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Sheltering With Your Pet or Service Animal

Whether you decide to evacuate or stay in your home, you will need to make plans in advance for your service animals or pets. Service animals and pets need appropriate evacuation plans just like you. If you must evacuate your home, take your pets and service animals with you when possible.

If you are going to a public emergency shelter, it is important to remember that most shelters DO NOT PERMIT PETS, although they DO PERMIT SERVICE ANIMALS. There may be pet-friendly shelters located in your area, but you will need to research that in advance to find out where those pet-friendly shelters are located. If there are no pet-friendly shelters in your area, or if you think you will be unable to travel to the nearest one, you will need to identify shelter alternatives that suit your needs, as well as those of your pets.

Shelters
Remember, many shelters do not accept pets, although they will accept service animals. Call the shelters in your local area prior to an emergency situation to see if they accept animals. If your regional shelter does not accept pets, consider recruiting friends or family members who can host your pet in their home, boarding your pet at a secure veterinarian's office or even a hotel.

Private Kennels and Veterinarian Offices
Depending on the nature of the emergency, contact your local vet prior to the disaster taking place and ask if they are going to board animals or if they, too, must evacuate. If they plan on being closed, see if they can recommend private kennels for your pet. Space is limited at kennels, especially during an emergency situation, so be sure to make arrangements as far in advance as possible.

Motels and Hotels
There are motels and hotels that accept pets during emergency evacuations; however, like private kennels the selection is limited and space fills up fast. Make reservations as far in advance as possible in order to secure a room for you and your pet. Also, be sure to choose a facility that is not within the evacuation zone.

Pet and Service Animal Survival
For admittance to a public shelter for service animals or a private kennel for pets, your furry friends need to be up-to-date on all shots and vaccinations. In order to make things easier for yourself and your pet or service animal, prepare a pet survival kit in advance should you need to evacuate in a moment's notice. Below is a recommended list of items you should include in your pet's survival kit:

• A crate or carrier
• Leash and collar with proper identification
• Two-week supply of food (dry or moist and canned with a manual can-opener)
• Water
• Water and food dishes
• Cat litter and litter pan
• Toys and treats
• Sleeping pad or blankets
• Emergency phone numbers for veterinarian, animal shelters, friends and relatives
• Photo of the pet with you (to prove you are the owner)
• Veterinary records with rabies certificate and current license tag number
• Medications with instructions for dosage
• Cleaning supplies (newspaper, plastic bags with ties, paper towels, disinfectant spray)

• What to Take to a Shelter
• What to Expect in a Shelter
• Eligibility Requirements for Special Needs Shelters
• Sheltering With Your Pet or Service Animal

Go Back to "If You Go: Important Shelter Information."

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