It should also include plans for, after a major disaster, the creation of temporary animal shelters in the community to receive large numbers of displaced pets. In addition, these animals should be held even longer to ensure owners have sufficient time to reclaim their pet despite the disaster. The extended holding period should be directly proportionate to the severity of the disaster. Power outages, communication problems, and the inability of the news media to give normal public notifications are all factors to be considered before strays are euthanized. It is important that maximum opportunity is given for animal and owner to be reunited.
Quarantined animals present a particularly delicate situation.
If holding periods have expired and the owner wants to reclaim his animal, this must be accomplished immediately before conditions become too dangerous. If holding periods have not expired and a decision is made to euthanize because of the impending disaster, an effort must be made to preserve the brain for testing. This will be extremely difficult if power outages are anticipated. If the brain cannot be preserved, the bite victim should be notified and instructed to begin the series of rabies shots as a precautionary measure - again a very difficult task to accomplish in a disaster. The best alternative is to attempt to secure the animal, possibly in a crate in addition to the quarantine kennel.