After Sandy

Many of our Shelter Our Pets volunteers wear various hats, from managing an area animal shelter, to helping feed hungry pets or providing vet care to animals in need.  When disasters like Sandy devastate our area, we often respond to where we are needed most.

"I'm proud to be a CERT and CART member in training," says Shelter Our Pets Trustee Lynn Gregorski-Bosi.  According to the The Community Emergency Response Team website the program course helps individuals "be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders."

The CART program helps community members " improve their overall preparedness and response capability to any emergent, catastrophic, or non-emergent event involving and impacting animals/pets occurring in the CART’s authorized geographic area of operation..."

As part of the CERT and CART program, Gregorski-Bosi visited post-storm emergency shelters accepting people and their pets, in Paramus and Mahwah.  "It gave me a first-hand look at what the shelter system is really like and how it can work."  Gregorski was able to work together with other friends and volunteers to collect donations for the Mahwah shelter for people and their pets.  "We were able to deliver dog bedding, blankets, towels, pet food, clothing and other supplies.  Interestingly, there was a great need for towels for people staying at the shelter.  Though there were shower facilities at the shelter,  there was a shortage of bath towels, so many of the towels donated for pets were instead used by people."  

Even though Shelter Our Pets is focused on assisting the pets of abuse victims, Gregorski-Bosi says the organization and its members are committed to preserving the loving bond between people and their animals.  "I want to thank Maureen, Liane, Betty, Cristina and all the other friends and volunteers who jumped in to help those in need in our area.  It's wonderful how we all come together in a time of crisis!"

An example of Sandy's force.  Pine trees toppled during Sandy and blocked the road and driveway of Gregorski-Bosi's residence.  

Preparing Your Pets for Hurricane Sandy With a Go Kit

Just as you would pack a GO BAG as your family’s emergency supply kit, think about the basics for survival for your pet(s). Consider assembling a lightweight GO KIT you can take with you if you and your pets have to get away. Review your kit regularly to ensure that it’s contents, especially foods and medicines, are fresh.

PET GO KIT

Recommended supplies for your pet’s Go Kit:

Food and Water

• Keep at least three days of food in an airtight, waterproof container.

• Store at least three days of water specifically for your pets in addition to the water you need for yourself and your family.

• Pack their food and water dishes

Medicines and Medical Records

• Keep an extra supply of medicines your pet takes on a regular basis in a waterproof

container.

• List the name and contact information for your pet’s veterinarian.

• Talk with your veterinarian about permanent identification for your pet such as micro chipping, and enrolling your pet in a recovery database. If your pet has a form of permanent identification, include the recovery’s service’s name and contact information in your kit.

• Keep up-to-date copies of your pet’s registration information, adoption papers,

vaccination documents and medical records in a clean plastic bag or waterproof

container in your kit.

Medical Requirements for Animals That Need Kenneling

Dogs:

• Rabies vaccination.
• DA2PP (Distemper Combination) given every 3 years. 
• Bordetella vaccine given every six months. 
• A negative heartworm test within the past year if they are on monthly heartworm prevention. This should be in your vet records. If no proof is available, testing should be performed prior to the surrender. 

Cats:

Kennels often require that cat guests must be vaccinated against Rabies and FVRCP.

Collar with ID Tag, Harness or Leash

• Your pet should wear a collar with its rabies tag and identification at all times. Include a backup leash, collar and ID tag in your pet’s emergency supply kit.

First Aid Kit

• Talk to your veterinarian about what is most appropriate for your pet’s emergency

medical needs.

• Most kits should include cotton bandage rolls, tape and scissors; antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention; latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution.

• Include a pet first aid reference book.

Crate or Other Pet Carrier

• If you need to evacuate in an emergency situation, take your pets and animals with you provided that it is practical so do so. In many cases, your ability to do so will be aided by having a sturdy, safe, comfortable crate or carrier ready for transporting your pet.

• The carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around, and lie down.

Sanitation

• Include pet litter and litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags, and household chlorine bleach to provide for your pet’s sanitation needs.

• You can use bleach as a disinfectant (dilute nine parts water to one part bleach).

• In an emergency you can also use it to purify water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water.

• NOTE: If using bleach as a disinfectant or to purify water, do not use scented, color

safe or bleaches with added cleaners.

Picture of You and Your Pet Together

• If you become separated from your pet during an emergency, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you in

identifying your pet. Include information about species, breed, age, sex, color and

distinguishing characteristics.

Familiar Items

• Put favorite toys, treats, or bedding in your kit. Familiar items can help reduce stress for your pet.

A List of Contacts

o Prepare a list of neighbors, friends or family that may be willing to provide pet “foster care” if your pet can’t go with you to a shelter.

o Find a safe place ahead of time by preparing a list of pet boarding services, or hotels and motels outside of your immediate area that accept pets.

