Girl Scout pushes pet preparedness

Experts regularly warn people to be prepared for an emergency but Girl Scout Tatyanna Soliwoda said one thing always gets overlooked: their pets.

Soliwoda, 17, a senior at Seaford High School, is working on her Gold Award project and recently held a pet preparedness seminar at the Seaford Public Library. The Ambassador-level scout is striving to earn the highest honor in the Girl Scouts, and must complete a community service project that totals at least 80 hours of work.

Families are encouraged to have “go bags” ready in case of an emergency, and Soliwoda said people should have those for their pets as well. Items inside should include three days worth of food, water, toys and copies of medical and immunization records. This way, if a pet ever had to be left at a shelter during an emergency, they would be well cared for.

In preparing her presentation, Soliwoda spoke with representatives from Nassau County’s Community Emergency Response Team. She learned that during the last major emergency, Hurricane Sandy, families evacuated their homes and many animals were brought to shelters unprepared.

She also did her own online research and spoke with experts from the Pet Safe Coalition. Soliwoda put together a poster, as well as a supply list for attendees to take home, so they could make their own “go bags.”

Nearly 20 people came to her Dec. 4 workshop, including several Girl Scouts. She asked her them to bring items that they felt should be included, then as a group activity she and the children in attendance made their own emergency bag. Items the kids brought included towels, dog treats and plastic bags.

“I thought that they definitely did well,” she said. “They had the general idea of what they should bring, and then they added to it.”

Soliwoda has been in the Girl Scouts since kindergarten and has risen through the ranks. It has been a long-time goal of hers to earn the Gold Award. “It’s something that does take a lot of planning,” she said, “and it’s not just something you can throw together.”

She is no stranger to community service. For her Silver Award project, Soliwoda and her fellow scouts wrapped presents for children with cancer at Nassau University Medical Center. She has also done recycling drives and raised money for the Seaford Fire Department by holding a plant sale. Soliwoda said she enjoys demonstrating her leadership skills through community service activities.

In school, Soliwoda is captain of the varsity track and field team, and plays the saxophone in the marching band. She wants to pursue a career in medicine, and is currently looking at colleges. In the past, she has volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip.

Soliwoda, who has no pets but once had two guinea pigs, hopes to continue her pet preparedness workshops. She has another session planned in Seaford on Feb. 6, and hopes to bring it to other libraries as well.

“Your pet should be as prepared as your family is for an emergency,” she said.