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FloridaPets.net 2010 Pet-Friendly Emergency Shelter Guidefrom your home or vacation location during hurricanes, wildfires or other disasters. Info Last Updated: 02-03-10 Important: In 2007, it was brought to our attention that another Web site had plagiarized our Pet-Friendly Shelter Guide. They totally reproduced it and placed it on their site as their own. We contacted them and they took down some of our material, but not all. The problem is, this other Web site is still online, but has not kept their information up to date. There have been many changes to the information they first took from our Guide. We are concerned that this old, outdated information could mislead people during an evacuation. This type of information changes often and must be kept up to date. We've been providing the Guide since 2003 and work very hard every year to make sure you have the most accurate information AS LONG AS WE, OURSELVES HAVE ELECTRICITY AND INTERNET ACCESS. Please, before you put your emergency plan into action this year, check here or contact your local emergency services department for the latest info. Why pet-friendly shelters? 1. They're required - or no FEMA funds A bit of history. According to the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) of 2006, state and local emergency preparedness operational plans must address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency IF they want to qualify for grant $$$ from FEMA. The Act gives FEMA authority to help communities develop pet-friendly shelter facilities and practical assistance for individuals with pets and service animals, and the animals themselves, following a major disaster. Some counties think just saying they will not have a pet-friendly shelter until later and offering names of a couple of motels miles away on their Web site that "used to" accept pets is "addressing the needs." That is incorrect. Actually, the PETS Act does away with all the excuses from county and city governments without pet-friendly disaster plans. While this is indeed progress, it has come at great cost. Laura Maloney, head of the Louisiana chapter of the SPCA, said as many as 70,000 pets were either killed or abandonded after Katrina left much of New Orleans under water in August 2005. That sort of thing simply cannot happen again. 2. They're part of responsible pet guardianship People who have pets are responsible for their health and safety and must have a plan during a disaster that includes those pets. That plan should not include leaving them tied to trees during the storms or left in empty house with a little food and water. As Hurricane Katrina showed all of us, the lives of both humans and their beloved pets depend on the humans being prepared, being smart and staying smart. Of the 70,000 pets who died or were abandonded as a result of Hurricane Katrina, only about 15,000 were saved and only 20 percent of those were reunited with their owners. The rest ended up in various shelters around the United States. Many are probably still wondering where their families went. 3. They're ethically correct. Pets are a barometer of our humanity For most people, pets are part of the family. It's ethically vital to help people keep all members of their family safe. A 2006 survey found that 44 percent of those in New Orleans who remained at home did so because of a pet, while only 18 percent failed to evacuate because they wouldn't leave a family member behind. Words of wisdom: "“We know from experience that if you don’t deal with the pets, people won’t leave their house and then you have a people problem, not a pet problem."
Also check out our Hurricane Check List if you have other options. We think the first choice of where to go should be a pet-friendly relative or friend's house that's out of the evacuation area. If those aren't options for you, we think the next best place to go is a pet-friendly hotel or motel that's out of the evacuation area. If that doesn't won't work for you either, our next suggestion is to find a pet-friendly emergency shelter in your area. If all the above options are exhausted, we suggest loading up the animals, necessary supplies and sentimental items that could not be replaced if lost, and driving out of the storm's path, which might even mean leaving the state. You could call this Plan D. This is why having a plan is so important. Be sure to use a safe route, one prescribed by your county emergency management department. Pick up pamphlets in public locations and/or print out evacuation routes from Web sites now so you'll be prepared if the need should arise later this summer. In 2004, some people on the west coast of Florida, thinking they'd be safe heading east, got into worse weather than they would have had if they had stayed put. The storm just grazed their area, then blasted into central Florida, amazing even the experts. So be prepared to act, not react. We hope you weren't one of the people who left one of over 400 dogs behind to fend for themselves in Polk County after Hurricane Charley in 2004. Nope, we aren't making those stats up. They came right from Hillsborough County Animal Services that set up a makeshift shelter to gather lost pets in that area after the storm. We wish we didn't have to say this but if you leave your pet behind, you are essentially sentencing him or her to terror-filled days and nights...or much worse. You should give a neighbor, someone with whom you and your pet are familiar and comfortable, a spare key to your house so if an evacuation order is issued while, for example, you are gone for the day, your neighbor can get your pet out quickly. Always have a bag of your pet's supplies and food ready by the door for you or your neighbor to grab if needed. Know ahead what your neighbor's evacuation plan will be since, in this scenario, your pet will be with them. Make sure your neighbor has the number where you'll be located and vice versa. While there are some kennels and veterinary offices that graciously offer to board pets during disasters, it's important to know if your house isn't safe, if your town is slated to get hit hard by a hurricane, local kennels and vet's offices will also be in peril. Those buildings aren't necessarily built to withstand hurricane force winds. Anyway, these are bad options - they separate you from your pet. While some humane society shelters announce they'll house some animals temporarily, this places strain on already-full shelters and one-on-one care may be difficult, plus sometimes those buildings aren't built to withstand hurricane force winds either. This option also separates you from your pet. are open for every storm and decision sometimes aren't made until the very last minute. An important note to government officials We believe it makes for good community relations and safer conditions for both pets and people to provide specifics about pet-friendly shelters as early as possible so people can prepare their evacuation plans ahead of time. We'll be adding to this list as we learn of more locations or changes to the information we have. Refresh your screen each time you return to this page so you'll have the latest info. With that said, on to the information we've compiled for you to help keep yourself and your pets safe. Editor's Note: Below, we've tried to provide you with as much information as possible. We've listed pet-friendly shelters for each county, if any, area pet-friendly motels and hotels, if any, and we've linked to each county's emergency management Web page, if they have one. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Alachua Counnty to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Operations Coordinators office at 352-264-6530. The following area motels usually allow pets during disaster evacuations - some may require special fees - double check before making reservations.
