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At new shelter, pets are allowed

County officials worried about people staying home during emergency evacuations because they don't want to leave their pets.

By NICOLE JOHNSON
Published September 16, 2005

PALM HARBOR - The county's second pet-friendly emergency shelter will open in downtown Palm Harbor, county officials said Thursday.

During mandatory evacuations, people with cats and dogs will be able to go to Harbor Hall Community Center at 1190 Georgia Ave.

The building is 4,200 square feet and can house up to about 75 people and their pets.

The Judicial Building in St. Petersburg began admitting evacuees and their pets in late August.

The Palm Harbor shelter is intended for residents in the northern portion of the county living in evacuation zones A, B and C during Category 3 storms or higher.

The most vulnerable residents, such as those living in mobile homes, will get first priority, said Gary Vickers, director of Pinellas County Emergency Management.

"This is not a solution for people who can go somewhere else, like a hotel or motel," Vickers said. "This is intended for people who don't have anywhere else to go."

The county constructed Harbor Hall in 2002 to serve as a city center for Palm Harbor. It sits next to the Rheba Sutton White Chapel, a historic landmark built in 1924.

The Old Palm Harbor Main Street Association currently leases the buildings from the county year-round. The association is made up of business owners and residents in downtown Palm Harbor and surrounding areas. The group maintains all operations at the facility and rents it to the public for events such as weddings and banquets.

The association board is in contract negotiations with the county about how the facility would be used during an evacuation, said association president Lesley Klein.

"Our concerns have been, with it being a pet shelter, that they would put two layers of protective coating on the floors and make sure there is proper ventilation," Klein said. "But we were given assurances by the county that they would bring the facility back up to snuff so that it won't impact our leasing."

The shelter will be available only to people with cats and dogs. All pets will have to be caged or in a carrier. Preregistration of pets and people at the shelter will be required, Vickers said.

People and pets will be housed in separate areas of the shelter.

"They won't be able to sit in a shelter with the pet on their lap; we just can't do that," Vickers said.

The Red Cross will manage the hall during a hurricane.

Historically, the Red Cross listed pets along with weapons and alcohol on the list of things not allowed in shelters.

That prohibition resulted in many pet owners making the dangerous decision to stay home during mandatory evacuations.

In recent years, "there has been a shift away from that because everyone has seen that we have to make sure we remove barriers for our most needy residents to seek shelter when they need to," Vickers said.

"These pets are family members to these people."

The Harbor Hall shelter is a temporary solution to the county's long-term goal of providing pet-friendly shelters throughout the area.

Vickers said the county is working with the Pinellas School Board to establish certain schools as pet-friendly shelters. There is no timeline on when those shelters would be available.

For now, the hope is that Harbor Hall will give residents of unincorporated Pinellas a sense of community during disaster, said Klein, who owns Oak Trail Books in Palm Harbor.

"Main Street's mission is to preserve and enhance quality of life and business in Palm Harbor, but we're community-oriented and animal-friendly," she said. "Hopefully, it will never have to be used, but in light of Katrina, we want people all over the county to know they have help."

Nicole Johnson can be reached at 727 771-4303 or njohnson@sptimes.com

Concerned about where you would go with your pet during a hurricane? For residents without the option to go to the home of a family member or friend, Pinellas County is opening its second pet-friendly emergency shelter at Harbor Hall. But it's not for everyone:

You must preregister with Pinellas County Animal Services for shelter.

Mobile home residents in evacuation zones A, B and C will be given first priority.

The shelter is only for residents with cats or dogs.

Pets must have all vaccinations and be licensed.

Each pet must be in its own cage or carrier.

To register or get more information, call Pinellas County Animal Services at (727) 582-2600.

[Last modified September 16, 2005, 01:36:17]