Pets

Your pets are an important member of your family and need to be included in your family’s emergency plan. If local officials ask you to evacuate, that means your pet should evacuate too. If you leave your pets behind, they may end up lost, injured, or worse.

Pet emergency planning

Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or an emergency.

When making an emergency plan for your pet, consider the following:

  • Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside. Know a safe place in your community where you can take your pets if an evacuation is needed.
  • Plan with neighbors, friends, or relatives to make sure someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
  • Have your pet microchipped. Keep your address and phone up-to-date and include emergency contact information for someone outside your immediate area.
  • Build an emergency kit for your pet.

If you have larger animals, such as horses, goats, or pigs on your property:

  • Ensure all animals have some form of identification.
  • Make sure you have access to vehicles and trailers that would be needed to transport and support each type of animal.
  • If evacuation is not possible, owners should decide whether to move large animals to a barn or turn them loose outside.
Dog and cat sitting on floor