No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Baker County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 904-259-6111. The following area motels/hotels accept pets during evacuations - some may require special fees:
Bay County Fairgrounds, 2230 E. 15th Street (corner of Sherman Ave. and Hwy. 98) has been used in the past as a pet-friendly shelter area, but unfortunately, this county will only make announcements "per-storm." To encourage Bay County to give better heads up on shelters, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-784-4000. And check the Bay County link above, or check back here, if a storm threatens your area before heading out to this shelter. There are a couple of pet-friendly motels/hotels in the area - some may charge special rates:
No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Bradford County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 904-966-6337. The following are area pet-friendly motels/hotels - reserve early:
1. Port St. John Community Center, 6650 Corto Road, Port St. John. 2. Viera Regional Community Center, 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera. 3. Melbourne Greyhound Park, 1100 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne. Note: This is a pets-only shelter. 4. Heritage High School, 2351 Malabar Rd., NW, Palm Bay You don't have to pre-register to get into these shelters, but you should contact Brevard County Animal Services at 321-633-2024 and make sure they're open before you leave home. All but Melbourne Greyhound Park accept pets and their people. Pet guardians using these facilities must provide proof of animal's rabies vaccination, food, identification, a carrier and cleaning supplies. 1. Millennium Middle School, 5803 NW 94th Avenue, Tamarac. This pet-friendly shelter is only for pet guardians living in the county's evacuation zone (east of US 1) and/or those living in mobile homes. Pre-registration is required and can be accomplished beginning June 1 by calling 954-989-3977 or going in person to the Humane Society of Broward County, located at 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. To register, you'll need: proof of your address, i.e., utility bill, proof of pet's vaccinations and license, veterinarian's information, photo of pet and a carrier for your pet. Pet guardians must also stay at the shelter; animals will be housed in individual crates in the school's gym and people will stay in the cafeteria. Humane Society volunteers and a veterinarian will supervise the pets. For more information, go to Humane Society of Broward County or call Broward County Hurricane Hotline at 954-831-4000, for specific shelter openings. There is room for a maximum of 350 pets and 500 people. For information regarding large animal preparedness, contact Broward County Animal Care at 954-359-1010. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Calhoun County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-674-8075. There are four cities in this county, Altha, Blountstown, Clarksville and Kinard. We've only found one pet-friendly motel in those areas. If anyone knows of others, please let us know. 1. Quality Inn, 2175 Hwy 71 South in Marianna. 850-526-5600. This property is 9.9 miles north of Altha. Charlotte County has no shelters for people or pets if a Category 3 or higher storm is forecast for the area. The information below is for Category 1 or 2 storms only. To encourage Charlotte County to establish one to accommodate people and pets during higher category storms, contact the Office of Emergency Management Department at 941-833-4000. 1. Port Charlotte Middle School, 23000 Midway Blvd., Port Charlotte. Only dogs and cats will be accepted at this shelter and they must have current immunizations. Guardians must provide crates, bedding, feeding supplies, medical records, identification tags and pictures of the pet. Pets must be accompanied by their guardian, but they will be kept in separate parts of the school. Designated times will be given for guardians to walk and care for their pets. There are a few pet-friendly motels/hotels in the area. Most will have special rates: 1. Best Western Inn, Lake City, 386-752-3801 2. Econo Lodge, Lake City, 386-755-9311 3. Days Inn, Lake City, 386-758-4224 4. Driftwood Motel, Lake City, 386-755-3545 5. Jameson Inn, Lake City, 386-758-4440 6. Rodeway Inn, Lake City, 904-755-5203 7. Scottish Inn, Lake City, 386-755-0230 1. Lecanto Middle School, 380 W. Educational Path, Lecanto. Animals arriving at this shelter must have proof of rabies vaccination and county license. Pet guardians must stay here too. Congratulations to Citrus County Animal Services. They worked hard with other groups to get this shelter ready for the 2009 storm season. While it took them a few years, it shows what team work can do. Clay County should be applauded for their hard work getting these pet-friendly shelters ready for the 2009 storm season: 1. Clay High School, 2025 State Hwy 16 W, Green Cove Springs. 2. Keystone Heights Junior-Senior High, 900 S. W. Orchid Avenue, Keystone Heights. 3. Orange Park High School, 2300 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park. Dogs, cats, seeing-eye animals, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and birds will be accepted at any of these shelters. Reptiles will not be permitted. Users of the shelters should bring along a three-day supply of their pet's food, bottled water, a can opener, food containers, medical and registration records, medications, pet toys, bedding, a current picture of the pet, cat litter and litter box, leashes and pet carriers. Pet guardians wishing to use the shelters will be required to register annually. There are three Clay County horse boarding facilities to help with your horses if you have to evacuate your home and land: 1. Hoofbeat Hollow Hunter Barn
2. Sunset Farms Arena & Boarding
3. Taylor Oaks Equestrian Center
