Emergency & Contingency Plan

1. Purpose & Scope

This Emergency & Contingency Plan describes how Stokeshire Designer Doodles will protect all dogs, puppies, visitors, and staff when an event disrupts normal operations at the kennel and training facility. It is designed to meet USDA / APHIS contingency planning requirements and Wisconsin ATCP 16 standards, and to align with Purdue’s Canine Care Certified™ (CCC) expectations.

The plan applies to:

• The kennel building (kennel runs, whelping / nursery rooms, training hall, lobby, restrooms, storage areas).
• Outdoor exercise and potty yards attached to the kennel.
• Transport vehicles used for ground transport of dogs and puppies.
• Dogs temporarily housed on site from guardian homes or during transport / training.

2. Emergencies Covered

This plan is activated when normal care cannot be safely maintained or there is immediate risk to animal or human life due to:

• Fire or smoke in any part of the facility.
• Severe weather (tornado, high winds, hail, blizzard, extreme heat or cold).
• Power outage and/or HVAC failure.
• Loss or contamination of water supply.
• Flooding, structural damage, or roof / pipe failure.
• Hazardous chemical spills (cleaning products, fuels, etc.).
• Serious disease outbreak (e.g., parvovirus, kennel cough, influenza).
• Animal escape or missing dog.
• Vehicle accident or breakdown during transport.
• Loss or incapacity of key personnel responsible for animal care.

The plan may also be activated at the direction of the attending veterinarian or emergency officials.

3. Roles & Responsibilities

Incident Lead (IL) – directs overall response on site.

• Primary: James Stokes
• Backup: Katie Stokes or designated Lead Caretaker

Animal Operations Lead (AOL) – coordinates animal handling, crating, and roll call.

Facilities & Safety Lead (FSL) – manages utilities (power, gas, water), checks for hazards, and communicates with fire / EMS.

Communications Lead (CL) – handles phone calls / messaging with:

• Emergency services and first responders
• Attending veterinarian
• Guardian homes and puppy owners with animals on site

All adults involved with animal care must know primary exits, safe staging areas, and the locations of crates, leashes, fire extinguishers, and first-aid kits. Emergency training completion is logged in the Stokeshire training app at app.stokeshire.com.

4. General Response Steps

For all emergencies, the following priorities apply:

1. Protect human life and safety.
2. Protect animals from immediate danger.
3. Preserve property and records, when it is safe to do so.

When the Incident Lead activates this plan, all staff on site:

• Follow directions from the IL and emergency officials.
• Use calm, low-stress handling whenever safety allows.
• Report their location and the number of dogs under their care during evacuation or sheltering.

5. Emergency Procedures by Scenario

5.1 Fire or Smoke

• Shout “FIRE – EVACUATE” and pull alarm if present.
• CL calls 911 and reports the kennel address and approximate number of animals and people.
• Evacuate all people first via nearest safe exits to the designated assembly point (e.g., main parking area away from the building).
• If safe, AOL directs removal of animals, starting with:
  • Whelping / nursery rooms
  • Kennel runs closest to the fire or smoke
  • Remaining kennel runs and training hall
• Move animals to pre-designated safe areas: fenced outdoor yards or crates a safe distance from the building.
• FSL shuts off gas and/or main electrical breakers if safely accessible.
• AOL conducts roll call using kennel roster; note any missing or injured animals.
• No one re-enters the building until cleared by fire officials.

5.2 Severe Weather (Tornado / High Winds / Hail)

• Upon tornado warning, sirens, or imminent severe storm, move people and dogs to interior rooms away from windows (e.g., interior kennel corridor, bathrooms, or designated safe hallway).
• Crate puppies and small dogs; leash larger dogs.
• Bring all dogs from outdoor yards indoors immediately and secure doors and windows.
• After the storm, check for structural damage, downed power lines, gas leaks, or water intrusion.
• If the building is unsafe, evacuate animals to pre-identified backup locations (e.g., main house, Medford Veterinary Clinic, or trusted boarding facility) following IL direction.

