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<p align="center"><font face="Verdana"><b><font size="5" color="#0000FF">
Concerned About �Man's Best Friend�?</font></b><br>
<font size="2">By Sy Bigman, D.V.M.</font></font></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="2">The adage has always been �A dog is man�s
best friend�. At the recent 2006 National Disaster Animal Summit held in
Washington, D.C., the primary question on the agenda was, in terms of
disaster, what are your plans for your �best friend?�</font></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="2">Three hurricanes have devastated the U.S.
Gulf Coast during 2005, Katrina, Rita and Wilma causing $100 billion in
property damage and the loss of 1,786 human lives. However, there was no
count on either pet or production animal lives lost. There is no single
private organization that is the animal equivalent of the American Red
Cross. The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) is a federal agency
responsible for production animals but it is not mandated or funded to
plan for or respond to the needs of companion animals during disasters.</font></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="2">Hurricanes are not the only natural disaster
that may impact the human-animal bond. Earthquakes, tornados, wild fires,
nuclear reactor accidents, train derailments, propane spills, and floods
to name a few. Rescuing animals stranded during a disaster is important
but eventual reuniting them with their owners is equally important. During
the Katrina disaster the Commonwealth hosted almost 50 animal refugees,
half of who were eventually re-united with their former owners and new
homes were found for these that could not be returned to their former
residences.</font></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="2">The Needham Local Emergency Planning
Committee is working with the members of SMART (State of Massachusetts
Animal Rescue Team) to plan for microchip identification and possible
digital photos for �separated� animals. In a previous article there was a
basic first-aid kit listed for people use. The same kit can be used for
your companion-animal just by adding feeding bowls (I for water and 1 for
food) plus a week supply of canned and/or dry food; and for cat owners an
additional bag of litter. We are in the process of soliciting donations of
cages, carriers, pens, leashes, blankets and any other equipment that cane
be used for domiciling rescued animals. We are looking at developing
memorandums of understanding with kennels, farms, and veterinary hospitals
in our area. Volunteers with correct knowledge and abilities to help with
animals are needed should an incident occur. In addition to equipment
donations, which we can store, monetary donations are welcome for our use
to purchase necessary equipment not donated and to pay for payments for
training sessions for volunteers. </font></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="2">Creation of a National multi-agency
coordination group with the blessings from FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency) and with both private and federal funding could lead
the effort to develop a companion-animal component to the National
Response Plan. Also amending the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act, which ignores the important relationship between animals
and owners relative to emergencies, is in order.</font></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="2">Additional information for interested
parties who would like to help can be obtained by calling the Needham
Health Department at 781-455-7523</font></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="2">Sy Bigman is a Needham resident,retired
veternarian, member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, member of
the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency�s SMART Committee, and a
member of the Needham Volunteer Medical Corps.</font></i></p>
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