1. North Collier Regional Park. Pre-registration is required and can be accomplished online or at the Collier County Domestic Animal Services shelter at 7610 Davis Blvd. Even though people can pre-register, the shelter will use the first-come, first-served method of allowing registered people in. This shelter will hold only a few dozen pets, depending on the size of animals. Pets will be housed in one building and their guardians will be housed in another building that's only 100 feet away. Be sure to bring along a photo of your pet, your pet's immunization records, a week of food and water, a litter box if you have a cat, a toy, a leash and collar or harness. For more information, call 239-530-7387. 2. Palmetto Ridge High School, 1655 Oilwood Road, Naples, is a special needs shelter, not for the general public. It is operated by the emergency management department, along with Collier Domestic Animal Services, for the pets of special needs patients. The program includes transportation for the people and animals in the program. Participating pets must be pre-registered, have identification and be up to date on required immunizations. Special needs residents can register their pets for this program by calling the Collier County Emergency Operations Center hotline at 239-774-8400. If you don't want to use a public shelter and don't qualify for the special needs shelter, you can reserve a room at one of the area's pet-friendly hotels or motels. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Columbia County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 386-758-1125. There are a few Lake City area motels that allow pets during disaster evacuations. Most will have special fees: 1. Best Western Inn, 386-752-3801
No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage DeSoto County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 863-993-4831. The following area motels are pet-friendly during emergencies. Most will have special fees: 1. The Holiday Inn Express
2. Hi-Way Motel, Arcadia, 863-494-5455 3. Best Western, Arcadia, 863-494-4884 No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Dixie County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 352-498-1240. 1. Landmark Middle School, located at 101 Kernan Boulevard N. 2. Mandarin Middle School, located at 5100 Hood Road 3. Chimney Lakes Elementary School, located at 9353 Staples Mill Drive. All animals except reptiles will be accepted at these shelters. Pets must have identification and proof of vaccination and registration. Pet guardians will need to supply their own crates, supplies, food, etc. It's important to note animals may be housed in separate rooms than their guardidans, but the guardians will still be required to care for and maintain their own pets. Preregistration is not required. For more information, call City Link at 904-630-2489. Molino Park Elementary School, 899 Highway 97, Molino. Escambia County's first pet-friendly hurricane shelter houses between 150 and 350 dogs and cats (only) in the school's gym in carriers or cages. Guardians will be located in a separate area of the school and will be responsible for providing their own food, water, medicine and cleanup supplies. Pre-registration for pets is required. Download a form and learn the rules at the link provided above or stop by Escambia County Animal Shelter, 200 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola. Escambia County Department of Public Safety has put together a list of area pet-friendly motels/hotels - this isn't a new list, so please verify pet policies before making reservations and reserve early! 1. Flagler County Agricultural Extension Center, at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, located on CR 13, 154 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell. They can be reached by calling 386-437-7464. Officials tell us this shelter will be used only for Category 1 storms; they will evacuate for storms above that category. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Franklin County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-653-8977 There are a few pet-friendly motels/hotels in the area. Most will have special fees: 1. Apalach River Inn, Apalachicola, 850-653-8139 2. Bay City Lodge, Apalachicola, 850-653-8139 3. The Gibson Inn, Apalachicola, 850-653-2191 4. The Rancho Inn, Apalachicola, 850-653-9435 5. The Moorings at Carrabelle, Carrabelle, 850-697-2800 No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Gadsden County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-875-8642. There seems to be one area pet-friendly motel: 1. Allison House Inn, Quincy, 850-875-2511 No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Gilchrist County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 386-935-5400. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Glades County to establish a separate Emergency Management Department, and a pet-friendly emergency shelter, contact the Florida Division of Emergency Management at 850-413-9969. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Gulf County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-229-9110. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Hamilton County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 386-792-6647. There are a few pet-friendly motels in the area. Most will have special fees: 1. Budget Lodge Motel, Jennings, 386-938-5544 2. Jennings House Motel, Jennings, 386-938-3305 Hardee Junior High School, 2401 US Highway 17 N., Wauchula. Interested persons should review the rules and complete a pet-friendly shelter pre-application form. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Hendry County to establish one, contact the Emergency Management Department at 863-612-4700. We have found one pet-friendly motel in the area: 1. Rivers Edge Motel, La Belle, 863-675-6062. 1. D.S. Parrott Middle School, 19220 Youth Drive, Brooksville. This shelter accommodates 172 people and around 300 dogs and cats. One wing of the school is for people; the other wing for pets. People can remain in the pet wing until a storm approaches. No exotics allowed. Pre-registration available - and smart - but not required. Pet guardians are required to bring their pet's carrier. For more information, call 352-796-5062. There will be a need for volunteers to care for animals left at this shelter by guardians who stay elsewhere. We can't imagine anyone not wanting to stay with their pets but, nonetheless, if you can help, please call the above number. In case you do not wish to use a public shelter, the following motels/hotels will accept pets during hurricane evacuations. Check each for space before heading out the door. Most will have special rates. Sunrise Motel
