Do you have an older neighbor who has pets? Someone who may be incapacitated? Do you occasionally check in on them? Here's something I didn't realize was happening. Animal Services is experiencing an uptick in emergency situations with people, especially seniors, who live alone with their pets.
When a medical emergency occurs requiring an ambulance transport, or if someone is Baker Acted, what happens to the pets left behind? If the person is incapacitated, taken away by ambulance or law enforcement, and does not have a backup plan for their pets, animal services is called to remove the animals from the home.
Here's where it gets really tough: If animal services has no way of contacting the person, or the person's family and/or friends, about their pets and what should be done with them, the animals will eventually be placed for adoption. Imagine the heartbreak, after being released from the hospital weeks later, only to discover your pets are gone, and have been adopted to someone else.
To Community Association Managers, Homeowners Associations and neighbors:
-Do you know who is living alone with their pets in your communities and neighborhoods? Please take a moment to check in with your senior neighbors.
-If they have pets, ask or suggest a backup plan in case of emergency.
-Ask if their pets are microchipped.
-Offer to help make a file for them on who to call to take their pets in case of emergency. Include the name and number of their veterinarian. Include a photo of the pet and pet owner, together in one photo, in this file. Place the file in a visible spot within the home.
-Maybe even make a duplicate file and keep it for yourself as a backup to the backup plan.
-Most important, simply start a conversation, now before it's too late. "Hi, neighbor. What's your dog's/cat's name?"
That's a pretty easy opening line.
Kuvasz Klips blog is proud to have worked with The New Barker magazine over the years.
