Plan provides shelter for families and pets

Let's hope we never have to use it, but if another big hurricane barrels our way, a shelter will be available in New Hanover County for people and their pets.

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners approved last week the development of Noble Middle School for people and pets evacuees. The two entities will be housed in separate areas within the shelter.

The county is actually going along with a new federal law requiring all local areas to consider options like this for pets in disaster preparedness plans. But the action very much deserves a pat on the back from the animal lovers.

As the Star-News story Dec. 19 noted, details are still being worked out as to how the shelter will operate. Donations are also coming in for supplies.

Animals would be housed at no charge, and the facility will staff veterinary technicians.

One suggestion for long-range planning: Don't forget any special foods or medications for your pets and maybe some favorite toys. Make sure your pets' ID tags go with them.

Many people will not evacuate from their homes without their animals. I know I wouldn't, and we saw this mentality of bonding in full force during the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Maybe national awareness has risen in two areas after Katrina.

We need to firm up the planning at the state and local level before storms hit, and a much-improved response from the federal government is needed after the storms. We could have gotten water and food into New Orleans faster by horse and covered wagon than what we saw transpire last year along the Gulf Coast.

In addition, maybe the importance of our bond with animals has been highlighted and maybe more people will better understand how that unconditional love is exchanged between pet and guardian.

As I've said before, those who don't love their animals might not understand this relationship.

I just hope every other county along the North Carolina coast will jump on the animal-people shelter bandwagon. Anywhere that an evacuation might be necessary needs to have this sort of planning.

That's a good New Year's resolution for local governments.

And speaking

of resolutions …

I've got a few for 2007.

1. Find new ways to spread the word that compassion for all living things is the new hip and the new cool.

2. Respond quickly to every single e-mail that fills my in-box.

3. Get out to more animal events, with the camera.

4. Visit local rescue shelters as much as my schedule will allow. It's always tough for me because I too quickly can become attached and we've got a full roster right now at home.

Dogs on parade

The Wilmington Holiday Parade took place on Dec. 10, and I recently received word on the award-winning entries. Coastal Greys, a satellite of Greyhound Friends of North Carolina, won second place in the noncommercial float category. First place went to the Children's Museum of Wilmington.

If it's about kids and/or animals, it's all good. Congratulations to all.

If you have an animal story or a concern, e-mail jtgrady@ec.rr.com.