Welfare of Animals During Natural Disasters

Wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters cause mass animal casualties and suffering, with growing recognition of the need for animal disaster response planning.

Key Facts

The 2019-20 Australian wildfires are estimated to have killed or displaced 3 billion animals
Hurricane Katrina left an estimated 250,000 pets stranded, many dying from exposure and starvation
Countries including the US, UK, and Australia have developed national animal disaster response plans
The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (2006) requires US evacuation plans to include pets
Farm animals are frequently excluded from disaster evacuation plans, left to die in floods or fires
Wildlife rehabilitation centers surge in capacity following major disaster events but are often overwhelmed

Welfare Considerations

Animals affected by natural disasters experience acute suffering from burns, drowning, smoke inhalation, dehydration, and starvation. Companion animals separated from owners may survive for extended periods in distress before rescue or death. Farm animals in flooded or burning sheds face particular suffering from confinement preventing escape. The welfare response to natural disasters requires pre-planning, resources, and coordination that most jurisdictions currently lack.

What You Can Do

Include pets and livestock in your personal emergency preparedness plan
Support organizations providing disaster animal rescue such as World Animal Protection
Advocate for animal-inclusive emergency planning at local and national government level
Donate to wildlife rehabilitation centers that respond to disaster events
Volunteer with trained animal disaster response organizations in your region