.

We could certainly provide standard CAP assistance to some other agency, but just on an ad-hoc / localized agreement basis.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Col Eclipse: I see one!
Me: Crikey, he's a fiesty bugga!

[Eclipse]

Col Eclipse: I see one!
Me: Crikey, he's a fiesty bugga!

As USAFAUX2004 tags the wild beast, here's a message from Mutual of Omaha.

Wild Kingdom 1 & 2

[PHall]

Having moved animals that were frightened and scared,(i.e. Clark AB/NS Subic Bay evacuations after Mount Pinatubo.).
I have no problem letting SPCA have this "mission".

[flyboy53]

I have been involved in this, but not as a CAP member. I'm a co-leader of a CERT team organized under a county Emergency Management Office.

In 2009, there was  a massive flood here that effected 10 towns and villages across three counties -- millions in damage. FEMA first responded by bringing in a shelter on a mobile home chasis to shelter small animals. I think it was used for a month during the recovery operation.

The county than applied for FEMA grant funding for a similar shelter and gave FEMA classroom instruction to first responders and CERT Teams (there are two in this county), on how to rescue small and large animals and then shelter them for families who have been displaced by a disaster.

The idea is to run this emergency animal shelter alongside a shelter for displaced families or individuals. It can be set up in a parking lot next to the other shelter.

It is separate of the SPCA because SPCA involvement in this county is mostly punative involving animal cruelty. There is a even an on-going scandal here involving one of the inspectors who currently faces two felony counts for possessing forged rabies vaccination certificates.

[Walkman]

Not quite the same thing, but I remember an article in the Volunteer about air crews along the east coast transporting dogs between shelters.

[Cliff_Chambliss]

Being very active in Animal Rescue (Shelties & Aussies) we have a few thoughts on this.  Disaster care of animals falls into several categories. 

Displaced persons with pets.  Many shelters, CERT Groups, Humane Societies, etc. have plans to co-locate pet care facilities with human shelters, and many communities have somewhat trained volunteers to help out. 

Then there are the lost and/or abandoned pets.  A scared hungry dog/cat is not to be messed with if you do not know what you are doing.  Many of these animals will be missing collars and tags making their health history an unknown.  Rabies, Cat Scratch Fever, and other maladies transmitted by bites and scratches can be nasty and the treatments painful and expensive.

When disaster strikes is no time for OJT on pet care. 
 
If this is something that appeals to an individual, please contact the local humane society, CERT Coordinator, Pilots N Paws, Sky Ark, or similar organization and get some training before the need arises. 

[Flying Pig]

I like animals, but Im not going to even remotely risk my life for one.  Ill transport a blood hound or a working dog, even got a call to trans a shot K9 to UC Davis.  Again.... cool with it.  Rolling in to transport hoards of unknows.....  No thanks. 

[krnlpanick]

IMHO it is a good idea to arm yourself with as much training as possible. When the need arises to fill a gap you will be ready to do so and it will be remembered.

As for CAP not officially supporting pet evacuation as part of it's DR/ES mission, well a trained paramedic is expected to respond in the event of an emergency whether they are wearing their CAP uniform, EMT uniform or shorts and flip-flops, I would assume that it doesn't matter if you are wearing your CAP uniform on a mission or not in this case as well. If you are verifiably trained to perform a task (outside overtly banned tasks such as being deputized or carrying a firearm without approval) then logic would dictate that you could fulfill that role.

That being said, if you seek out training in this area - it would probably be wise to clear and verify with your DOS/DOST that you are receiving training in this area and ask for clarification on CAP policies to perform said duty while on an actual mission.

Just my $0.02

[Flying Pig]

Im not seeing the AF funding pet relocation.  But who knows......

[krnlpanick]

The AF may not fund it, but that doesn't necessarily mean that if we have qualified members to do it that we can't do that, especially if we have already responded and deployed on a DR mission.

[Cliff_Chambliss]

127 dogs and 16 cats moved by air lessons learned.

Cats always go in a crate.  (either that or open a window and hope they run out).

Some dogs ride fine, others... well plastic covers for the seats, a crate in the baggage area, and stop by the health food store and get a supply of melatonin. (melatonin works to relieve a dogs anxiety to an approaching thunderstorm too). 

It helps to have two people on board, one to fly the plane and one "attendant".

No food at least three hours before flight.  (doggie puke in an airplane can be intense).

If and when crossing state lines, be sure to check with the appropriate authorities.  Different states have specific requirements such as Proof of health exam from a vet, proof of up to date shots, current treatment for kennel cough, etc.

Collars stay on the whole time and leashes are attached before any doors are opened.

[krnlpanick]

I personally can not imagine flying with any animal outside of a crate. The thought of a dog seeing a bird outside their window, getting excited, and jumping up in the pilots lap scares the bajeezus out of me.

[A.Member]

I like animals, but Im not going to even remotely risk my life for one.  Ill transport a blood hound or a working dog, even got a call to trans a shot K9 to UC Davis.  Again.... cool with it.  Rolling in to transport hoards of unknows.....  No thanks.

Agreed.   This is an opportunity to be left with other organizations.  It does not fit in with the core objectives of CAP.

[krnlpanick]

Agreed.   This is an opportunity to be left with other organizations.  It does not fit in with the core objectives of CAP.

Just to clarify, I was not suggesting this was a mission for CAP to fulfill, rather stating that as individuals who are professional volunteer responders it behooves us to expand our training as much as possible so that in an actual mission if there is a need that we can fill even outside of our CAP capacity and we are on-site already that type of service will be remembered and will echo back to CAP regardless of any official CAP support of whatever the said mission was. Also, that is why I recommend clearing with the DOS/DOST that it is acceptable to do so if you are on-site, in uniform, as part of a CAP response. My guess would be the answer is yes, as long as it does not effect your ability to fulfill the CAP mission. In other words, if you are a GTL and your team is about to be deployed on a sortie, don't disappear to go rescue a dog - but if you are just sitting around the ICP and the need arises, feel free to do so (that would be my policy if I were the powers that be -- of course that may be why I am not the powers that be)

I guess one argument against would be that if something happens to you while performing a task outside of the CAP mission then you would not be covered by CAP insurance -- in other words if you got bit by a rabid dog while doing an animal rescue, it would not be the same as if you got bit by a rabid dog while searching for a missing person.

[Eclipse]

I guess one argument against would be that if something happens to you while performing a task outside of the CAP mission then you would not be covered by CAP insurance -- in other words if you got bit by a rabid dog while doing an animal rescue, it would not be the same as if you got bit by a rabid dog while searching for a missing person.

That's not how it works, however it stresses the importance of only operating when clearly authorized.  either its a CAP mission or it isn't.

When it is, either a corporate officer and / or CAP-USAF has approved the duty, so you're covered to the fullest extent of the applicable benefits.

With that said...

[harsh, cold-hearted, curmudgeon]
Not being an animal person on even a basic level, the amount of monetary and emotional investment that people put into creatures
that only appreciate being fed and warmed, and who would eat them if given the opportunity is beyond me, and I could not begin to
see risking human life or resources to "rescue them".  That's not to say I condone cruelty, etc., but to be hacking into a flooded
house, or running into a burning building to rescue "fluffy" just makes no sense to me whatsoever, but then I wouldn't have them
in the house to start with, and don't get me started on people who can't pay their rent but will spend $$$$s on advanced medical treatment for a $100 animal.
[/harsh, cold-hearted, curmudgeon]

[Майор Хаткевич]

Some of is were simply born with a heart.