PUHI — A hurricane has hit O‘ahu and an emergency animal shelter needs to be set up on Kaua‘i.
This was the mock scenario played out during volunteer training for American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services team yesterday at the Kaua‘i Humane Society.
More than 30 volunteers from Kaua‘i and the Neighbor Islands participated in the mock shelter set-up and response.
“We spent the last two days training for this,” Diane Robinson of American Humane said. “They are being put to the test right now.”
During the first day of training on Saturday, volunteers learned the basics of animal emergency services, including how to deal with other animal agencies and basic animal first aid. Yesterday, the group learned how to handle animals large and small, and how to coordinate with the national emergency response team.
The true test was the “Big Garage Sale,” according to Kerri Burns of American Humane.
Earlier, Burns divided the volunteers into two teams. One was responsible for setting up the animal shelter and intake area, while the other, along with real dogs, played “victim.”
As part of the test, the victims were to bombard the intake team before they were ready. According to Burns, the goal was to make it as real as possible.
“We are going to throw everything at them,” Burns said.
The result was utter chaos.
One woman faked a heart attack. People looked for their lost pets. Food, supplies and even pets were stolen. A man was yelling in Spanish, trying to find someone who understood him. People were looking for food for their pets. A woman faked being bit by a dog. People were trying to register pets they found. Others were screaming and yelling that they couldn’t find their pets.
“This (exercise) is only for 45 minutes,” Burns said. “Imagine what it would be like for 16 hours straight in a real disaster.”
The Kaua‘i Humane Society is the island’s only pet-friendly shelter for the time being, making it all the more important to be prepared.
“(American Humane does) this training around the country,” Dr. Becky Rhoades, executive director of the Kaua‘i Humane Society, said. “We’re really thrilled we got them here.”
• Rachel Gehrlein, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or rgehrlein@kauaipubco.com.
