Natural disasters and emergencies affect millions of animals annually. The integration of animal welfare into emergency planning has improved outcomes but significant gaps remain in preparedness and response.
Disasters cause acute suffering for animals through direct trauma, starvation, dehydration and separation from owners. The failure to plan for animal welfare in emergency response has historically caused preventable deaths. Animals left during evacuations suffer alone, while owners who stay to protect animals risk their own lives. Farm animals that cannot be evacuated face mass drowning, burning or starvation depending on disaster type. Wild animals displaced by fires or floods must navigate damaged habitat without established food sources or shelter. The psychological welfare of companion animals separated from familiar humans and environments during sheltering is a significant but often overlooked aspect of disaster welfare. Post-disaster trauma including anxiety and fear responses can persist in companion animals for months.