The Oaks Motel
Best Western
Comfort Inn
1. Avon Park Youth Camp, 1001 West Lake Isis Avenue in Avon Park. For pets and their people. The humane society will staff this shelter. Only dogs and cats will be accepted and guardians must provide proof of Highlands County residency, pet rabies vaccination tag attached to pet's collar, photo of pet, as well as pet's leash, water and food bowls, food sufficient for seven days, carrier, medication, first aid kit and beds and toys. Space is limited, so don't delay in getting there if officials feel a storm will affect the county. The camp can be reached at 863-453-6426. 2. Dog Designs by Dana, 701 Thunderbird Hill Road in Sebring. 863-314-9883. Pets only. This option separates you from your pet. 3. The Dawg House, 69 Dawg House Drive in Lake Placid (off Henscratch.) 863-465-9674. Pets only. This option separates you from your pet In addition, the county has provided the following list of motels/hotels throughout the county that will accept pets during evacuations. Most will have special rates: Avon Park
Lake Placid
Sebring
Note: Officials are seeking volunteers to help with the animals (dogs, cat, rabbits and birds allowed) at the following shelters during hurricanes. Contact Hillsborough County Animal Services at 813-744-5660 if you are an interested animal lover. Here is a page with maps to each shelter. 1. Sickles High School, 7950 Gunn Highway in the Citrus Park area of Tampa. It will hold between 200-300 pets. 2. Burnett Middle School, 1010 Kingsway Road, on the corner of US 92 and Kingsway Road North, just south of I-4 in Seffner. This shelter accepts both pets and their guardians (100 dogs and 100 cats; no other type pets allowed at this time.) Pet guardians will be able to care for their pets in the gymnasium area and outside the facility before and after the main winds. When it's time to seek shelter, the animals will stay in cages in the school locker rooms. Guardians should bring their own collar, food, food bowl and other supplies. No registration required, so verify availability with the county before heading out the door to go to one of the following with your pets: 3. Bartels Middle School, 9020 Imperial Oak Blvd., in the Live Oak Preserve area of Tampa, in the northern portion of Hillsborough County. 4. Shields Middle School, 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, in the southern portion of Hillsborough County. The above accomodations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you choose a pet-friendly shelter, take along proof of current rabies vaccination and a pet carrier. This county was one of the first in Florida to include animals and agricultural needs in disaster plans. The Community of Hillsborough Animal and Agricultural Response Team (CHAART) assesses will be needed and will dispatch teams to do things like take food to animals or generators to fish farms. In case you don't want to use a public shelter, check area pet-friendly motels/hotels for availability. Most will have special rates: 1. Behind the Fence Bed & Breakfast, Brandon, 813-685-8201 2. Ramada Inn, Plant City, 813-752-3141 3. Days Inn, Plant City, 813)-752-0570 4. Masters Economy Inn, Seffner, 813-621-4681 5. Sun City Inn, Sun City Center, 813-643-3331 6. La Quinta - Tampa Fairgounds, Tampa, 813-626-0885 7. Best Western All Suites Hotel, Tampa, 813-971-8930 8. La Quinta Inn & Suites, Tampa, 813-643-0574 9. Days Inn – Airport, Tampa, 813-877-6181 10. Howard Johnson – Airport, Tampa, 813-875-8818 11. La Quinta Inn - Airport, Tampa, 813-287-0440 12. Tahitian Inn, Tampa, 813-877-6721 13. Red Roof Inn – Fairgrounds, Tampa, 813)-623-5245 14. Baymont Inn & Suites, Tampa, 813-930-0563 15. Days Inn, Tampa, 813-977-1550 16. Clarion Inn, Tampa, 813-971-4710 17. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Tampa 18. Wingate Inn, Tampa, 813-971-7676 19. AmeriSuites, Tampa, 813-622-8557 20. La Quinta, Tampa, 813-684-4007 21. Red Roof Inn, Tampa, 813-681-8484 22. Red Roof Inn, Tampa, 813-932-0073 23. Extended Stay Deluxe, Tampa, 813-637-8990 24. Residence Inn by Marriott, Tampa, 813-221-4224 25. Best Western Brandon Hotel & Conference Center, Tampa 26. Homestead Village, Tampa, 813-643-5900 27. Residence Inn by Marriott, Tampa, 813-627-8855 28. Econo Lodge, Tampa, 813-933-7681 29. La Quinta Inn & Suites, Tampa, 813-910-7500 30. Quality Inn, Tampa, 813-961-1000 31. Travel Resort, Tampa, 813-933-4011 32. Wingate Inn, Tampa, 813-979-2828 33. Chase Suite Hotel, Tampa, 813-281-5677 34. Hampton Inn, Tampa, 813-901-5900 35. Homestead Guest Studios, Tampa, 813-243-1913 36. Residence Inn by Marriott, Temple Terrace, 813-972-4400 No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Holmes County to establish a separate Emergency Management Department, and a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Florida Department of Emergency Management at 850-413-9969. We could find only one pet-friendly motel in the area: Best Western - Tivoli Inn, Bonifay, 850-547-4251 The humane society plans to develop a pet-friendly pet shelter for people with special needs, but one must qualify to utilize it. Call 772-388-3331 for more information. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Jackson County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 772-226-3857. There are a couple of pet-friendly motels in the area. Special fees may apply: 1. Best Western Marianna Inn, Marianna, 850-526-5666 2. Comfort Inn, Marianna, 850-526-5600 No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Jefferson County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-342-0211. There are at least a couple of motels in the area that allow pets during hurricane evacuations. Special rates may apply: 1. Brahman Inn & Restaurant, 1530 W. Washington Street, Monticello, 850-997-3525. 2. Days Inn Monticello, 44 Woodworth Drive, Lamont, 50) 997-5988. