DISASTER
PLAN FOR BUNNIES (MODEL)
By Renee and Tom Brennan
Objective: To care for (Name of Organization Here) bunnies free of
charge for a maximum time of two weeks in a “safe house” during time of disaster. In the event of a local disaster
which requires members of (Organization) to evacuate their homes and necessitates finding a safe location to care for their
foster bunnies and their own bunnies.
Though some laws have changed,
and people can now evacuate their animals along with them in a disaster situation, if humans end up in a Red Cross area during
a disaster, the Red Cross will not allow
animals in with their humans.
Definition of a “safe house”: A “safe house” is a member of (Organization) who has volunteered
to take in and care for (Organization) bunnies during a local disaster. The “safe
house” is stocked with an adequate (two week minimum) supply of hay, pellets, litter boxes and bedding, water, Bene-Bac,
xpens, or some type of appropriate housing for bunnies, including bonded pairs if needed.
The adequate amount of supplies is based on the number of bunnies the “safe house” volunteer has determined
they can care for during a disaster.
“Safe house” preferred locations; Since the purpose of a “safe house” is to accept bunnies
during an evacuation, the best locations for “safe houses” would be on the primary evacuation routes out of the
City of Houston
(Whatever area your organization is near). The optimum location for “safe
houses” should be an adequate distance from the City of Houston
to avoid being impacted by the condition requiring evacuation. Locations such
as: I-10 East toward Beaumont; I-10 West toward San Antonio; 290 West toward Austin; I-45 North toward Dallas; Highway 59
North toward Texarkana; and Highway 59 South toward Victoria.
Plan
Administration:
· Volunteer locations for “safe houses” will be solicited from (Organization) members
via the “Safe House” Volunteer Form which will be posted on the (Organization)
forum under “files.” All approved locations must meet any requirements, which (Organization) develops regarding
housing, and supplies.
· Advance assignment of (Organization) members to a particular “safe house” is not completely
practical because of the changing and unforeseen nature of disasters. However,
members who may wish to utilize the service during an evacuation will fill out a “Safe
House” Match Up Form that would indicate their most likely evacuation route.
· Using the match-up form will enable us to know if we need more or less “safe houses”
in a particular area, and if we have enough “safe houses” available to care for the total BB population.
There are a number of
ways that an (Organization) can handle the supplies situation:
Option One: (Organization) can purchase and provide all required supplies and store at a central location for
distribution to “safe houses” when needed.
Option Two: Each “safe house” will purchase, provide and maintain supplies at their own expense for
the number of bunnies they have agreed to care for during a disaster.
Option Three: Every (Organization) member who will utilize
the services of a BB “safe house” will bring housing and adequate supplies at the time of drop off.
Discussion: I recommend option Two, where each “safe House”
purchases and provides all required housing and supplies at their own expense, for the following reasons;
The problem with option
one, storing at a central location is that disasters usually don’t provide enough warning to distribute all the required
supplies. During a disaster, fuel is very hard to find and traffic is at a stand
still. Also, with this option (The Organization) would have to spend a lot of money and maintain a storage space for the supplies.
The problem with
option Three, where each bunny owner is required to transport housing, and supplies at the time of disaster is not realistic
due to limited time to prepare for evacuation, and limited space in their vehicles.
Also, each “safe
house” can better determine what type of bun housing they have space for in their home, and can begin to set up their
“safe house” before buns begin to arrive to allow for a smooth, fast,
safe, and less stressful transition for the buns and their humans.
Bunny Intake ID System
·
An Identification system is required for each bunny: This ID system is a very
specific universal identification system that each “safe house” adheres
to for each bunny, should some buns have to be moved to a different “safe house” quickly in a crises situation.
·
A Bunny Intake ID Form will be kept in a plastic zip waterproof bag with specific
information about the bun as shown below. A separate cage card that identifies
the bun by name will be tied to the housing the bun is kept in.
“Safe House” Requirements:
Each “safe
house” volunteer will determine and provide the number of bunnies they can realistically and safely accommodate during
a disaster for approximately two weeks, by completing the “Safe
House” Volunteer Form, which will be posted on the BB forum under “files”.
Each “safe
house” will need a supply of Hay, pellets, x-pens, or some type of adequate housing, litter boxes and litter box bedding,
crocks, water bottles, etc.
Bonded pairs of bunnies
are required to remain together.
Plastic enclosed crates
will not be used due to the inadequate ventilation, as we found during the SPCA Cruelty Seizure, the buildup of ammonia was
overwhelmingly high and dangerous.
“Safe Houses”
are required to have their “safe house” address and phone numbers available to all (Organization) members who
will be listed on the (Organization) forum accessible to (Organization) members only.
