It doesn’t have to be a hurricane to be dangerous
August 29th, 2008 by admin
Although Tropical Storm Fay did not have winds strong enough to qualify it as a hurricane, it dropped record amounts of water on parts of Florida and served as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for storms of any size.
Lee County, on Florida’s west coast, is one of many in Florida that operates emergency shelters where residents can stay with their companion animals. Unfortunately, some residents either were not aware of the shelters, or were surprised by the floodwaters that forced them to leave their homes.
Earlier this week, officers from Lee County Animal Services worked overtime rescuing animals left behind at the Manna Christian mobile home park in Bonita Springs (human residents evacuated to a nearby community center that did not allow animals).
More than 20 cats were found in trees and on roofs of buildings in the flooded community. Live-traps were set for the cats who officers were unable to capture, and there are several dogs also in need of rescue. Sadly, one cat was found dead in the floodwaters.
Are you prepared for a weather emergency? Visit ARFF’s website for tips on how to protect animals in the event of a serious storm.
Please send a quick e-mail to thank Lee County Animal Services for their efforts on behalf of animals in need during Tropical Storm Fay. E-mail: animalservices@leegov.com