5.3 Power Outage / HVAC Failure

• FSL confirms outage and checks breakers and equipment.
• Activate backup systems (generator, portable heaters or cooling units) if available.
• Move the most vulnerable animals (neonates, seniors, sick dogs, heat-sensitive breeds) to the most stable temperature zone (e.g., nursery or home).
• If safe temperatures cannot be maintained, initiate relocation to pre-arranged climate-controlled locations under IL direction.
• Document start time, temperature trends, and animals moved.

5.4 Loss or Contamination of Water Supply

• Stop using tap water for animals and humans immediately.
• Switch to stored bottled or jug water kept in emergency supplies.
• Contact local authorities and veterinarian for guidance if outage extends beyond 12 hours.
• Adjust cleaning routines to conserve water while maintaining acceptable sanitation.

5.5 Disease Outbreak (Parvo, Kennel Cough, Etc.)

• Immediately isolate any dog showing signs of contagious disease (coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, lethargy) in the designated isolation area with dedicated tools and bowls.
• Contact the attending veterinarian for diagnostics, treatment, and quarantine recommendations.
• Suspend non-essential visits and puppy pickups if directed by the veterinarian.
• Increase cleaning and disinfection frequency of all common areas using veterinarian-approved products.
• Use appropriate PPE (gloves, shoe covers, gowns where indicated) and follow strict “clean-to-dirty” traffic flow.
• Record all affected dogs, symptoms, diagnostics, and treatment in a Disease Incident Log.

5.6 Hazardous Chemical Spill

• Evacuate people and animals from the immediate spill area.
• If safe, contain the spill using absorbent materials from the spill kit and follow product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) instructions.
• For large spills, strong fumes, or unknown substances, contact the fire department.
• Dispose of contaminated materials according to SDS and local regulations.

5.7 Animal Escape or Missing Dog

• Secure all other dogs indoors.
• Conduct an immediate sweep of the building, fenced yards, and property.
• If dog is off property, notify local animal control, neighbors, and (when appropriate) use local networks / social channels.
• Upon recovery, check the dog for injuries and verify ID / microchip information.
• Document the incident and any corrective measures (e.g., gate repairs, double-door entry, improved latching).

5.8 Transport Emergencies

Applies to Stokeshire vehicles transporting dogs for delivery, training, or veterinary care.

• Vehicle Breakdown: move vehicle to a safe location, keep dogs crated, monitor temperature, and arrange alternate transport. Do not leave dogs unattended in unsafe temperatures.
• Accident: call 911, then, when safe, check animals, move surviving dogs to secure crates or another vehicle, and notify veterinarian and owners.
• Log all incidents in a Transport Incident Log, including date, route, animals involved, and outcome.

6. Emergency Supplies & Equipment

The kennel maintains the following supplies for emergencies:

• Extra crates and slip-leads staged near main exits.
• Fire extinguishers (locations marked on posted floor plan; inspected annually).
• First-aid kits for humans and dogs.
• Flashlights, headlamps, and battery-powered lanterns.
• Bottled water (minimum 3-day supply for dogs and humans).
• Extra dog food (minimum 7-day supply).
• Blankets, towels, and tarps for warmth, shade, or temporary barriers.
• Spill kit and personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, boot covers).

Emergency supplies are checked at least annually and after any use, and restocked as needed.

7. Training, Drills & Communication

All adults who handle dogs at Stokeshire must read this plan and sign an acknowledgment. New helpers receive an orientation that covers exits, safe rooms, utility shut-offs, and emergency supplies.

• At least once per year, Stokeshire conducts:
  • One fire / evacuation drill
  • One severe weather shelter-in-place drill
  • One tabletop exercise for disease outbreak or transport emergency
• After each drill, the Incident Lead records the date, type of drill, participants, and lessons learned in the training log at app.stokeshire.com.

Communication during an incident is coordinated by the Communications Lead using:

• Phone / text thread for internal staff and family members.
• Calls to the attending veterinarian and emergency clinic as needed.
• Updates to guardian homes and puppy owners when their animals are directly affected.

8. Review & Signatures

This Emergency & Contingency Plan is reviewed at least annually and after any significant emergency or drill. Updates, dates, and reviewers are noted below. Copies are stored in the kennel operations binder and digitally in the Stokeshire compliance drive.