Resident of Old Bethpage Wins Pet Safe Raffle

“I have never won anything before in my life,” exclaimed Gloria Cuomo of Old Bethpage.  “This is so exciting!”  Mrs. Cuomo, originally of Roslyn, held the winning ticket in a raffle sponsored by the Pet Safe Coalition, Inc., of Nassau County.  The prize is a starter emergency-preparedness kit for her cat. “It was a wonderful surprise,” said Mrs. Cuomo.  Carol Golden of Glenwood Landing bought the raffle ticket for her mother. Nancy Lynch, President of Pet Safe, and Bonnie Hoffmann, Executive Director, presented the prize at a recent, monthly Pet Safe volunteer night at the Levittown Library.  The kit which Mrs. Cuomo received was filled with many items to help her cat weather an emergency. “Disasters never give warnings, and by preparing your family and pets now, you take the fear out of any event, which then mitigates the effects on you and your cat both during and after the event,”  Hoffmann said.  “It is not a matter of if a disaster will occur, but rather when, so be prepared!” The items included a toy, eye and ear wash for cats, …………..   The Pet Safe Coalition has other tips about items to include in any pet’s emergency-preparedness kit, at www.petsafecoalition.org Pet Safe Coalition has been designated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at the Nassau County Animal Response Team, helping owners prepare to evacuate with their animals well in advance of an emergency.  Pet Safe’s slogan –  “Leave No Animal Behind” – is intended to convey the message that the only way to assure that your family, including your pets, survive an emergency is to make your   plans well before you have to put them into practice. “Make your plans now,” says Nancy Lynch. “We can show you how.”

Pet Safe to Students: Prepare Whole Family for Emergencies

On March 12, 2007, representatives of Pet Safe Coalition of Nassau County will be at the Walnut Street School in Uniondale to tell students how they can help their families prepare for emergencies.  Their goal is to teach the students what they can do to help their entire families be ready in case they have to evacuate.             “The material is age-appropriate,” says Nancy Lynch, President of Pet Safe.  "We have a workbook that breaks down the tasks into manageable components.  We’ll define words that pertain to the emergency, and we’ll answer questions and have printed information which the children will be able to take home to their parents."             Councilwoman Dorothy L. Goosby of Uniondale sponsors the program and, as in the past, she will speak before an assembly of the students at the Walnut Street School, 1270 Walnut Street, Uniondale, at 10am.  Police, fire, and emergency management officials will also be on hand. Lynch applauded Councilwoman Goosby for her initiative in reaching out to young people.             "It’s not just for hurricanes," explained Lynch. "It could be a bad thunderstorm with flooding, a tornado, winter storm, or a fire.  When a family directly experiences an emergency like that, they come through it much better than if they had no family plan.  The family includes the pets.  We don’t want to see a recurrence of the Katrina tragedy in which people stayed behind and died because shelters for people would not take pets.  Pet Safe emphasizes the importance of each family having its own emergency plan." Councilwoman Goosby’s objectives for the program include:        How to prepare for a disaster        Family communications plan        Taking care of pets        How to make a disaster supply kit        How to prevent a fire and what to do if a fire starts        How to act in the event of a flood, thunderstorm, tornado, hurricane, winter storm, or earthquake The Pet Safe Coalition, Inc., is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to instruct pet owners about keeping pets and their families safe when disaster strikes.  The Coalition consists of public and private animal shelters, animal welfare organizations, and veterinarians.  Pet Safe depends entirely on donations and 100 percent of every dollar donated supports Pet Safe’s information program and materials as well as supplies needed to support its disaster activation program, such as food bowls, leashes, carriers, and cleaning supplies.  Donations are deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Long Island Press Marks Pet Safe Achievements

