Retire in Florida & Live in the Sea Towers 55+ Community of St Petersburg, FLHave you been thinking about retirement and/or moving to Florida? How does a 55+ community overlooking the beautiful Boca

Dated: June 28 2019
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Tips for Boarding Your Pets During a Hurricane
As many of you know, the hurricane season officially began on June 1st and runs through November 30th. Many of us have begun to stock up on bottled water, non-perishable foods, and more to prepare, in the event a big storm heads our way in Tampa Bay. However, it’s also a good idea to make sure you have a plan for your pets (think cats, dogs, birds, etc) during a storm or mandatory evacuation.
At The Sandy Hartmann Group, we’d like to share some info with our community that will make planning for a hurricane evacuation with a pet a little easier. Here’s a list of things to know:
Don’t plan on dropping off your pet at a local animal shelter during an evacuation or a storm. In Pinellas County, for example, the SPCA and Humane Society cannot accept your pets for temporary boarding during a storm.
Know where the pet-friendly emergency shelters are in your county. For Pinellas County, you currently have the following options for pet-friendly hurricane shelters:
Palm Harbor University High School
1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor
Largo High School
410 Missouri Ave. N., Largo
Gibbs High School
850 34th St. S., St. Petersburg
According to the Pinellas County Emergency Management Website, “The facilities are substantially-built, have large indoor gyms, and separate air handlers to ensure the comfort and safety of allergic citizens who shelter there.”
To bring a pet into a pet-friendly hurricane shelter, you’ll need to have a Pet-Friendly Shelter Registration Form filled out when you arrive at the facility. This is a GREAT form to print out and complete PRIOR to a storm so you can grab it fast when evacuation time arises.
You’ll also need to have proper identification for your pet when you arrived at a pet-friendly hurricane shelter, including a collar tag and proof of a current rabies vaccination. Be sure to print out a copy of this identification form as well & attach it to your pet’s crate before arriving at a shelter.
Other items you’ll want to bring for your pet to a pet-friendly hurricane shelter include:
Immunization records (make sure your pet’s vaccines are current!)
County Rabies Tag
Food and Water (2 weeks supply)
A carrier or portable kennel
Medications
Muzzle, collar, and leash
Manual can opener
Current photo of pet
Feeding and water bowls
Favorite toys and blanket or bedding for the kennel
Cat litter/pan and scoop
Grooming items
Plastic bags for waste
Remember, you will not be able to stay in the same area of the shelter as your pets. Pets will be kept in a separate area of the shelter to protect people with allergies who are staying at the shelter.
Other options for taking care of a pet during a hurricane evacuation, include leaving your pet with a trusted friend or family member that’s not in an evacuation zone or calling local boarding kennels that are not in an evac zone (as a last resort). If you're planning on using a local kennel, be sure to make reservations for your pet as soon as possible, as many boarding kennels will fill up immediately when a storm is nearby.
Lastly, always have a written plan for your pets in the event of a storm, so you can safely and quickly make decisions once evacuations are ordered. The best thing you can do is take your pet with you of course, but if that’s not possible, what will your plan be? The more you’re prepared, the easier it will be managing your safety as well as your loved ones.
Andrea is the Managing Partner of The Sandy Hartmann Group. Andrea was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area and is a licensed Realtor with over 15 years of Marketing and Finance experience, holding ....
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