County plans emergency animal shelter

• A&M’s Debra Zoran, standing, shares ideas with DeWitt County AgriLife Agent Anthony Netardus during Wednesday’s gathering of officials to plan an emergency animal shelter. (Staff photo)

If Noah had been assisted by Texas A&M’s Dr. Debra Zoran, his post-disaster recovery might have gone smoother.

As head of the Veterinary Emergency Team, Zoran and her fourth-year veterinary students have been helping communities create emergency animal shelters for 10 years. Last Wednesday, De-Witt County’s Emergency Management Coordinator, Billy Jordan, gathered area first responders as well as government and agriculture leaders to work with Zoran’s team to create a plan for sheltering pets and animals during a disaster.

Like Noah’s Ark, the animals will range from livestock to rabbits to cats and dogs, and any number of “pocket pets” as Zoran calls them. Her team has hard-won experience on the best practices in sheltering each type of animal.

“Cats will get out; you can count on it,” she said. “They have to be in a totally enclosed room.” Zoran said keeping dogs kennelled near livestock increases anxiety for both as they will be on edge and barking the whole time.

AgriLife Extension Agent Anthony Netardus described a recent experience of creating a makeshift animal shelter during a flood event. “People dropped off their animals,” he said, “maybe with a bowl, but definitely not with litter.”

Zoran queried the group on facility and volunteer availability, while her students took notes to get a “down in the weeds plan on paper.”

“This is not a one-of meeting,” Zoran said, indicating the team would come back to help review and fine tune the emergency plan. “You have to be ready for the worst.”

Emergency animal sheltering could be needed for as little as three-to-five days, or as long as six-to-eight weeks.

Reviewing different pieces of the plan, Zoran indicated the Cuero Animal Shelter would be responsible for the “not-people-friendly” animals. “You have to take care of your volunteers” she said, “because that’s what they are - volunteers. They may not be expert animal handlers.”

The county 4H and FFA groups are a natural fit for volunteers. HEB disaster assistance support and the Pet Adoption of Cuero were mentioned as other resources. She liked the second floor of the ag center as sleeping quarters for volunteers and inquired about shower facilities. When hearing there were none, she advised bringing in a shower trailer.

As for hurt animals, Zoran said a plan needs to be in place to allow local veterinarians to keep their doors open while also caring for disaster injuries.

“They need to keep their practice open for their livelihood,” she said.

Fire or flood are the most common disaster shelter situations.

Netardus said western DeWitt County tends to have flood events of the Guadalupe River “where people start getting nervous” and inquiring about where to evacuate animals. He said these landowners monitor the river levels closely and communicate when it’s time to evacuate.

Range cattle will shelter in place, but show animals will be sheltered at the Ag Friar facility.

Dwayne Easley with the Texas Animal Health Commission described the problems with identifying cattle after various disasters.

“After the panhandle fire, we found the flap tags on the ears melted,” Easley said. “And the brands were singed. If we were lucky we could feel the brands with our hands.”

Easley said using markers on hooves was somewhat successful in sorting livestock after the panhandle fire. He said when cattle are at risk and penned in, usually in a fire, it’s best to cut a fence to give an escape route. He recommended first responders keep wire cutters in their gear to address such situations. He urged ranchers to check with the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers for best recommendations in identification of livestock for emergencies.

After the opening discussion, ag leaders walked the grounds with Zoran’s team to photograph and document facilities. Zoran will return with a new rotation of veterinary students to fine tune the plan for DeWitt County’s ark.