Animal Welfare in Natural Disasters

Natural disasters cause enormous animal suffering. Improving emergency preparedness and response for animals saves lives and reduces suffering.

Key Facts

Hurricane Katrina (2005) resulted in the abandonment of an estimated 250,000 pets
PETS Act (2006) required US emergency plans to include pets after Katrina highlighted welfare failures
Fires, floods, and earthquakes displace livestock and wildlife populations causing significant welfare harms
Many people refuse to evacuate without their pets, creating human safety risks that good animal evacuation planning could prevent
The 2019-20 Australian bushfires killed or displaced an estimated 3 billion animals
Animal emergency rescue teams now operate in most developed countries but remain rare elsewhere

Welfare Considerations

Natural disaster response for animals has improved dramatically since Hurricane Katrina exposed the gap between human and animal emergency planning. Animals that are abandoned during disasters face dehydration, starvation, injury, and death - harms that proper evacuation planning can prevent. For wildlife, disaster response involves rescue, rehabilitation, and where possible return to habitat - a complex welfare operation requiring specialist skills. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of natural disasters, making disaster preparedness for animals an increasingly urgent welfare priority. Community-level animal emergency planning - including livestock farmers, pet owners, and wildlife rehabilitators - is the most effective approach.

What You Can Do

Create a pet emergency kit and plan including carriers, food, water, and veterinary records
Register your address with your local council if you have animals requiring evacuation assistance
Support animal rescue organisations that respond to natural disasters
Advocate for animal emergency plans to be included in local authority disaster planning
Donate to wildlife rehabilitation organisations operating in disaster response