An epidemiological study of public and animal health consequences of pet ownership in a disaster: The January 1997 flood of Yuba County, California
Abstract
This study characterized the risk factors for household evacuation failure, pet evacuation failure and pet rescue attempts during a natural disaster. A random digit dial telephone survey was conducted of 397 households in Yuba County, California, where residents were under an evacuation notice due to flooding. Risk factors were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Case households were defined as those which either faded to evacuate as a unit, evacuated but without their dog or cats (pets), or evacuated, but later attempted to rescue their pet. Control households were those that either evacuated as a unit, evacuated with their pet, or evacuated and did not attempt to rescue their pet. The proportion of households with and without children that failed to evacuate was 25.8% and 45.9%, respectively. The proportion of households with and without pets that failed to evacuate was 20.9% and 16.3%, respectively. The risk of household evacuation failure was lower in households with children compared with households without children (OR (Odds Ratio) 0.4; CI (95% Confidence Interval) 0.2–0.8). The risk of household evacuation failure was increased in pet-owning households without children compared with pet–owning households with children (OR 1.3; CI 1.0–1.5); the more pets owned, the higher the risk of household evacuation failure. Impediments to pet evacuation such as owning multiple pets, owning outdoor dogs, or not having a cat carrier explained why many pet-owning households failed to evacuate. Approximately 20% of pet-owning households that evacuated failed to take their pet. Dog, but not cat, evacuation failure was associated with a decreased pet attachment and commitment score, and dogs that lived outdoors. Cat evacuation failure was twice as likely to occur as dog evacuation failure, and was associated with not having a cat carrier (OR = 14.3; CI 1.3–160.7). More than 80% of persons who re-entered the evacuated area did so to rescue their pet. Household evacuation failure and attempts to rescue a pet appear to be common concerns arising in disasters, and both are related to pet evacuation failure. Pre-disaster planning should, therefore, place a high priority on facilitating pet evacuation.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Glickman, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Veterinary services|Public health|Behaviorial sciences
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