A “safe house”
cannot take care of bunnies unless the human caretakers have stocked up sufficient food and supplies to care for themselves
first during a disaster.
Any (Organization) member
who leaves bunnies at a “safe house” will be required to sign a “Waiver of Liability” at that time.
“Safe Houses”
will coordinate with each other, if communication is available, and attempt to redistribute any overflow bunnies that a “safe
house” has accepted beyond their agreed number.
Procedures
for BB member evacuees using a “safe house”
Submit a “safe house” match-up form.
Print a list of all “safe
houses” which will be posted on the (Organization) forum under “files” accessible to (Organization) members
only.
Print a hard copy of a
Google/Yahoo map of all (Organization) “safe houses”. The internet
may not be available during a disaster.
Phone ahead to your preferred
“safe house” to see if there are any vacancies, if not, call the next one until you find a “safe house”.
Expect to complete a “Waiver
of Liability” when you leave your bunny(s) at a “safe house”.
A Bunny Intake ID Form
must be completed for each individual bunny.
If space permits in your
vehicle, please bring bedding, pellets and hay, this may help the “safe house” to accept overflow bunnies if needed.
If at all possible, communicate
with the “safe house” every three days while you’re gone. If
it appears like you will be displaced for more than two weeks, begin to locate a long-term home for your bunnies.
Bunny Intake ID Form
Because some buns may be moved to another “safe
house” this form must be completed for each individual bunny, as this form will follow the bun. Although, bonded pairs will not be separated.
Bun parent/foster parent:______________________________________________
Address:____________________________________________________________
Cell Phone(s):_____________________________
Home Phone:_______________
Your email address:___________________________________________________
Your destination (if
known):____________________________________________
Bun’s Name:_________________________________________________________
Bun’s Color,
and any distinguishing marks:_________________________________
Bun’s Age:_______________________ Breed:_____________________________
Is bun microchipped? Yes□ No□ What is the chip number:_______________
Is bun tattooed? Yes□ No□
If yes, which ear? Describe the tattoo, is it a number/letter or dots?_________________________________________________
Is this bun Pasturella
Positive/ Yes□ No□
Does this bun have
any contagious diseases? Yes□ No□
Does this bun have
any health issues: Yes□ No□ If yes, please explain:_____________________________________________________________
Is this bun currently
taking any medications Yes□ No□ If yes, How
is this medicine to be given?__________________________________________________
Who is the bun’s
regular bunny vet? And what is the vet’s phone number? ___________________________________________________________________
Is
this bun bonded to another bun? Yes□ No□ If Yes, Name of other
Bun__________________________________________________________
WAIVER OF LABILITY
For
(Organization)
and “safe house” volunteers
To be completed by any (Organization) member leaving
a bunny(s) in a volunteer (Organization) “safe house” during a disaster situation
I, (print full name:) __________________________________
agree to waive any and all claims of liability, whether of negligence
or any other cause of action, against “Organization”, its directors, officers, and all volunteers caring for bunnies
during a local disaster in a (Organization)” “safe house”.
Signature_________________________ Date__________________
Name
(please print) __________________________________
“Safe House” Volunteer
Form
Name:____________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________
Home
Phone:_____________________________________________
Cell:_______________________________________________
Email:
_____________________________________________
How
many bunnies can you safely and realistically accommodate and care for during a disaster? ________________.
How
will you house these bunnies? ______________________.
Do you agree to be prepared with a supply of Hay, pellets, x-pens, or some type of adequate housing, litter
boxes and litter box bedding, crocks, water bottles, etc., for a minimum of two weeks for the number of bunnies you have agreed
to care for? ___________.
I
have read the requirements and procedures for caring for members of (Organization) Bunnies in my “safe house”
in time of a disaster and agree to comply with them.
Signature:_____________________________
Date:________
“Safe
House” Match-Up Form
((Organization) members should complete this form NOW,
if they ever plan on using a “safe house” in a disaster situation, so it can be determined if we have enough “save
house” volunteers in the areas needed.)
Name:
________________________________________
Address:
______________________________________
Phone:
________________________________________
Email:
________________________________________
How
many bunnies (total) would you need to leave in a “safe house” in time of a disaster? _________________________
Below
please list your route of travel leaving the Houston area
so that we can better match you up with a “safe house” on your most likely planned route during a disaster.
What
is your first most likely route of
travel to leave the Houston area in a disaster situation:
_____________________
What
is your second most likely route of
travel to leave the Houston area in a disaster situation:
______________________
I-10
East toward Beaumont;
I-10
West toward San Antonio;
290
West toward Austin;
I-45
North toward Dallas;
Highway
59 North toward Texarkana;
Highway
59 South toward Victoria; or
Other:
_____________________________________________