More than 300 people turned out to mark the achievements of 52 Long Island women, as the Long Island Press hosted a dinner at Maxwell & Dunne’s Restaurant in Plainview, January 22, 2007, for the honorees who included Nancy Lynch of Locust Valley, President of Pet Safe Coalition, Inc.   We’re so pleased that Beverly Fortune of the Long Island Press  has recognized the work of the members of Pet Safe Coalition in distributing information to the owners of more than half a million dogs and cats in Nassau County on how to keep their animals safe in emergencies, said Lynch. Attending the event as Lynch’s guests were representatives of the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management with whom Pet Safe works, and Bonnie Hoffmann, MS, LMHC, CHT, Executive Director of Pet Safe. Getting the information out there is absolutely critical, Hoffmann said. We want every single household to have at least the basic information on steps to plan a safe evacuation for the family – including the pets. Hoffmann added that when families are prepared for emergencies, it not only helps get them through the event but helps them cope afterwards. The Long Island Press recognized Pet Safe last year, Lynch explained, and every time our name is out there, it’s a chance to inform the public about our purpose. The Pet Safe Coalition, Inc is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to instruct pet owners about keeping pets and their families safe when disaster strikes. The Coalition consists of public and private animal shelters, animal welfare organizations, and veterinarians. Pet Safe depends entirely on donations and 100 percent of every dollar donated supports Pet Safe’s information program and materials as well as supplies needed to support its disaster activation program, such as food bowls, leashes, carriers, and cleaning supplies.Donations are deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Contact petsafe2@hotmail.com or log onto www.petsafecoalition.org

Pet Safe Applauds Hewlett Residents for Including Pets in Evacuation from Apartment Fire

The New Year was barely two days old when fire ravaged a two-story cooperative apartment building in Hewlett, NY, severely damaging 16 units, but no residents were injured and no animals were killed, and Nancy Lynch, President of the non-profit Pet Safe Coalition Inc of Nassau County, says its proof that a good outcome results from pre-planning for such emergencies. Many of the residents had plans to evacuate with their pets, Lynch said, and that helped to ensure that the occupant casualty rate was zero. Although five firefighters were injured,fortunately none of them life threatening, from what we understand the decision by pet owners to evacuate immediately with their animals helped minimize some of the dangers to the first responders, Lynch added. The Pet Safe Coalition Inc, is an all-volunteer, not for profit corporation under IRC s501c(3), and has been recognized by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets as the County Animal Response Team for Nassau. Pet Safe Coalitions mission is to instruct pet owners about keeping pets safe when disaster strikes, Lynch said. That could be neighborhood fires, like the Hewlett fire, as well as hurricanes, floods, and terrorist attacks. Some of Pet Safe Coalitions recommendations for pet owners *Keep a leash and carrying case by the door to your home for quick control over your pet in an evacuation *Carry proof of identification of your pet, ownership, and health records including pet vaccinations, with you *Make plans well ahead of time to stay in a pet-friendly location if you ever have to evacuate your home *Arrange for someone to evacuate your pet if you are not home when an emergency strikes. A recent Zogby International poll found that 61 percent of pet owners say they would refuse to evacuate if they could not take their pets with them. The United States is home to more than 358 million pets living in 63 percent of American households. Nassau County alone is home to an estimated 620,000 pets. The Pet Safe Coalition Inc, is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit corporation under IRC s501c(3), and has been designated by the New York State animal response team, under the direction of the Department of Ariculture and Markets, as the County Animal Response Team for Nassau. Pet Safes partnering agencies include Bide-A-Wee, Glen Cove Animal Lovers League, Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, Long Island Veterinary Medical Association, Nassau-Suffolk Horsemens Association, Nassau County SPCA, Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter, and the North Shore Animal League America. Contact petsafe2@hotmail.com or log onto www.petsafecoalition.org Pet Safe Coalition Inc. P.O. Box 288, Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560 516-676-0808 www.petsafecoalition.org

Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act

Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act The Humane Society of the United States today celebrated the news that President George W. Bush - who said during Hurricane Katrina that if he had to evacuate the one thing he would take would be his dog Barney - has signed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act to help ensure that America's pets and service animals aren't left behind in the next disaster. The bill which was introduced in the House by Rep. Tom Lanto (D-Calif.) and Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus, and in the Senate by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) - requires the inclusion of companion animals in disaster planning at the state and local levels. It was approved by unanimous voice vote in the U.S. Senate on August 4 and the U.S. House of Representatives on September 20. "We're tremendously grateful to the House and Senate leaders who reacted swiftly by introducing the legislation, and shepherded it through the committee process and floor votes to today's signing by the President," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "While Katrina wreaked so much devastation and disruption, it also highlighted the remarkable bond between this nation and our pets and service animals, and the need for public policy to echo that appreciation of animals." The final bill that the President signed contains provisions to help with disaster planning, including: * Requiring that local and state emergency preparedness authorities include plans for pets and service animals in their disaster plans to qualify for grants from FEMA; * Granting FEMA the authority to assist states and local communities in developing disaster plans to accommodate people with pets and service animals; * Authorizing federal funds to help create pet-friendly emergency shelter facilities; and * Allowing FEMA to provide assistance for individuals with pets and service animals, and the animals themselves, following a major disaster. "People victimized by disasters should not suffer needless additional injury by having to abandon their household pets or service animals to their fate," said Rep. Tom Lantos.  "With the cooperation of state and local authorities under the mandates of this new law, nobody will ever again have to confront the choice between personal safety and that of their animal companions." "During Hurricane Katrina, tens of thousands of animals became homeless or perished.  Many pet owners stayed with their pets and perished," added Rep. Chris Shays.  "Today, we ensured that won't happen again. Communities across the nation are now required to include pet owners and their pets in emergency evacuation plans. I am grateful for the advocacy of The Humane Society of the United States and the bipartisan, bicameral support of this measure." HSUS disaster experts note that evacuations will run more smoothly if pets are included in pre-disaster planning. "People lost their lives in the wake of Katrina because government responders told them their animals had to be left behind and they couldn't bear to abandon their pets," said Pacelle. "For many people who face losing everything, their pet is the only comfort they have left." There are over 358 million pets in the United States residing in 63 percent of American households. A recent Zogby International poll found that 61 percent of pet owners say they would refuse to evacuate if they could not take their pets with them. "We learned many important lessons from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. One of these lessons was that we must put procedures in place to evacuate not only residents in areas impacted by a natural disaster, but also pets and service animals," said Sen. Ted Stevens. "This legislation is an important step forward in our efforts to mitigate personal suffering during times of disaster." "People see pets as part of their family and they do not want to leave any family members behind," added Sen. Frank Lautenberg.  "As we learned during Hurricane Katrina, when people need to choose between safety and their pets, some of them will choose their pets.  Now, they don't need to make that choice." In addition to Rep. Lantos, Rep. Shays, Sen. Stevens, and Sen. Lautenberg, who sponsored the legislation and shepherded it through to passage, The HSUS would also like to thank key committee members for their support, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Rep. Don Young(R-Alaska) and Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the chair and ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Also of special importance were the efforts of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who included parallel language on disaster planning and response for people with pets and service animals in the FY 07 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which provides the funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Media contact:  Belinda Mager, bmager@hsus.org  - mailto:bmager@hsus.org , 646-469-4987 The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with nearly 10 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org . Interested in taking action online to help animals? Then join our online community and sign up for our Humane Action Network. Go to www.hsus.org/join .

Animal Behaviorist Brandon Solotoff to Speak at Volunteer Meeting

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                        March 16. 2006     How would your pet act in an emergency? Would you know how to keep both of you calm? Pets and people may behave differently in stressful situations. So says Animal Behaviorist Brandon Solotoff of New York.   Solotoff will be on hand April 18th at the Pet Safe Coalition Inc.’s next volunteer meeting at the Levittown Library, One Bluegrass Lane at 7 pm. Brandon will describe what you can do to help your pet – and you – through an emergency evacuation. It’s part of the Pet Safe Coalition Inc.’s initiative “Leave No Animal Behind.”   Information on how you can develop disaster plans for you and your pets will also be available along with volunteer information for people wishing to help the Pet Safe Coalition Inc. prepare for disasters.   Office of Emergency Management officials say that disaster planning takes place long before a disaster strikes in order to provide the most good for the most people and Pet Safe needs volunteers to help administrate the program and animal handlers to help carry it out.   Please join us and see how you can make a difference with animals in disasters in Nassau County   For further information and to register for the evening please contact petsafe2@hotmail.com or call 516-676-0808.       Pet Safe Coalition Inc. P.O. Box 288, Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560 516-676-0808 www.petsafecoalition.org

