Natural disasters and emergency events create acute welfare crises for companion and livestock animals. Advance preparation by owners and emergency services substantially reduces suffering during and after events.
Disasters impose acute welfare crises on animals through abandonment, injury, drowning, fire, and starvation. The welfare harms are compounded by the emotional trauma of owner separation and unfamiliar environments. Pre-disaster preparation — microchipping, evacuation planning, emergency supply kits — dramatically reduces both animal suffering and the burden on rescue services. Including animals in emergency planning is not a luxury; it is a welfare imperative that also improves human compliance with evacuation orders.