For Immediate Release    

September 19, 2008

Contact: Colleen Hodges
281-999-8531

Sandy Kachur
713.439.6292

Pet Safety and Wildlife Awareness after the Storm

Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES), Veterinary Public Health cautions residents to be safe around animals in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Be careful around loose or lost pets. Frightened animals are more likely to bite if approached or handled. Do not touch unknown animals. Contact your local animal control agency for assistance.

Wildlife has also been affected by Hurricane Ike and should not be handled. Bats and skunks are still potential rabies carriers. Animal bites should also be reported to your local animal control agency. Visit www.countypets.com for a list of area agencies. Use caution when cleaning storm debris and tree limbs as snakes and fire ants can be a problem. For injured wildlife, call the Houston SPCA Hotline at 713-435-2990.

Be careful when clearing trees and tree limbs from your property. Pets like being

with us while we are outdoors and can easily be injured by damaged or falling trees. Keep pets indoors, away from chainsaws and falling limbs and trees.

HCPHES Veterinary Public Health has increased the holding periods for lost pets to allow owners time to reclaim them. Photos of the animals in our shelter are uploaded twice daily to our website, www.countypets.com , or owners can call 281-999-3191 or visit the shelter at 612 Canino Rd. Monday - Friday 1:00 PM - 5:50 PM and Saturday, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Here is a list of area Animal Control Agencies and their availability.

Baytown 281-422-7600

All services

Brazos Animal Shelter 979-775-5755

All Services

Bunker Hill 713-467-9762

All Services

Conroe 936-539-4431

Emergency & Field Services only

Fort Bend County 281-342-1512

All Services

Friendswood 281-996-3391

Field Services only

Harris County (Unincorporated) 281-999-3191

All Services

Hedwig Village 713-465-6009

All Services

Houston City Limits 713-238-9600

Shelter Services

Humble 281-446-2327

All Services

Hunters Creek 713-465-2150

Emergency Services only

Jacinto City 713-674-8424

Emergency only

Jersey Village 713-466-2129

Field Services only

Katy 281-391-4848

Field Services only

La Porte 281-471-2141

All Services

Liberty 936-336-4505

Vicious or B/C only thru SO

Pasadena 281-991-0602

All Services

Pearland 281-652-1970

Emergency Services Only - not taking animals

Rosenberg 832-595-3490

Only Priority calls - at capacity

South Houston 713-947-7700

Full - not accepting animals

Spring Valley 713-465-8308

No shelter -call PD (7)465-8323

Sugarland 281-275-2596

All Services

Tomball 281-999-3191

All Services

Taylor Lake Village 281-326-5900

Emergencies & B/C’s only

West University 713-668-0330

Will accept drop offs - space limited