Human-Animal Bond Considerations During Disasters by

With the significant changes in the status of animals in the United States, recognition of the impact of their well being on the physical and mental health of the people who care for them is also changing. Disaster responders are faced with dilemmas and the need for split-second decisions when trying to save the lives of people who are strongly attached to their animals. Disasters in the recent past spotlight the difficulty of rescuing people when the animals whom they consider to be part of their family are also in need of rescuing. This lecture will help emergency responders better understand the tasks they are facing by looking at human-animal bond considerations during disasters. __________________________________________________________ An animal is rescued after a disaster and his owners search and search until that tearful reunion. Another animal is rescued and his owners never even look for him. One person flees his home with his pets as soon as a disaster warning is called. Another chooses to stay in his home with his pets. Yet another leaves his hom