Chatham County , plus animals from Georgia and South Carolina self-evacuees . Pet owners are asked to provide medical and shot records on their animals , as well as crates and food , but Broady explained they will shelter the animals even if those things are not provided .
Food and shelter are important for the pets , but according to Broady , shelter staff and volunteers go above and beyond by giving love and support to the animals when they ’ re separated from their owners .
“ Everyone really comes together to give the animals so much love and affection , including supplying them with comfortable bedding and toys ,” she said . “ We even partner with Augusta Transit for the owners to come visit with their pets . This lets them spend time with their animals and see they are well loved here .”
Broady gives further credit to GDA ’ s annual training programs and with helping her shelter prepare for emergencies and disasters . Several trainings and drills are conducted annually to improve the program ’ s capabilities .
“ If it wasn ’ t for Sims and the training programs , we wouldn ’ t be as successful . They ’ re truly a great asset ,” she said .
In addition to the training , the companion animal sheltering team licenses and inspects their pet shelters throughout the year to keep them ready for use if a disaster strikes . During a disaster , GDA closely monitors movement of evacuees and the location of human shelters in an effort to identify additional pet shelters . All efforts improve animal and veterinary medical capabilities for Georgia and surrounding states , according to Sims .
“ Georgia has many things to celebrate in our preparedness efforts for animals ,” Sims said proudly . “ We ’ re a host to many of our neighboring states , so we work cooperatively with mass care and sheltering , as well as public health , to provide animal resources during disasters .”
With 85 million American homes owning a pet , having a dedicated team to plan and prepare for our furry friends during times of disaster is a relief to many and demonstrates support for Georgia families . It allows citizens to safely evacuate and know their beloved animals will remain safe until they arrive home again .
To prepare for pets during a disaster , pet owners can visit http :// ready . ga . gov / makea-plan / georgia-pets / to review resources and checklists . Sims also recommends pet owners know their animal ’ s identifying information ( breed , age , sex , color , markings , microchip number ) and take a photo with their animal to assist with identification efforts . The companion animal sheltering program is available to all Georgia citizens and evacuees during a declared disaster . To utilize the program , contact your local county emergency management agency .
68 Percent of American households own a pet
950 Animals sheltered by Georgia Department of Agriculture during Hurricane Irma
30 Emergency Animal Shelter locations in Georgia ( not including private boarding facilities )
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