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Lafayette County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 386-294-1950. All 8 county shelters are people and pet-friendly and four of them are also for people with special needs. All pets must be crated and have proof of rabies vaccination. To register for the special needs program, contact Lake County Emergency Management at (352) 343-9420. 1. Astatula Elementary School, 13925 Florida Ave., Astatula. 2. Leesburg Elementary School, 2229 South Street, Leesburg. Also special needs. 3. Lost Lake Elementary School, 1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont. Also special needs. 4. Pine Ridge Elementary School, 10245 County Road 561, Clermont. 5. Round Lake Elementary, 31333 Round Lake Road, Mount Dora 6. Treadway Elementary, 10619 Treadway School Road, Leesburg 7. Umatilla Elementary, 401 Lake Street, Umatilla. Also special needs. 8. Villages Elementary School, 695 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake. Also special needs. In case you do not wish to go to a public shelter, the county Web site, given above, also provides a list of pet-friendly hotels and motels in the area. Special: It is worth noting in 2005, Lake County earned the National Association of Counties Achievement Award for its work in developing a pet-friendly hurricane shelter program. This proves it can be done by all counties in Florida. 1. South Fort Myers High School, 14020 Plantation Road, Fort Myers. Only dogs and cats will be permitted at these shelters. Pets and their people will have to stay in separate classrooms and guardians must provide pet's food, leash, etc. Pet guardians will be required to pre-register and we'll post the specifics as they become available. 2. East Lee County High, 715 Thomas Sherwin Avenue S., Lehigh Acres. Will have one section for pets, another for people. 1. Chiles High School 7200 Lawton Chiles Lane, Tallahassee This pet friendly shelter is north of I-10. It has limited space. The Red Cross partners with Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) to accomplish this. DART is affiliated with the Humane Society of the United States and works to coordinate rescue efforts in communities affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes. The Leon County Humane Society partnered with DART for the first time in 2004, providing crates, resources, and volunteers to staff the pet friendly shelter. This is a great example of what can be accomplished when everyone works together! Levy County Animal Services Shelter, 12055 NE 69th Lane (Levy County Landfill Compound). This is a joint effort between Levy County Animal Services and the Humane Society of Levy County, Inc. The shelter will be able to shelter about 250 animals and will open only when the Emergency Management Office opens shelters for people. Guardians need to provide roomy kennels for their pets, current vaccination record, including rabies, pet food, bottled water, strong leashes, medication, food dishes, mechanical can opener, favorite toy or blanket, and cat litter and a pan. People with special needs should make arrangements with the Health Department for their transport as well as their pets. Go here for more info. Even though we applaud Levy County for making an arrangement for pets, readers should know this option separates you from your pet. There are a few pet-friendly motels and hotels in the area. Most will have special rates: 1. Park Place Motel & Condos, Cedar Key, 352-543-5737 2. Best Western, Suwannee Valley Inn, Chiefland, 352-493-0663 3. Holiday Inn Express, Chiefland, 352-493-9400 4. Williston Motor Inn, Williston, 352-528-4801 No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Liberty County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-643-2339. 1. Old Ag Center, NE College Loop, Madison. Directions: From NE College Loop, go about 100 yards, turn right onto Ag Center Circle. Follow this around past the first building, which is the old Ag Center building. Officials tells us this location will hold aboout 25 dogs. Call 850-973-4138 or 850-973-3698 for more information. 1. Braden River High School, 6545 State Road 70 East, Bradenton. 2. Manatee High School, 1 Hurricane Lane, 902 33rd Street Court West, Bradenton. Do not go to either of the shelters below unless/until officials announce they are open. This is one of those counties that won't announce pet-friendly shelters ahead of time, so you can't make plans ahead of time. If you'd like to voice your opinion about that, and ask the county to announce beforehand so you can make plans, contact Manatee County Emergency Management Department at 941-749-3500. Officials said these shelters will only accept dogs, cats and birds. Pet guardians must stay with their pet(s) and pet(s) must arrive and remain in carriers, except for potty breaks, of course. Guardians must provide pet food, supplies and proof of rabies vaccination. For those not interested in utilizing a public shelter, a kind reader tells us Ramada Inn and the Guest House, both in Ellenton off State Route 301, accept pets. 1. Vanguard High School, 7 Northwest 28th Street, Ocala. They will accept dogs, cats and birds, if in their own cages. Pet guardians should bring all necessary supplies. They may stay with their pets before and after the storm and will be responsible for their animal’s care during those times. During the storm, pets will be in one building and humans will be in another. Animal Control and Animal Center professionals will care for pets during this time. If you do not wish to go to a public shelter, there are a few Ocala area motels that allow pets during evacuations. Many will have special fees: 1. Budget Host Inn, 352-732-6940