Liberty Award for Pet Safe

February 22, 2006  Press Release                                                               For Immediate Release “Pet Safe Coalition receives Liberty Award”  Contact via email: petsafe2@hotmail.com Nancy Lynch, President Renee Procida, Secretary                            Senator Marcellino Honors Local Volunteerism February 16, 2006, Senator Carl Marcellino presented Pet Safe Coalition President, Nancy Lynch with the “New York State Senate Liberty Award” for her support of hurricane Katrina victims and their pets. Also honored were Laurie Huenteo, Chief of Staff for Legislator Diane Yaturor, LIVMA President Dr. Surinder Wadyal, and Susan Hassett from the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter.   The honorees were recognized for their “selfless and courageous service to the victims of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster.” The Proclamation states “Volunteerism is an essential element of all societies, it provides a way in which the human values of community, caring and serving can be sustained and strengthened” and “Volunteerism promotes solidarity, as people who volunteer their time in civic and charitable endeavors to inspire others to the call of volunteers.”   The Proclamation goes on to say the purpose of the “New York State Senate Liberty Award” is to “call attention to the dedicated efforts of those individuals from across the State of New York who volunteered with the Pet Safe Coalition Inc. to serve their fellow countrymen during the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricane season.”   The Pet Safe Coalition was specifically recognized for offering support to Katrina's pet owning disaster evacuees arriving on Long Island, as well as pet grief counseling to arriving families that lost their pets in Katrina.   Carl Marcellino issued this Senate Proclamation to “pay the fullest respect and appreciation to the volunteers for their selfless and courageous service to the victims of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster, demonstrating extraordinary care and compassion to help our neighbors in need.”   Pet Safe Coalition Inc. is a member agency of Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. Partnering organizations include the Nassau County SPCA, Animal Lovers League of Glen Cove, ASPCA, Bide-a-Wee, City of Long Beach Animal Shelter, FEMA, Long Island Veterinary Medical Association, Nassau County Legislature, Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, North Shore Animal League America, Pet Supplies Plus, Shelter Connection, The Humane Society of the United States, the Salvation Army, town of Hempstead animal Shelter, Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter, Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter, and Trade Winds Environmental Restoration, Inc.   More information about Pet Safe Coalition Inc. is available at www.petsafecoaliton.org. Contact Pet Safe Coalition Inc at petsafe2@hotmail.com and 516-676-0808.

Pet Safe Prepares for 2006 Hurricanes

February 5, 2006   Press Release                                                               For Immediate Release “Pet Safe Prepares for 2006 Hurricanes”   Contact via email: petsafe2@hotmail.com Nancy Lynch, President Renee Procida, Secretary                              Pet-Ready Group Looks to 2006 Storm Season            The 2006 hurricane season is only a few months away, but already the Pet Safe coalition Inc., is educating pet owners about their options, should they have to evacuate their homes. The non-profit Pet Safe Coalition Inc. is writing disaster plans and scouting out people who can be counted on to help in an emergency.             The Pet Safe Coalition, Inc. is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to educate Nassau County pet owners about disaster preparedness and to provide emergency care and sheltering through local veterinarians and animal shelters.             Nancy Lynch, President of Pet Safe Coalition Inc., knows what can happen to communities when storms like Katrina hit, and that’s why she’s leading the effort to prepared Nassau’s citizens.             “The urgency of our mission was demonstrated by a letter we received from a New Orleans resident whom we assisted after she was displaced by Hurricane Katrina,”  said Nancy Lynch, President of the Pet Safe Coalition Inc. An excerpt of the letter was read at the February meeting of volunteers, hosted by Bob Beckmann of the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management.                                      …….More…….            “The work you are doing with Pet Safe Coalition is crucial in helping to keep families and communities intact in times of disaster, as I experienced with Katrina,” the evacuee wrote. “The nearly two dozen organizations that comprise the Pet Safe Coalition ‘get it.’ You all are doing your utmost to minimize the dislocation and disorientation that can occur in times like this, which can tear individual lives and communities apart.”             Pet Safe Coalition Inc., is a member agency of Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. Partnering organizations include the Nassau County SPCA, Animal Lovers League of Glen Cove, ASPCA, Bide-a-Wee, City of Long Beach Animal Shelter, FEMA, Long Island Veterinary Medical Association, Nassau County Legislature, Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, North Shore Animal League America, Pet Supplies Plus, Shelter Connection, The Humane Society of the United States, the Salvation Army, town of Hempstead animal Shelter, Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter, Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter, and Trade Winds Environmental Restoration, Inc.             More information about Pet Safe Coalition Inc. is available at www.petsafecoaliton.org. Contact Pet Safe Coalition Inc at petsafe2@hotmail.com and 516-676-0808.