By Lalinda De La Fuente

Do you live in the Gulfcoast region or the Florida Panhandle?  When it comes to storms you hope for the best but it's important to prepare for the worst, and that includes your pets. Make sure you and your pets are prepared and ready in the case a storm hits. Here is some helpful hurricane pet prepartion information for this region.

Gulf Coast Hurricane Resource Guide for Pet Parents (New Orleans, Gulfport, the Florida Panhandle)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Pets are NOT allowed in public emergency shelters in the New Orleans area. In the case of an impending storm, pet-friendly shelters may open. This information can be found on state and city Web sites as it becomes available. It’s advised that you only use these shelters as a last resort since they are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you have pets other arrangements should be made if you are not able to stay in your home. For more information concerning animal care during hurricanes please contact the following organizations. Please remember that these locations DO NOT take in pets during disasters. They are merely a resource for further help and information.

The Humane Society of Louisiana
Tylertown Shelter: (601) 876-2781
General Information: 1 (888) 6 HUMANE
info@humanela.org
http://www.humanela.org/index.htm

Louisiana SPCA
1700 Mardi Gras Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70114
Phone: (504) 368-5191
http://www.la-spca.org/

If you need to board your animal before, during or after the storm give your local veterinary clinic or animal shelter a call and see if they offer this service. A wide variety of these clinics and shelters offer boarding during disasters such as hurricanes. Check out ONLYforPETLOVERS.com’s pet-friendly resource guide to find animal clinics near you as well as hotels and shelters. Make sure to do your homework and give these places a call before you go in. Policies vary and change. Spaces also fill up quickly. Here are a couple locations in New Orleans that take pets during storms:

Crescent City Veterinary Hospital
524 Jefferson Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
Phone: (504) 894-0752
http://www.crescentcityvet.com

The Cat Practice Veterinary Hospital
1809 Magazine Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Phone: (504) 525-MEOW (6369)
http://www.catpractice.com

Please remember though, DO NOT leave your pet in a boarding facility that is in the strike zone. In the case of complete evacuation you should not leave your pet behind. Make arrangements and preparations as early as possible for both you and your pets.

During evacuations there are buses for those needing transportation to shelters or in and out of the Parish. Pets will be allowed to board these buses but MUST BE in a carrier! Have a carrier ready before the storm and make sure they are the correct size for your pet to fit comfortably. Inexpensive cardboard carriers can be used and are generally available at most pet stores.

Gulfport, Mississippi

Emergency evacuation shelters in Harrison County DO NOT accept pets. As a LAST RESORT though, The Humane Society of South Mississippi and the Emergency Management Agency have teamed up to provide a pet friendly evacuation shelter at Harrison Central High School.

Harrison Central High School
11072 Highway 49
Gulfport, Mississippi 39503
Phone: (228) 539-6500

All animals at this shelter must be in a carrier/crate. Your own pet supplies must also be provided. To utilize this shelter all pet owners must complete the Pet Shelter Agreement and Registration Form. Visit http://hssm.org to download this registration form.

Coast Transit Authority will be providing transportation to this shelter. To utilize this service, residents must register for pickup with the CTA by calling (228) 896-8080. The HSSM wants you to remember that this is a last resort shelter and will only open 12 hours prior to the arrival of a storm.

The Humane Society of Southern Mississippi shelter DOES NOT take animals during storms. In the case of a storm, this shelter will be forced to shut down and evacuate all animals.

To check and see if local animal hospitals board during a storm please call to inquire about their storm policies. Remember, in the case your area needs to be evacuated, you will need to arrange other plans for your pet. Do not leave animals at animal hospitals or shelters that are in the strike zone.

The Florida Panhandle (Pensacola, Panama City)

Public shelters in Escambia and Bay County DO NOT accept pets. To check and see if local animal hospitals board during a storm please call to inquire about their storm policies. Remember, in the case your area needs to be evacuated, you will need to arrange other plans for your pet. Do not leave animals at animal hospitals or shelters that are in the strike zone.

If you are from or near the Pensacola area and have any questions or concerns about your pet during a storm, you can contact these shelters. These shelters DO NOT take in pets during a storm and are merely a resource for further information.

The Humane Society of Pensacola
Phone: (850) 432-4250
E-mail: director@thehumanesocietyofpensacola.org

Escambia County Animal Control (Pensacola)
Phone: (850) 595-3075
E-mail of Animal Control Manager: candace_stordahl@co.escambia.fl.u

Bay County Animal Control (Panama City)
Phone: (850) 767-3333

In the case you need to evacuation, having a plan is key. To view the hurricane evacuation zone maps for Escambia County please visit:
http://www.escambia-emergency.com/Hurricane_Preparedness/evacuation_zones.htm

To view the hurricane evacuation maps for Bay County please visit:
http://www.pcbaygis.com/Gallery/Hurricane_Prep.html

Please take advantage of ONLYforPETLOVERS.com pet-friendly resource databases. There, you can locate pet-friendly hotels, shelters and hospitals. Before you commit to any facility, call them beforehand to make sure they still take pets and to learn all policies.

ONLYforPETLOVERS.com advises to do your homework early and keep your family, your pets and yourself safe during hurricane season!