Top Tips for Keeping Your Pets Safe During a Disaster
- If it’s not safe for you to stay in your home during an emergency, it’s not safe for them either!
- Include supplies for your pet in your emergency kit, or assemble an emergency kit for your pet.
- Make an evacuation plan for you and your pets. Many hotels and shelters do not accept animal guests, other than service animals.
Downloadable Pet Disaster Kit Checklist
https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/disaster-prep-Pet-Emergency-Checklist.pdf
Downloadable Pet Boarding Information sheet
https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/disaster-prep-Pet-Information-for-Boarding.pdf
Know a Safe Place to Take Your Pets
- If you have to evacuate your home during a disaster, the best way to protect your pets is to evacuate them too. If it\’s not safe for you to stay behind then it\’s not safe to leave pets behind either.
- Know which hotels and motels along your evacuation route will accept pets in an emergency. Call ahead for reservations if you know you may need to evacuate. Ask if no pet policies could be waived in an emergency.
- Most American Red Cross shelters cannot accept pets because of health and safety concerns and other considerations. Service animals that assist people with disabilities are allowed in Red Cross shelters.
- Know which friends, relatives, boarding facilities, animal shelters or veterinarians can care for your animals in an emergency. Prepare a list with phone numbers.
- Although your animals may be more comfortable together, be prepared to house them separately.
- Make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are current and that all dogs and cats are wearing collars with securely fastened, up-to-date identification. Many pet shelters require proof of current vaccinations to reduce the spread of disease.
- Consider having your pet “microchipped” by your veterinarian.
Find Pet-Friendly Hotels
- bringfido.com or call 877-411-FIDO
- dogfriendly.com or call 888-281-5170
- doginmysuitcase.com or call 8880254-0637
- pet-friendly-hotels.net or call 866-966-3046
- pets-allowed-hotels.com or call 800-250-1625
- Petswelcome.com
- Tripswithpets.com
Help Emergency Workers Find Your Pets
Sign up to receive important alerts and information from the ASPCA, and they\’ll send you a free Pet Safety Pack!
In your safety pack, you’ll find the ASPCA pet rescue window decal to help alert rescue personnel that pets are inside your home in the event of an emergency.
https://secure.aspca.org/take-action/order-your-pet-safety-pack