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Six other counties have received them since 2006

Three 20-foot animal evacuation trailers were given to the governments of Bergen, Hudson and Morris counties on Tuesday by the state Department of Agriculture.

The trailers are outfitted with cages and can be used to provide temporary shelter or transportation for pets and livestock in emergencies. The trailers have heating and cooling units, electrical and water hook-ups, generators and external light sources, giving users the ability to set up a temporary animal shelter at any location.

“New Jersey, located between two major cities, needs to be prepared in case disaster strikes, because any incident that poses a threat to large numbers of people is likely to put animals at risk, as well,” state Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said as he presented the trailers to the counties’ Offices of Emergency Management and County Animal Response Teams at a ceremony in Ewing. “The animal evacuation trailers can fill a vital role in an emergency and help provide care for animals that might not be able to go along with their owners.”

The trailers were paid for with an Urban Areas Security Initiative grant through the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

“Ensuring that individuals, families, and communities have plans in place so they are ready for any type of emergency event, including plans that consider family pets, is a critical part of our mission,” Charles B. McKenna, state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, said. “Pets are important members of the family unit and these evacuation trailers will enable first responders to help safely evacuate family pets post-disaster.”

The trailers will be used by the counties’ Animal Response Teams (CART), first responders who are trained to deal with animals during disasters. CART’s are part of the state Animal Response Team, organized by the Animal Emergency Working Group of the Department of Agriculture, and activated under the state Office of Emergency Management.

As part of the grant, the counties also received funds for public education on animal emergency preparedness.

Bergen County has a roster of more than 3,000 volunteers ready to deploy to help animals, if needed. The trailer will be housed in Paramus, a central location in the county.

“Catastrophic events like hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and what occurred in Mississippi last year, where so many pets were displaced and in need of assistance, showed us the necessity for emergency planning, volunteers, equipment and the supplies to respond to animals,” Bergen County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan said.

Previous Homeland Security grants received by the Department of Agriculture have gone to purchase six other animal emergency trailers, either for emergency animal shelters or veterinary care. Those trailers were given to Burlington, Camden, Hudson, Hunterdon, Ocean and Sussex counties in 2006 and 2007.

Domestic animals are a part of daily life in America. Approximately 60 percent of U.S. households have dogs, cats and other species as pets.

To learn more about the county and state Animal Response Teams, or to become involved, visit www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/prog/cart.html.

For information for animal owners on how to plan ahead and be prepared, visit www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/prog/emergency_preparedness.html.

—TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM