Two emergency response trailers set up for local pets - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Two emergency response trailers set up for local pets

ALBANY, N.Y. - Hundreds of animals were either displaced or killed during Tropical Storm Irene; now Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties have two fully-stocked emergency animal shelters in case disaster strikes again.

Thursday, two trailers were established that can each serve 200 pets, providing a temporary home away from home in light of an emergency or natural disaster.

These emergency response trailers have been a long time coming, according to Executive Director for the Mohawk Humane Society Brad Shear. The organization, along with the Albany County Animal Response Team, put on a disaster response exercise at the Village of Menands Department of Pubic Works building.

"We wish we had had it during Hurricane Irene," Shear said. "Sixty percent of homes have pets so when 100 people evacuate 60 of them would have animals and they want a place to take their animals, just like they need a place to sleep."

The grant for this costs $50,000 and NEWS10 is told if they are needed elsewhere in the state they will go.