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Article NorthJersey.com, Montclair: Fleeing with all of the family

Check out the article on Shelter Our Pets, published Monday, October 22, 2012 on NorthJersey.com

New nonprofit may give hope to women and their pets  More>

Your Donation Will Help Us Protect Animals of Abuse Victims

Everyday family pets are caught in the cycle of domestic abuse.

Help us offer them safe harbor.

Shelter Our Pets, a new New Jersey nonprofit, just launched with the mission of providing temporary shelter to the pets of victims of domestic violence while they flee their abusive situations.  Our unique organization provides a specialized service, offering safe and loving care and shelter to pets of abuse victims, either with a foster family or at an area kennel, until they can be reunited with their owners.

We are asking for your support.  Just $10, $20, $50 or more will help us protect animals who may be subject to abuse, who are being threatened of being abused or simply cannot stay with the owner in temporary housing as they rebuild their lives.

Your donation will go directly toward Shelter Our Pets’ start-up costs, including funds for insurance, pet medical care, supplies, food and kenneling.

Donate online now through Paypal or send us a check by mail to:  
Shelter Our Pets, 
P.O. Box 806 
West Milford, NJ 07480

Thank you for helping us protect the animals of abuse victims!

Serving the state of New Jersey and surrounding areas.


Read the Facts About Animals Abuse and Domestic Violence.

Press Release: Shelter Our Pets provides aid and peace of mind for abuse victims

WEST MILFORD, NJ, OCTOBER 6, 2012--Fleeing an abusive situation is a difficult decision for victims of domestic abuse, and for some, the worry and fear that their pets will suffer abuse if left behind, complicates the decision to leave. Shelter Our Pets, Inc. an all -volunteer, non-profit corporation serving New Jersey, provides temporary shelter, medical care, and behavioral rehabilitation for the animals of domestic abuse victims.

“The decision to leave a batterer is extremely difficult, and when the victim considers the only source of comfort—a family pet—may have to be left behind, it only complicates an already emotional decision,” said Lynn Gregorski-Bosi, a founder of Shelter Our Pets. “Many domestic violence shelters cannot provide shelter for a family pet, as well as the victim.   If we can lift this one burden for the victim it may encourage the abuse victim to leave the situation, knowing the family pet will be safe.”

Domestic violence and animal abuse are not mutually exclusive according to the American Humane Association. In fact, one becomes fodder for the other. For example, 71 % of pet-owning women entering shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 32% reported their children had hurt or killed animals in response to abuse situations.

Psychological control is often the motive of a batterer, and pets can be used very effectively. Statistics from the American Humane Association show 68% of battered women reported violence towards their animals, with 87% of these incidents occurring in the presence of the victim and 75% in the presence of the children.

Between 25% and 40% of battered women are unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets or livestock should they leave. Further, the Association found, pets may suffer unexplained injuries, health problems, permanent disabilities at the hands of abusers, or disappear from home.  

Kathleen Schatzmann, New Jersey state director for The Humane Society of the United States, said “The Humane Society of the United States applauds Shelter our Pets for protecting all victims of domestic violence by allowing the victims to leave an abusive situation knowing their pets are in a safe place.”

According to Shelter Our Pets founding member Laura Mann, Esq., "In the short term we want abuse victims to know we will be there to take care of the animals; over the long-term, we hope to be able to offer a facility where the survivors and their pets can remain together safely, while they break free from their lives of abuse. We seek to fill the gap in addressing this unmet need of survivors to hopefully play a small role in breaking the cycle of abuse and the torture of animals that also endure the cruelty of these abusers."

Beatriz Wawra, Director of Crisis Services at Shelter Our Sisters, which provides aid and shelter to abused women, added, “Shelter Our Pets is a much needed service that will benefit victims of domestic violence. We have had calls, wherein the caller wants to know if it is considered domestic violence when a partner is hurting a family pet after an argument. My answer is ‘yes’.  This behavior can escalate to a more dangerous situation for the victim.”

Investigation of animal abuse is often the first point of social services intervention for a family in trouble. In 2011, the NJ legislators passed a bill which permits the court to include animals in domestic violence restraining orders.   NJ Senator Thomas Kean Jr. said, “While the new law provides legal shelter for the victims of domestic abuse and their pets, this new volunteer service will provide actual shelter for these animals, thus ensuring that domestic abuse victims no longer have to choose between leaving their home for safety and protecting their beloved pets.  I am so pleased that Shelter Our Pets has recognized the void that existed in this area, and has worked toward providing a much-needed resource in the effort to protect victims of domestic abuse. “

NJ Assemblywoman, Connie Wagner, who co-sponsored the bill in the Assembly said, “The public has become far more aware of the horrors some pets face at the hands of abusive spouses and partners.  I applaud the work of Shelter Our Pets and other organizations as they provide services for at-risk pets that are being protected under the new law.”

In addition to Mann and Gregorski-Bosi, Shelter Our Pets founding Trustees include Melissa Neiss, Director, Montclair Township Animal Shelter.