1. The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, 4100 SW Leighton Farm Road, Palm City. This option is only for Martin County residents living in evacuation zones. This is a drop-off option and separates people from their pets. Pre-registration will be required and pet guardians will need to present their pet's vaccination records to register. For more information, contact the Humane Society at 772-287-5753 or 772-223-8822. A note about the future of pet-friendly shelters in this county: Per an article on PalmBeachPost.com in early 2008, the Council on Aging of Martin County has received a $748,000 grant from the state to redo the proposed Charles and Rae Kane Senior Center on Salerno Road into a hurricane shelter. The facility will be ready by 2010. It will cost $10 million and hold around 200 seniors with special needs and their dogs, cats or birds. We are checking into this: Per news reports, the Martin County Council on Aging is trying to raise the final $400,000 for this 33,000 square-foot facility. If all goes well, construction could be finished by January, 2010. 1. Sunshine Pavilion, on the grounds of the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, located at 10901 SW 24th Street in southwest Miami. They will accept cats, dogs, small mammals and birds, but no reptiles. Pets must be registered in advance and pet guardians must provide pet food and toys and be responsible for cleaning their pet's crate. There's room for about 150 animals and 350 humans to be housed on separate sides of the pavilion's 49,000-square-foot area. This was the county's first-ever pet-friendly shelter, first used in 2005. 2. Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, 1410 NE 215th Street, Aventura, in northern Miami. For residents and their pets. To use either shelter, Miami-Dade residents must preregister their pets and have up to date records of vaccinations. For info about preregistration or to acquire an application, go here or call 3-1-1. In class 1 or 2 hurricanes, Monroe County will open four storm shelters equipped for pets at local schools in Islamorada, Marathon and Key West. This is another county that does not announce locations ahead of time, so plan accordingly. Pet guardians must bring vaccination records, leashes, collars, appropriate size cages, food and special diet, three day water supply and bowl, sheets, blanket, towel, muzzles, flea spray, grooming supplies, first aid kit, and any medication pet requires. Contact the Monroe County Emergency Management Information Hotline at 1-800-955-5504 for more information. This is the Keys area of Florida and county officials say there are simply no safe shelters here during category 3,4, or 5 storms. During those times, people are instructed to evacuate to the mainland, which is Dade County. During category 1 or 2 storms, only people with special needs who have previously registered their pets may request transportation to shelters allowing pets. A Monroe County Pet Friendly Special Needs Sheltering Plan emergency shelter agreement form must be completed prior to evacuation. 1. Yulee Elementary School, located at 86063 Felmore Road in Yulee. Pre-registration is required and only cats and dogs will be allowed. Pet guardians must stay at the shelter with their pet, but may be in separate rooms during the height of a hurricane. Guardians must bring their pet's own cage, water, food, medications, blankets and towels. For more information and to register, call 904-225-0006, 904-225-2298 or 800-894-7006. 1. Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) satellite office, 752 Lovejoy Road NW, Fort Walton Beach. Pets only. Pet guardians will be housed separately at Davidson Middle School, located at 6261 Old Bethel Road in Crestview. PAWS will transport the pets from there to Laurel Hill, but this option separates you from your pet. The group is still looking for a place to keep pets and their people. There are several pet-friendly motels/hotels in the area: 1. Motel 6. Call (850) 837-0007.
No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Okeechobee County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Florida Department of Emergency Management at 850-413-9969. They were to have had some meetings about this in late 2009, so we will follow up on this. There are two pet-friendly motels in the area. There may be special fees: 1. Budget Inn, 201 South Parrott Avenue, Okeechobee. 2. Pier II Resort, 2200 U.S. 441 S.E., Okeechobee. County officials tell us they will have at least two pet-friendly shelters, but may not use the same locations this year they used last year. In case evacuation becomes necessary, they recommend people call the Citizen's Information Line at 407-836-3111 which will provide the latest info and shelter locations. Pre-registration will not be required. Note: Not knowing where you'll be able to go with your pet until the very last minute is poor planning on everyone's part. Please engage a Plan B if you live in this county, to ensure the safety of you and your pet prior to a storm, not when it's bearing down on your neighborhood. Officials tell us "the plan" is for pet guardians to contact animal control at 407-343-7101 to pick up and shelter pets during emergencies. This option separates you from your pet; you would be better to take your pet and get out of town. The above Web site is slow to load. 1. West Boynton Recreation Center, located at 6000 North Tree Boulevard, between Hypoluxo Road and Gateway Boulevard, off the east side of Jog Road in Lake Worth. Pre-registration will be required. Do it here or print out the form from there and mail it to the county. Dogs, cats, parakeets, gerbils and sugar gliders will be permitted - no reptiles. The shelter will be located in the rec center's gymnasium. The recreation center will hold about 600 animals and about 300 people. Large dogs will be kept separate from small dogs with a room divider. Pets of people with special needs will also be accepted but the people will have to stay at a separate special needs shelter, which means they will be separated from their pets. For more information, call Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control at 561-233-1266 or go here. Palm Beach County officials are working to establish an additional pet-friendly shelter. This county has had a pet-friendly shelter since the 2006 storm season. 2. The Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, located at 3200 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach, will take dogs and cats when an evacuation order is given. Reservations can be made online at the link given here. There is a non-refundable required deposit of $100 per pet, good for the whole hurricane season. For more specifics and information, call 561-472-8874. This option separates you from your pet and if you are delayed more than 5 days in returning to the area, your pet could be considered abandoned!
