usDART.org - the Animal Disaster Response Team Training Institute

Many pet owners are interested in learning how to prepare themselves and their pets for disasters. These are some of the questions we frequently hear:

Why is it important to have a plan for both people and pets?

Pet owners have additional challenges when an evacuation is required, and share a natural instinct to not leave pets behind.  Personal, community and state plans to support animal evacuation and sheltering are essential in protecting both people and pets.

Check with your city and ask pertinent questions, like:

• Which of your disaster response teams will assist animals and their companions during an evacuation?
• Who can I call to get someone to do a welfare check on my animals if I can not return home?
• How do I register a caretaker / pet sitter for my animal so they can get to my house and save my animal?

Who is responsible for my pets?

You are the person responsible for your pets.

Where can I take pets if I’m evacuated?

Make a list of friends and family who would be willing make a list of friends and family who would be willing make a list of to take your pets on a temporary basis. Other locations include veterinary hospitals, boarding kennels and public evacuation shelters. Some hotels allow pets (www.petswelcome.com).

Can my pet stay with me if I go to a public evacuation shelter?

Pet owners should evacuate with their animals whenever possible. Many communities are working on plans to co-locate temporary emergency animal shelters near public evacuation shelters. This means that in some cases, depending on resource availability, animals would be staying near their owners, but not sharing the same space.  Owners may be expected to help care for their animals at such shelters. Depending on circumstances, it may be more feasible for the community to shelter pets at local animal facilities, such as animal shelters, kennels or veterinary hospitals.

What if I have a service animal?

Service animals are animals that provide assistance for a medical disability. They are not considered to be pets and will be allowed to stay with their owners.

What if I’m not at home when my area is evacuated?

• Create a “buddy plan” with nearby relatives, friends or neighbors to help each other with animal evacuation.  Make sure your “buddy” has written permission to care for your animals and access to your pet emergency kit and kennels.
• If you need assistance with pet evacuation you may contact the local animal control agency or humane society to request evacuation assistance for your pets as soon as possible.
• Place a clearly visible window sticker to indicate the type and number of pets.  Make sure to keep this up to date as inaccurate information could endanger fire/emergency personnel.
• Talk to your neighbors and let them know under which circumstances you would like to see them break a window, or better: enter your home and let your pets out.

How should I prepare my pets?

• Keep pets up to date on preventive health care.
• Keep copies of all vaccination/health records.
• Record contact information for your veterinarian.
• Identify your pets:
  • Microchip implantation is an excellent way to identify pets, but make sure the chip is registered to your current address.
  • Photographs of you with your pet.
  • Collars or harnesses with identification tags.
  • Give copies of essential identification information to someone out of the area.

How should I transport my pets?

Have one airline kennel or cage per pet. Mark the kennel with your name, address, phone and an alternate contact. Make sure kennels are large enough to allow your pet to stand up and turn around, and to accommodate the pet and food and water bowls.

Familiarize your pets with sleeping in the kennel/cage.  Kennels for cats should be large enough to accommodate a small litter box.

Pillow cases will work for transporting cats in an emergency. Evac-Saks are much better and can be hung from doorknobs.

Crates are good ways to transport your animal. However, they are useless for sheltering your animal or containing it outdoors. There is an unavoidable build up of heat inside the cage. For long-term housing wire cages are much better. Do not forget to provide shade...

What if I have pets other than dogs and cats?

Pets such as rabbits, rodents, ferrets, hedgehogs, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and others will have specific needs.  Make sure you have appropriate travel cages, bedding, special foods, along with environmental controls for those pets needing special heat and humidity conditions.

Do not forget to let family and friends know that you and your pet are safe after a disaster. Let your out-of-state contact know and sign up for the Red Cross Alive and Well Registry.