Town Developing Program to Better Care for Pets
• Rogers Cites Need During Times of Emergency
Jun 13, 2012 – Nutley Public Affairs Commissioner Steven Rogers announced today that his department is developing a new initiative designed to provide shelter and care for household pets during emergencies that require residents to leave their homes and for senior citizens who may be unable to temporarily care for their pets during an illness.
Rogers, who led a dog rescue team in Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina devastated that state in 2005, says he has never forgotten what he saw what had happened to hundreds of dogs in the ninth ward of Baton Rouge when he and his team arrived.
"It is very difficult to talk about it even now. When I spoke with people, especially senior citizens who had to leave their life-long friends to virtually die, I knew then and there that every city and town across the nation must be prepared never to allow this to ever happen again. Now I am in a position to ensure that all of our resident's pets will be safe if they need to be evacuated," Nutley's new Public Affairs Commissioner said.
The program is called A.R.T. for "Animal Rescue Team" and will include participation by Nutley residents who own pets and wish to volunteer to participate in the program.
"We are going to create neighborhood pet rescue teams consisting of volunteers from throughout our town who are willing to provide temporary shelter, food, and water, to any pet whose owner must be evacuated from their home or apartment as a result of an emergency.
"I am also going to include as part of this program a component that
will provide the same needs for the pet, if the owner is a senior citizen living alone, and as a result of an illness is unable to care for their pet for a short period of time," says Rogers.
He said the success of the program will be based on the number of residents who volunteer. Pet owners wishing to participate in the Animal Rescue Team program can contact the Department of Public Affairs at 973-284-4946. Or email the Department of Public Affairs via Township of Nutley website.
