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• Aug 21, 2006 6:11 pm US/Eastern
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  State Developing Animal Disaster Plan

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State Developing Animal Disaster Plan

BALTIMORE (AP) ― Maryland and other states are taking a new look at what they'd do with pets and livestock in case of disaster,
and it's not just a warm-and-fuzzy consideration.

Confusion about what to do with animals can slow evacuation efforts. Pets left behind complicate rescue efforts.

About 100 animal workers gathered recently in Linthicum to begin work on a State Animal Response Team. It's a nonprofit group of veterinarians, rescue workers, animal control officers and even representatives from zoos and aquariums.

"What we've learned from these more recent natural disasters is that to evacuate people where they need to be, you need to make provisions for their animals," Veteranarian Dr. Guy Hohenhaus told WJZ's Alex DeMetrick.

The group will map a plan for what to do in emergencies and take orders from the state Department of Agriculture in case of disaster.

(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)