Integrating animal welfare into disaster preparedness and response planning is essential for both human and animal welfare, as disasters disproportionately affect both simultaneously.
Disaster planning that excludes animals has both animal and human welfare consequences. People who cannot evacuate with pets during disasters place themselves at greater risk by staying behind, creating a human welfare dimension to animal disaster planning. Farm animals in flood zones face mass mortality when access is impossible and rescue operations are not pre-planned. Wildlife disaster response - increasingly important as climate-driven events intensify - requires advance preparation including volunteer networks, treatment facilities, and triage protocols. Integrating animal welfare into national and local emergency planning frameworks is a welfare priority with growing urgency as climate change increases disaster frequency and severity.