Disaster Planning for Your Pets

In the stress of an emergency, no matter the type, it can be too overwhelming to think of what you need to do to keep your pets safe. And when disasters happen, evacuation is often the key to survival. Assembling a plan in advance for you and your beloved companions can be a literal lifesaver. Our guide covers how to prepare for a multitude of emergency situations to keep your cats, dogs, pocket pets, and even livestock safe from harm.

The smartest thing you can do is have a plan ready to go before a disaster or emergency occurs. We’ve compiled four key elements to disaster preparations for you and your pets.

1. Pet identification

It’s essential that your pets wear a collar with a tag listing a current phone number in case of emergency. It’s also wise to have your dog or cat microchipped. Be sure to have your contact information, including address and phone number, up-to-date for the best chance of reconnection in case you get separated. Also, make sure your pet’s vaccinations are current — shelters often require this, and you may need the help of a pet shelter during an emergency.

2. Know where you can stay

In case of an evacuation, it’s vital to have a plan in place for where you and your furry friends can stay. Unfortunately, emergency shelters (like Red Cross evacuation centers) often do not allow pets except service animals. It’s a good idea to reach out to your local emergency management office to verify whether or not you can bring animals with you to shelters in your area.

You may also consider researching what boarding facilities near you will take in animals during emergencies. Some veterinarians’ offices may be a resource, as well. Your local animal shelter will likely have room for pets, but they typically have limited resources (especially during a natural disaster), so you may want to seek out other options. Relief organizations like Red Rover might be able to provide help near you for pets displaced by natural disasters.

Friends and relatives living outside of your area may be able to help house you and your pets during an evacuation. If not, you can also seek out a hotel or motel along your evacuation route or even find a pet-friendly home rental on websites like Airbnb or Vrbo. Keep in mind that these options often restrict the number and size of animals they welcome. However, such policies are sometimes waived in emergency situations. It’s best to research potential places to stay in advance of a disaster and to keep this contact information handy for whenever disaster strikes.

Here are some reliable resources for finding a pet-friendly place to stay:

• Bring Fido
• Pets Welcome
• Airbnb
• Vrbo
• Pet-Friendly Hotels
• Pet Travel
• TripsWithPets

3. In case you are away from home

Consider setting up a plan with neighbors, so you know your pets will be looked after if you cannot be there when an emergency occurs. It’s best to make arrangements with someone you trust that’s comfortable and familiar with your animals. This plan should include sharing a spare key with the caretaker, providing important information about your pet’s needs, and showing them places in your home where your animal(s) likes to stay or hide.

The ASPCA has a free rescue sticker pack that you can order to place in a window to communicate that you have pets inside your home. It includes the number and types of pets you have so rescue workers know what to look for in an emergency. In the case of an evacuation, if you are able to remove your pets before leaving, be sure to mark your sticker as such so emergency responders know the animals are safe.

4. Emergency kit assembly

Making an emergency kit for yourself and your furry friends can be a lifesaver. We’ve broken down the essential components to help guide you as you prepare for your pets.

If it’s not safe for you to be home during a disaster or emergency, it’s not safe for your pets, either. Sadly, pets left behind are often lost, injured, or killed during natural disasters. Since you don’t know how long you will be away from home, you should take them with you if at all possible. Also, evacuations can become chaotic — don’t wait for severe conditions or a mandatory order before leaving if you can. The sooner you leave, the less dangerous and stressful the evacuation process will be for all involved.

If you have to shelter at home during a disaster, please take steps to secure your safety. As soon as you become aware of the emergency, bring your pets indoors, ensuring they have on collars with identification and are on a leash or in a carrier. If you are sheltering in a safe room, bring your emergency kit and supplies there with you. Close off any pet doors or unsafe areas where animals may be tempted to hide.

Monitor the situation as closely as possible with your local news outlets. You can also download the FEMA app, which gives weather and emergency alerts from the National Weather Service. Depending on your location, you may be at risk for natural disasters like wildfires,1 hurricanes,2 floods,3 or tornadoes.4 Take some time to educate yourself on safety tips for any scenarios common to your area.

Returning home after a disaster can be difficult for everyone, pets included. Your home environment may have suffered from great damage and may not look as it did before. Keep dogs and cats contained while you assess the damage and make sure that it is safe for them to be loose. Check for sharp objects and other dangers that could injure you or your pet. It’s also a good idea to look for wild animals in your home or yard in the case of a flood. And just as humans may have difficulty getting back into a routine after an emergency, pets can be sensitive to the changes, too. The stress of the situation can even cause behavioral problems. Ensuring as familiar a routine as possible will help reduce stress for all.

If you and your pet were separated during a disaster, contact your local humane society, animal control, and area shelters to inquire about your pet. If your dog or cat has a microchip, call the company to let them know your pet is missing and update any necessary information so you can be promptly contacted. Once the area is safe again, you can post missing pet flyers in the region and on social media platforms.

If your pet was injured during a disaster, handle them gently and carefully. Animals in pain can become unpredictable, even when they usually have a mild temperament. Seek out a veterinarian as soon as possible if conditions are safe for you to do so.

Emergencies aren’t limited to natural disasters; even things like normal weather patterns can lead to emergency situations for your furry, scaley, or feathered friends.

When you can’t get home

Sometimes things happen, and you can’t get home to your pets to care for them. This is where it’s essential to have an arrangement in place with a neighbor or friend to be a backup caretaker. Make sure they have a key to your home and are familiar with your pets and their routines. In fact, having a buddy system is a great way to give peace of mind to both parties so that when the need arises, there is someone you can count on to look after your animal companions.

Power loss

Like any other emergency situation, if a power outage makes your home unsafe for you, it’s also unsafe for your pets. Warm temperatures can get dangerous quickly for animals, so take your pet to a pet-friendly hotel or stay with friends or family. The same goes for power outages in the winter months; a pet’s fur coat is helpful, but it’s not enough to protect them from extreme temperatures.

Heat waves

The summer can be brutal, and our furry friends are sensitive to the heat. This is why you should never leave your pets in a parked car. The inside of a car can get dangerously hot very quickly. Check out this resource from the Humane Society for what to do if you need to help a pet left inside a car during hot temperatures.

It’s also important not to leave your pet outside during the summer. Anytime they go outside, ensure they have cold water and ample shade available. Just like humans, adequate airflow is essential, too. And while exercising with your pet is a great routine, be careful to limit walks on hot days. You may need to adjust what time of day you are exercising to cooler hours (like early morning or evening) and shorten the duration of the walk. Consider the heat radiating off of asphalt, too — your pet will thank you when you walk them on the grass to protect their paws.

Heat stroke can be life-threatening in our companion animals.5 If your pet is experiencing any of the following symptoms, immediately move them into air conditioning and take them to a veterinarian:

• Heavy panting
• Excessive thirst
• Lethargy
• Difficulty breathing
• Lack of coordination
• Vomiting
• Glazed eyes
• Seizure
• Unconsciousness

Many of us have beloved animal companions belonging to a wide range of species. From guinea pigs and hamsters to reptiles, birds, horses, and more — here are some disaster tips for your other pets.