UNION SQUARE — A corner of Union Square became a one-stop shop for owners preparing their pets for emergencies.
The annual event, sponsored by the Office of Emergency Management Ready New York Program and the Animal Planning Task Force, attracted a record crowd on Monday, organizers said.
Dozens of dog owners flocked to the booths, taking advantage of free micro-chipping, rabies vaccinations and ID tags, as well as an impromptu canine social hour on the rim of Union Square Park.
Workers at the event also handed out “pet passports,” which allow owners to consolidate all their important pet information into one handy booklet, and gave tutorials on compiling the perfect animal “go bag” in case of evacuation.
The point was to make sure pet owners are prepared should the unthinkable occur, said Allison Cardona, program development specialist for the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team.
“You never know when you’re going to have to leave,” Cardona said. “What we see over and over again is that we have to get that message out there.”
A poll conducted by the ASPCA last month confirms there is an overall lack of information about pet preparedness in emergency situations. Nearly half of dog and cat owners surveyed in the northeast reported that they don’t know what they would do with their pets in an evacuation.
Most people will not leave without their dogs or cats, Cardona added, which can leave them stuck in a dangerous situation when a disaster occurs. If people choose to leave their pets behind, they often return home to retrieve them before it is deemed safe to do so.
“Either way, it’s a lose-lose,” Cardona said. “It can pose a real danger to public safety, to first responders.”
Hurricane Irene, which pummeled New York City with wind and rain last month, provided a crash course on the subject for some pet owners.
When the storm hit, Melissa Alonso said she had Gulliver, her three-year-old chocolate lab, and Taco, her three-year-old rescue from Mexico, to think about, as well as a dog she was watching for the weekend.
Alonso, a dog trainer, said she packed up a couple of days worth of food, bottles of water, treats, toys and waste bags in advance of Hurricane Irene. She said she felt safe in her Gramercy apartment, but she wanted to be prepared, just in case.
When Alonso stopped by the event on Monday with both Gulliver and Taco in tow, she was planning to update Gulliver’s rabies vaccination. But she also wanted to see what else the organizations had to offer in terms of emergency planning— “since the planet seems to be falling apart,” she added with a laugh.
Roberto Negrin, 24, brought his two Chihuahuas to Union Square on Monday for vaccinations as well as to update microchip information.
“There are many people who need all these services, but also it’s an education for them,” said Negrin, a nursing student and dog fashion designer. “I think it’s really great that they are doing these kinds of events.”
Negrin’s dogs, D.J. and Athena, were decked out in some of their owner’s original designs and were attracting attention on Monday — which Negrin said they’re used to. Athena has appeared in an ad in “Glamour” magazine, and D.J. has held supporting roles in music videos.
“They have a better life than me,” Negrin said. “I just work for them.”
A few dogs milling around the ASPCA truck on Monday gave Negrin’s dogs a run for their money in the fashion department.
Lexi, an eight-month-old Yorkie, pranced around in a green-and-white striped dress.
Although Lexi was eating up the attention, owner Chiquita Blakney was there for a purpose: to get the pup micro-chipped.
“God forbid, she got lost or stolen,” Blakney said.
For the most part, Blakney said her disaster preparedness plan consists of keeping Lexi close. When Irene hit the city, there was no way the Harlem resident was going anywhere without her dog.
“She was with me. Where I went, she went,” Blakney said. “She’s part of the family.”
