Natural disasters cause mass suffering in both wild and domestic animals — and welfare-conscious emergency response has improved dramatically in recent decades.
Natural disasters create acute welfare emergencies for all animal categories simultaneously. Wild animals flee fires and floods, sustaining burns, smoke inhalation, and injuries. Farm animals in improperly prepared facilities face mass mortality. Companion animals separated from owners face starvation, injury, and distress. The scale of animal suffering in major disasters is now recognized as a significant public welfare issue. Pre-disaster planning, emergency evacuation infrastructure for animals, trained disaster response teams, and post-disaster wildlife rehabilitation all contribute to reducing this suffering.