Text Box: 12802 Easy Street - Tampa, FL 33625 - (813)920-4130 - Fax 920-5924 www.BigCatRescue.org - SaveTheCats@BigCatRescue.org Text Box: Injured Animal When an injured animal is discovered first determine the severity of the injury. If the injury to the animal is not severe or life threatening, follow the procedure taught in the Animal Observation Class and fill out the necessary information on the Observation Chart located in the Volunteer Check Point. This chart is very important to the keepers here as it is checked daily and is essential in treating animals promptly. If the injury to the animal is severe or life threatening, find or call a Staff Member immediately. Scott Lope, 323-5991 or Radio Jamie Veronica, 323-3263 or Radio If none of the above can be contacted, Carole Lewis, Founder, 493-4564 Last resort, Dr. Stacie Wadsworth of Carrollwood Cats, 963-6612 All of these phone numbers as well as a phone can be found in the Trading Post Gift Shop. Escaped Animal It is very important that as you clean the Cat-a-tats, you lay eyes on each animal that belongs in that enclosure. This is essential to discovering if the animal is sick or injured and most importantly, to ensure that the animal is in fact in its enclosure. If you can not find an animal in its enclosure ask you coordinator to help you look, before contacting one of the above Staff Members. Sometimes the animals can hide very well in plain sight. If an escaped animal is discovered, determine the severity of the situation. In the event of an animal escape, the immediate goals are 1.) Insure public safety, 2.) Insure staff and volunteer safety, 3.) Insure animal safety, 4.) Recapture the animal. All four goals should be accomplished simultaneously. It is of utmost importance that everyone involved in the recapture remain calm and not try to be a hero. If the escaped animal is not a dangerous animal (small), try to follow the animal, without spooking it, while calling for help from one of the Staff Members on your radio. Follow the animal quietly from a distance until help arrives. Never chase an escaped animal, especially if it is near a perimeter fence. If the escaped animal is a dangerous animal (big), your safety comes first, but the ideal plan is as follows. Announce on the radio the situation to the Staff Members, and for all volunteers to secure themselves as well as guests in a safety yard or building and to remain there until further notice. If it is not safe for you to get to the front, secure yourself in one of the safety yards or buildings and let the Staff Members know your position as well as the animals last observed position over the radio. The next important thing is that someone secures the front gate (shut & unplug). Do not try to follow, run away from, or even walk near a dangerous escaped animal. If the ideal plan will not work in a situation, you must use common sense, but never risk your safety or the safety of others. Escaped Animal Supplies Nets & Catchpoles can be found in the Emergency Response Center Live Traps & Carriers are kept in the Emergency Response Center Dart guns are kept in the West Boensch Cat Hospital and are accessible to Staff Members and Dr. Stacie Wadsworth Only Radios are in the Volunteer Check Point, Food Prep, and in the Emergency Response Center, you must have a radio with you at all times while on the property 5. Phone and Phone Numbers are located in the Trading Post Gift Shop Text Box: ANIMAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Text Box: This class was last revised 6.4.05