Lee County hosts statewide workshop for animal disaster training
On April 12-13, Lee County Domestic Animal Services and the Lee County Department of Emergency Management will host a statewide workshop for local, state, federal, and non-government organization disaster responders. This statewide workshop for animal disaster training, will involve approximately 100 responders from various agencies.
Those attending include the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industries, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, State Animal Response Coalition, the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, and others.
More than a simple workshop in a conference room, responders will actually deploy equipment to Lee County, review equipment in their caches, review and update protocols, and conduct team training. Participants will stay onsite overnight, testing the logistical plan as if deployed to a hurricane or other disaster where the local infrastructure has been damaged.
On the second day, participants will work through their plans and protocols with dogs from the county shelter. Animal intake, decontamination, medical care, sheltering, and owner reunification processes will be involved. Participants will have an opportunity to revise their protocols before the workshop is completed.