By Mary Thurwachter
Everyone who lives on a barrier island should have a hurricane evacuation plan and that plan should include Fido and Fluffy.
There is a shelter in the area that accepts pets, but if a shelter or a friend’s house is not in your plan, and you’re thinking about fleeing the storm, consider booking a room at a nice pet-friendly hotel like Casa Monica in St. Augustine or the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. There are extra fees, of course, but you and your pets can get some pampering, which you’ll undoubtedly appreciate after fleeing the storm.
Of course, you could board your beloved 4-legged friends during the storm. At Colonial Animal Hospital in Boynton Beach, for example, dogs can weather storms for about $22 a day and cats for $17 a day. There are other choices for boarding, too, including Barkingham Palace in Delray Beach, Camp Canine in Boca Raton and the Delray Beach Veterinary Hospital.
Gulf Stream Police Chief Garrett Ward says residents typically make provisions for their pets during storms. Most take them along with them to the homes of friends, family or to a hotel. “It hasn’t been a problem for us,” he said. Other coastal town police departments agree.
“We just encourage residents to have a plan in place for pets,” says Manalapan Chief Clay Walker. “Most residents are gone during the summer, so it isn’t a problem here.”
Lt. Chris Yannuzzi of the Ocean Ridge Police Department says, “We don’t make arrangements for pets, other than to tell residents to make plans — and make them early.”
When you and your best friend leave the island, be sure to pack a leash and collar, a crate, a two-week supply of food and water, vaccination records for your pet and medications. For cats, don’t forget kitty-litter and a container.
To make a reservation for your pet to stay at a shelter, call Animal Care and Control, (561) 233-1266 or see www.pbcgov.com/pubsafety/animal. The gymnasium at West Boynton Recreation Center (east of high school), 6000 Northtree Blvd. in Lake Worth (between Hypoluxo Road and Gateway Boulevard off the east side of Jog Road) will be available as a pet-friendly shelter. Dogs, cats and birds are accepted, but not reptiles. The shelter is restricted to county residents residing in a mandatory evacuation zones or in mobile homes. Proof of residency is required. Space is limited and restrictions apply. Pet owners are required to stay at the shelter. Pets will be housed in an area separate from people; pet owners will be given a schedule to attend to their animals’ needs.
Some nearby pet-friendly hotels: Colony Hotel, Delray Beach, (561) 276-4123; Comfort Inn & Conference Center, West Palm Beach, (561) 689-6100; Courtyard by Marriott, Boynton Beach, (561) 737-4600; Days Inn, Airport North, West Palm Beach, (561) 689-0450; Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Jupiter, (561) 748-5252; Fairfield Inn & Suites, Boca Raton, (561) 417-8585; LaQuinta Inn and Suites, West Palm Beach, (561) 689-8540; PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, (561) 627-2000; Royal Inn, Royal Palm Beach, (561) 793-3000; Grandview Gardens B&B, West Palm Beach, (561) 833-9023.
Some pet-friendly hotels a little farther away: Casa Monica, St. Augustine, (904) 810-6810; Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando, (407) 503-3000; Grand Bohemian Hotel. Orlando, (866) 663-0024; Hilton Ocala, Ocala, (352) 854-1400; Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, (941) 309-2000.
Mary Thurwachter is a West Palm Beach freelance writer and founder/producer of INNsideFlorida.com (www.innsideflorida.com).
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