Fort Smith stresses pet rules for storm shelters

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — Fort Smith school officials say that while they are happy to open their shelters to the public during bad weather, they aren't happy when people break the rules.

Superintendent Benny Gooden told the Times Record newspaper (http://bit.ly/13Pe52b) that a man became "fairly abusive" with a shelter supervisor this week when told he had to put his dog in an airline-approved pet carrier.

Gooden said the shelters attract every type of person and that stress can build during bad weather. Other rules include a ban on smoking.

Monday night's storms were the first since a new set of rules was put into place. In the Fort Smith area, schools at Alma, Greenwood and Van Buren have similar rules.

Gooden said the district's storm shelters can withstand the strongest of tornadoes.