Companion Animals

Companion Animal Emergency Preparedness and Welfare

Preparing for emergencies including floods, fires, and power outages is a welfare obligation for companion animal owners that prevents both acute harm and owner separation.

Key Facts

Tens of thousands of companion animals are separated from owners during natural disasters
Many people refuse to evacuate without their pets, endangering both human and animal welfare
Emergency kits for pets should include food, water, medication, and veterinary records for 5 days
Microchipping significantly increases reunification rates following disaster separation
Emergency boarding facilities are often overwhelmed during large-scale evacuations

Welfare Considerations

Emergency preparedness is a welfare responsibility. Animals separated from their owners in disasters face starvation, injury, and death while owners face devastating loss. Advance planning with shelter identification, supplies, and pet-friendly evacuation options prevents the worst outcomes.

What You Can Do

Create a pet emergency kit with 5 days of supplies
Identify pet-friendly emergency shelters and boarding options in advance
Ensure pets are microchipped and ID tags are current
Practise loading cats into carriers and dogs into vehicles to reduce emergency stress