Pet Hurricane Preparedness

= INFORMATION RELEASE

= Media Contact: Karen Sloan

= (239) 533-4826 or kskoan@leegov.com

= Lee County Departments Team Up for Programs on Pet Hurricane Preparedness=

(FORT MY= ERS, FLA., May 4, 2010) –= Lee County’s Library System, Domestic Animal Services, and Park & Re= creation departments are teaming up to present free programs on pet rescue and pet&= nbsp; hurricane preparedness. The program begins with a viewing of the documentary movie, Mine, about pet rescue efforts and the reuniting of pets and owners after Hurricane Katrina. Discussion about pet preparedness and rescue efforts on a local level foll= ows the movie.

Four programs are scheduled:

10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8 at Estero Community Park’s Recreation Cent= er, Room 103A, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero
10:30 a.m. Tuesday May 11 at Rutenberg Community Park, 6490 South Pointe Blvd., Fort Myers
12:00 p.m. Saturday May 15 at Northwest Regional Library, 519 Chiquita Blvd. North, Cape Coral
3:00 p.m. Thursday, June 3 at East County Region= al Library, 881 Gunnery= Road, Lehigh Acres

Each program will last about 2 hours; 90 minutes for = the movie and 30 minutes for discussion. A representative from Lee County Domestic Animal Services will be on hand to answer questions and provide information at all programs except the May 15 date.

“With hurricane season less than a month away, = people begin to think about typical readiness plans, but for those of us with pet= s, we need to take extra steps,” says Karen Sloan, Development Specialist = for Lee County Library System. “We are pleased to have the coopera= tion of Domestic Animal Services and Parks & Recreation in bringing this fi= lm and beneficial discussion to pet owners throughout = Lee County.”

Public performances of Mine, directed by direc= ted by Geralyn Pezanoski, are m= ade available to Lee County Library System by Recorded Books in association with Film Movement. Hailed as “absorbing,” “a must see,̶= 1; “Oscar material” and “the best movie at SXSW,” = Mine is a feature-length, independent documentary about the essential bond betw= een humans and animals, set against the backdrop of one of the worst natural disaster= s in modern U.S. history: Hurricane Katrina. This gripping, character-driven st= ory follows New Orleans residents as they attempt the daunting task of trying to reunite with their pets who have been adopted by families all over the country, and chronicle= s the custody battles that arise when two families love the same pet. Who determ= ines the fate of the animals— and the people—involved? A compelling meditation on race, class and the power of compassion, Mine examines how we treat animals as an extension of how we view and treat each other.

These programs are free and open to the public. = For additional information about these programs please contact the Lee County Library System Telephone Reference at 239- 479-INFO (4636) or check the li= brary system’s web site: www.leegov.com/library. A sign language interpreter is available with 5 business days notice to library s= taff. Assistive listening system available; request at desk.

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