Dogs
Hi Mia,
Given everything that's been happening since Sandy touched down, I've been wondering, "What does rescue mean for companion animals?"
When a natural disaster strikes, humans understand what rescue means and looks like. Emergency personnel might bring you and your companion animal to safety. If that's not an option, maybe you will have to forge the way for yourself and Fido.
But how do companion animals understand natural disasters and rescue? The below video reminds us that we are not always on the same page:
In the video, a dog thrashes about in icy water. As a rescuer kneels on the ice and leans toward the dog, the dog bites him in the face.
Bites during rescues and natural disasters are not unusual. At least, that’s what the numbers suggest.
A recent study* examined domestic animal bites following Hurricane Ike in September 2008. Bites from domestic animals were one of the top three trauma complaints at disaster medical facilities. They found:
After Hurricane Irene last year I wrote the post, Hurricanes Hurt! Animals + Natural Disaster = Biting, discussing how companion animals are not always their "typical" selves during (or after) natural disasters.
If we don't try and prepare companion animals, or be cognizant of our in-the-moment behavior, our hands might become targets for biting -- simply because we are reaching for or are manipulating an animal in an atypical way in a time of stress. The post I wrote laid out ways to prepare companion animals for emergency situations and suggests ways to monitor our behavior.
Has anyone out there had experiences with this? Do those figures surprise you?
Julie
References
*Warner, G.S., 2010. Increased Incidence of Domestic Animal Bites following a Disaster Due to Natural Hazards. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine.
Hecht, J. 2011. Hurricanes Hurt! Animals + Natural Disaster = Biting. Dog Spies.
© Julie Hecht 2012
- Pet Preparedness During Natural Disasters: Before, During And After
by Carrie Boyko, CEB http://www.tripswithpets.com/prepare http://amberalertforpets.com/ We are doing free searches for lost pets for every part of the country that has suffered the traumatic effects of our summer of storms. All they need to...
- Post-sandy And The Power Of Cute (kawaii!!)
(Post-Sandy reunited)Hi there Mia, This is all incredibly moving. When natural disasters strike, the damage looks so different depending on geography. Our natural disasters don’t tend to include koalas, although Sandy did cause major trouble for...
- Rescued Dogs Become Search And Rescue Heroes
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- How To Create Your Own Pet Emergency Kit
By Tamara L. Waters You never know when a natural or man-made disaster will occur. Perhaps you already have a family disaster kit stashed somewhere, but what about your pets? To prepare for something that is unexpected and unpredictable, you should plan...
- For 9/11: A Special Tribute To Search And Rescue Dogs
By Julia Williams September 11, 2001 will always be remembered as the day two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center. When the Twin Towers collapsed, they created a mountainous heap of smoldering rubble that burned for months. Countless...
Dogs
What does rescue mean for companion animals?
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| (Source) |
Given everything that's been happening since Sandy touched down, I've been wondering, "What does rescue mean for companion animals?"
When a natural disaster strikes, humans understand what rescue means and looks like. Emergency personnel might bring you and your companion animal to safety. If that's not an option, maybe you will have to forge the way for yourself and Fido.
But how do companion animals understand natural disasters and rescue? The below video reminds us that we are not always on the same page:
Warning: Graphic Content
In the video, a dog thrashes about in icy water. As a rescuer kneels on the ice and leans toward the dog, the dog bites him in the face.
Bites during rescues and natural disasters are not unusual. At least, that’s what the numbers suggest.
A recent study* examined domestic animal bites following Hurricane Ike in September 2008. Bites from domestic animals were one of the top three trauma complaints at disaster medical facilities. They found:
- Bites were inflicted by non-rabid pets
- 55% were from dogs, 40% from cats and 5% from snakes
- 80% were bitten by their own dog or cat
- 100% knew the dog or cat who bit them
- Most of the bites were severe and occurred within the first 72 hours after the hurricane
- Most bites involved the hands
After Hurricane Irene last year I wrote the post, Hurricanes Hurt! Animals + Natural Disaster = Biting, discussing how companion animals are not always their "typical" selves during (or after) natural disasters.
If we don't try and prepare companion animals, or be cognizant of our in-the-moment behavior, our hands might become targets for biting -- simply because we are reaching for or are manipulating an animal in an atypical way in a time of stress. The post I wrote laid out ways to prepare companion animals for emergency situations and suggests ways to monitor our behavior.
Has anyone out there had experiences with this? Do those figures surprise you?
- Have you done anything to prepare your companion animal should she need rescuing or moving during a natural disaster?
- During times of turmoil, are you cognizant of your physical movements and behavior?
Julie
References
*Warner, G.S., 2010. Increased Incidence of Domestic Animal Bites following a Disaster Due to Natural Hazards. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine.
Hecht, J. 2011. Hurricanes Hurt! Animals + Natural Disaster = Biting. Dog Spies.
© Julie Hecht 2012
- Pet Preparedness During Natural Disasters: Before, During And After
by Carrie Boyko, CEB http://www.tripswithpets.com/prepare http://amberalertforpets.com/ We are doing free searches for lost pets for every part of the country that has suffered the traumatic effects of our summer of storms. All they need to...
- Post-sandy And The Power Of Cute (kawaii!!)
(Post-Sandy reunited)Hi there Mia, This is all incredibly moving. When natural disasters strike, the damage looks so different depending on geography. Our natural disasters don’t tend to include koalas, although Sandy did cause major trouble for...
- Rescued Dogs Become Search And Rescue Heroes
By Linda Cole Sometimes you have to look deeper inside a pet to see the real spirit lurking below the surface, waiting for the right person to set it free. Some people think shelter animals aren't worthy of their attention and don't consider...
- How To Create Your Own Pet Emergency Kit
By Tamara L. Waters You never know when a natural or man-made disaster will occur. Perhaps you already have a family disaster kit stashed somewhere, but what about your pets? To prepare for something that is unexpected and unpredictable, you should plan...
- For 9/11: A Special Tribute To Search And Rescue Dogs
By Julia Williams September 11, 2001 will always be remembered as the day two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center. When the Twin Towers collapsed, they created a mountainous heap of smoldering rubble that burned for months. Countless...