1. Pine View Middle School, 5334 Parkway Blvd., Land O'Lakes Pre-registration will be required. Call Animal Services at 727-834-3216 or 813-929-1212 or visit Evacuating with Pets for more info, rules and forms. There will be space for 200 cats and 100 dogs. This shelter is available to all residents of coastal Pasco County. Pet guardians will be housed across the street at the Pine View Elementary School, 5333 Parkway Blvd. in Land O'Lakes. Guardians will be given armbands to wear to walk and play with pets as long as the weather remains good. Animals will be required to have vaccination records. This option separates people from their pets, plus there is a two-pet limit. 1. Dunedin Highland Middle School gymnasium, 70 Patricia Avenue, Dunedin 2. Oak Grove Middle School Gymnasium, 1370 S. Belcher Avenue, Clearwater 3. Thurgood Marshall Middle School Gymnasium, 3901 22nd Avenue South, St. Petersburg Registration is mandatory if you wish to use any of these shelters. Spaces fill fast, so download registration forms and find more info at Pinellas County Pet Preparedness or call 727-582-2150. People should bring their pet carriers, leashes, food and water bowls and current Pinellas County license and rabies vaccination record. In case of an emergency, not all pet-friendly shelters may open, so check with the county before heading out your door. Note: Pinellas Co. Animal Services is seeking volunteers who can transport the pets of special needs residents who evacuate during emergencies. If you can help, please call Greg Andrews at 727-582-2623. 1. Philip O'Brien Elementary, 1225 East Lime Street, Lakeland. 2. Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake. 3. Alta Vista Elementary, 801 Scenic Highway, Haines City. Not all pet-friendly shelters will be opened for all storms, so check evacuation information before leaving home. Only dogs, cats, and birds are allowed at the shelters which will be managed by the Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Department. Pet guardians must bring shot records for each pet, an airline-approved carrying case, and enough food for three days. An agreement must be signed upon arrival at the shelter that says the guardian will stay with the pet(s) at all times. Shelter preregistration is required and can be accomplished by contacting the Emergency Management Division at: Polk County Emergency Management, Attention: Pet-Friendly Shelter, 1295 Brice Blvd., Bartow, Florida, 33830. For more information, pet guardians should call 863-534-5600 or e-mail petshelter@polkfl.com. 1. Ochwilla Elementary School, 299 N. State Road 21, Hawthorne. Directions to shelter and evacuation routes. Information line is 386-329-0379. Farm animals (no household pets) may be taken to the Putnam County Agricultural Extension Service office, 111 Yelvington Road in East Palatka, but call 1-386-329-0318 and verify they'll be open during a weather-related event. This county finally has a pet-friendly shelter, for dogs and cats only. It's located at Avalon Middle School at 5445 King Arthurs Way in Milton. Pre-registration is required and available online or may be accomplished at Animal Services, 4451 Pine Forest Road, Cooperative Extension Service, 6263 Dogwood Drive, or the Santa Rosa County Southside Service Center, 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway. Pet-friendly hotels/hotels in the Santa Rosa County area. 1. North Port High School, 6400 W. Price Blvd., North Port 2. Pine View School, 501 Old Venice Road, Osprey 3. Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W. Price Blvd., North Port 4. Brookside Middle School, 3636 S. Shade Ave., Sarasota Not all shelters will open during each emergency, so check Evacuation and Shelter List before leaving your home. Guardians must stay at the shelters with their pets. If you use a pet-friendly shelter, bring your pet's own food, water, water bowl, medications, up to date immunization records and be prepared to sign a Pet Friendly Shelter Agreement. You can get an agreement and more information about the rules by calling Sarasota County government at 941-861-5000. 1. Bentley Elementary School, 2190 Oregon Avenue, Sanford.
