Pets in Disaster Shelters

I wrote a little more today about the idea of how to handle pets in shelters set up for people being cared for after disasters:

I've been giving this a lot of thought, and have some how-I-think-it-would-work ideas. People have assumed it would be a mess, but I think if the right trained volunteers/FEMA personnel could be on site, it could be a huge plus.

One area in the shelter could be designated NO PETS, for those who don't want to be around them or are phobic or allergic. If they want to be in that area, they should be treated with respect, no questions asked, etc. Don't impose the animals on anyone.

Most of the rest of the human part of the shelter would be designated pets only in certain situations, including training and full attention from a human every moment and proper confinement.

Then adjoining the shelter in whatever manner can be arranged, a pet facility that has some spots where people can sleep. Those who cannot bear to be separated from their pets can sleep with all the pets. Volunteers and/or paid staff will have to be on duty (awake) in the pet area 24 hours a day to protect the pets from wandering kids letting them out, theft, etc.

Actually, having people with them would keep them quieter as well as safer. And letting anyone from the shelter who behaves themselves come to visit the pets, night or day (but NOT remove a pet from its cage, unless it's THEIR pet) would provide a powerful emotional benefit to many of the non pet owners as well as the pet owners.

The pet experts willing to work HARD will have to be there as fast as the workers ministering to the humans for this to be feasible. But I'm sure it is, and I'm equally sure it will save human lives and even reduce post traumatic stress syndrome. I don't think that is an overstatement at all.