Emergency Planning for Pets

Pets require special planning consideration both when sheltering in place or evacuating.

When planning for pets during a disaster, consider

• Food and water needs. Your pets will require water for hydration—at least one gallon per day, per animal.

If you need to evacuate, consider:

• Pet supplies such as food, medications, special needs
• Identification tags
• Crating needs
• Collars, harnesses, and leashes/leads to keep your pets close to you, especially if they become nervous or frightened
• Transportation needs
• Vaccination records and/or tags, especially for rabies vaccine
• Most shelters, but not all, will have a location to shelter animals

Pets may exhibit behavioral changes before, during, and after a disaster. If relocated to an unfamiliar location, such as a shelter, pets may become uncharacteristically aggressive or, in some cases, passive.