Feds giving $60G for pet evacuation

Recognizing that many people won’t evacuate during an emergency without their dogs or cats, the federal Department of Homeland Security has agreed to provide $60,000 for Nassau and Suffolk counties to jointly purchase supplies to help shelter companion pets and their owners if a hurricane or other disaster threatens Long Island.

Nassau lawmakers last week voted in committee to accept the joint federal grant. Officials said the money will be used to purchase animal crates and trailers — two in Nassau and one in Suffolk — to store supplies.

“I’m glad to see the grant,” said Legis. Rose Walker (R-Hicksville), who said she visited the dog shelter set up by Nassau in the Mitchel Park field house during Tropical Storm Irene. A trailer from the North Shore Animal League housed the cats, she said.

The animals “were very well taken care of,” Walker said. “There were some problems with the facility. Some problems with leaking and the door flying open during the night.”

She suggested the county look for an alternate facility or better prepare the field house for storms. “No matter where we house an animal shelter, we do need the supplies,” she said.

“For many people, those pets are almost like their children. We read about it during Hurricane Katrina. People don’t want to leave because people don’t want to leave their pets.”