Natural disasters cause immense suffering for animals, yet emergency management systems have historically failed to plan for their needs. Integrating animals into disaster response saves lives.
Animals caught in natural disasters suffer from drowning, burns, hypothermia, starvation, and injury. Their suffering is compounded when people delay evacuation to remain with them. Integrating animal evacuation planning into emergency management — including shelter-in-place options for livestock and pet-friendly evacuation routes — reduces both animal and human casualties during disasters.