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County and Coalition Sign Agreement to Shelter Pets During Emergency
May 16, 2008
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Pictured with dogs of all breeds and ages (as well as a caged rabbit) are Nassau County Legislature's Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro; County OEM Commissioner James Callahan; Charles Yodice, Town of Oyster Bay; Charles Milone, Town of Hempstead; Nancy Lynch of Pet Safe; Bev Poppell and Stuart Abo; Joan Phillips, director of the Glen Cove Animal Lovers League; Joan Stoppa from Bide-A-Wee; Harvey Silverman from Little Shelter; Gene O'Brien and Stan Feinman from the Nassau County SPCA; Luann Lima from Leg. Scannell's office holding Charlie, the Legislature's Top Dog; and Janet Waller, Town of North Hempstead.
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Recently, the Nassau County Legislature's Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove) announced the signing of an agreement with the Pet Safe Coalition that ensures the safety and sheltering of pets during an emergency. Applauding the presiding officer's announcement made on the steps of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building were Nassau County Office of Emergency Management Commissioner James Callahan, members of the Pet Safe Coalition and a wide variety of four-footed, furry animals.
Presiding Officer Yatauro said, "By having this agreement to shelter pets, we will be saving lives, since people won't hesitate to leave their pets behind when asked to evacuate their home. We learned two critical things as a result of Katrina: Each one of us should be prepared by having an emergency plan and that our pets are a significant part of our lives and should be treated humanely. I would also like to thank Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Vendetta, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Caiman, Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Glen Cove Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi for their support and participation."
Pet Safe Coalition is an association of public and private animal shelters in Nassau County in conjunction with the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association and other animal welfare organizations such as the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The shelters and veterinarians have worked together informally for almost 10 years, but federal reimbursement rules enacted after Hurricane Katrina require written agreements in order to qualify for any possible federal reimbursement.
(Reprint courtesy of the Glen Cove Record Pilot)
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