2. Lyman High School, 865 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd., also known as County Road 427, Longwood. 1. South Woods Elementary School, 4750 SR-206 West, Elkton. 2. Timberlin Creek Elementary School, 555 Pine Tree Lane, St. Augustine (North St. Johns County.) Both locations will provide shelter for people and their pets. Pre-registration is not required and there are no restrictions as to acceptable species of pets. Guardians must bring pet's carrier, collar and Rabies tag, leash, 3-day food supply, water, bowls and any necessary medication. Go to above website and click on "Pet Shelters" link for more information. Port St. Lucie will have its first pet-friendly shelter ready for use sometime during summer, 2011. It will provide shelter for around 100 animals and their guardians and will be located in the Ravenswood Commnity Center on Prima Vista Blvd. More news to follow... P>No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Sumter County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 352-793-0222. The Live Oak Coliseum, 1302 SW 11th Street/CR 136, Live Oak. Sometimes referred to as the "Suwannee County Coliseum," this facility will provide shelter to pets and people during evacuations. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Taylor County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-838-3575. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Union County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 386-496-2501. 1. Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. State Road 44, DeLand (1/4 mile east of Interstate 4 on State Road 44.) This shelter is for pets and people. Transportation to the fairgrounds is provided at regular bus stops if animals are in carriers. Pets must have ID, current license and rabies tags affixed to collar. Each animal must also have proof of vaccinations and be confined to a carrier or crate. 2. Hinson Middle School, 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach. 3. Palm Terrace Elementary, 1825 Dunn Avenue, Daytona Beach. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Wakulla County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-926-0800. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Walton County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-892-8066. Residents can also contact the County and ask for a list of area pet-friendly motels. No pet-friendly shelters. To encourage Washington County to establish a pet-friendly shelter, contact the Emergency Management Department at 850-638-6203. If you opt for a motel or hotel room, you'll want to reserve as early as possible. FloridaPets.net is affiliated with Expedia and you can easily make reservations right from our website for anywhere around the world. On Expedia, you can narrow your search results to show only facilities that allow pets by selecting "Pets allowed (conditions apply)" under "Choose amenities." Then click "Apply." In addition, if you don't have friends or relatives in non-threatened areas where you and your pet can stay temporarily and you were not able to find anything on Expedia, you can call these pet friendly hotel chains toll free and make a reservation. Again, reserve as early as possible since hospitality facilities fill quickly during storms: Best Western Inns 1-800-528-1234
IMPORTANT NOTE: Many pet-friendly hotels require a small deposit, the amount of which will vary from facility to facility, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE A RIDICULOUSLY HIGH AMOUNT. The average pet deposit, even at facilities that normally allow pets, is no more than $100 and it's usually refundable unless someone's pet damages the room. So, if you are being charged more than that, you are being taken advantage of and treated poorly. Please contact FloridaPets.net and let us know! In addition, in case you have to go out of state to find accommodations, the following motel/hotel chains are, IN GENERAL, pet-friendly, but when you call to check on room availability, also verify their pet policy: Best Western Inns 1-800-528-1234
If you know of other pet-friendly shelters that welcome both people and pets, please email FloridaPets.net. 1. Think you've been the victim of price gouging? Sections 501.160 and 501.205 of the Florida Statutes states it's illegal to charge "excessive" prices for goods or services following a declared state of emergency, such as a hurricane. (Individuals or businesses found guilty of price gouging can be fined up to $1,000 per violation.) Report possible cases of price gouging to the Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling 1-800-435-7352 OR the Attorney General's hotline at 1-866-966-7226. 2. How do you keep your aquarium running if the power goes off? Gotta keep that filter, going, right? We once used a battery pack for our fish while relocating several hundred miles. Seems we bought batteries in every town, but the fish survived! There are other (easier) ways and you can learn all about them here. 3. The Sunshine State Horse Council Web site contains emergency preparation information, emergency resources and a database of relocation sites that will provide space for horses displaced by fire or hurricane, on a temporary basis until an emergency subsides. 4. There's more information about preparing horses and barns for hurricanes at FloridaHorse.com. 5. The American Red Cross is launching a Web site called Safe and Well that will give families a tool to exchange welfare information with loved ones and friends in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Those living in a disaster area can post standard messages for friends and family, advising them they are safe at a shelter, home or hotel and will make contact when they are able. Conversely, families concerned about someone living in a disaster area can access site, enter info about their family member and view any message from that person that have been posted. to honor privacy concerns, the Web site will not reveal a registered person's location. 6. Most counties have their usual "Hurricane Preparation Facts & Tips" page, but I have to say Broward County has one of the most complete. From A to Z - literally! 7. If you'd like to learn how to watch your TV during a hurricane for under ten bucks, check out Chris Bennett's Hurricane Preparedness Blog. 8. Design an emergency plan for your household or business at Disaster Plan. Complete a questionnaire about your business or your home, family and pets and the site will produce a personalized plan you can print out and store in your hurricane box. To help with getting the word out, we've researched for our readers a list of locations that will allow pets and people to seek refuge together. Please note, we are located in the northeastern part of Florida and therefore do not have intimate knowledge of all these locations. For now, we can only provide the general info and those of you in those areas will need to check out the specifics and locations before you head out to them. Also, please note some shelters allow all kinds of animals, while others restrict access to dogs and cats only. It's important to note we have compiled info for you from various sources and the info might not be applicable for every future storm or disaster. Because the purposes of each facility can change from disaster to disaster, we are not able to personally verify each bit of info first-hand. We work very hard to pass along updated info as we acquire it, but situations can change and mistakes can be made. Therefore, we cannot guarantee 100 percent you will find a place at one of the locations listed. Please double-check your arrangements ahead of time as much as possible. Make sure the shelters and businesses you are heading toward are indeed open! Or, as our lawyer tells us we should put it: FloridaPets.net presents the information in this Pet-Friendly Emergency Shelter Guide for your reference use only, and makes no guarantee of its accuracy. If you find errors, please let FloridaPets.net know as soon as possible. FloridaPets.net and The Pet Friendly Network assume no liability for any inconvenience or loss resulting from your use of this information.
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