Emergency Response

Companion Animals and Natural Disaster Preparedness

Companion animal preparedness for natural disasters requires advance planning that most households neglect until too late.

Key Facts

Less than 25% of pet owners report having an emergency plan for their companion animals
After Hurricane Katrina, over 250,000 pets were abandoned because owners could not evacuate with them
Many emergency shelters still do not accept pets, creating human evacuation compliance problems
Animal emergency identification including microchips and ID tags enables reunification after separation
The PETS Act (2006) required state emergency plans to include household pets but implementation varies

Welfare Considerations

Companion animal suffering in disasters is largely preventable with advance planning. Animals separated from owners face starvation, drowning, and disease in disaster zones. Owners who delay evacuation to avoid leaving pets behind create human safety risks. Simple preparedness measures — emergency kit, microchip, evacuation plan with animal-friendly shelter identification — prevent the majority of companion animal disaster suffering.

What You Can Do

Create an emergency preparedness kit for your companion animals including food, medications, and documents
Identify pet-friendly emergency shelters and boarding facilities in your area before disasters occur
Advocate for all emergency management agencies to include companion animal planning in their published evacuation guidance