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How To Help Older Adults With Disaster Planning
for Pets & Livestock

On May 22, 2006, the House passed the "PETS" act to keep people and animals together during a disaster. The following links provide more information on this important issue.

Humane Society Synopsis of the Legislation

No Pet Left Behind (includes legislative contacts)

Thomas Library Information on the House Version

Thomas Library Information on the Senate Version

Emergency shelters, established to give people a safe place to go to during an impending disaster event, do not allow pets other than seeing-eye dogs. Previous disaster events have shown that many people will risk their own lives rather than leave their pets to fend for themselves. Others have endangered themselves by returning home after a disaster before the area has been declared safe.

As Aging Network workers, it is our responsibility to help seniors pre-plan for disasters. Planning for the security and well-being of both pets and livestock will help seniors not panic and make wise decisions during an impending disaster event.

How can your agency help seniors make arrangements
for pets before a disaster strikes?

What Agencies are Involved?

What Should Older Adults Do With Their Pets?

What Will Happen to Ensure the Protection of the Pets?

How Should Older Adults Prepare?

Encouraging Volunteer Help

What Agencies are Involved?
The first step to helping older adults prepare is to know what agencies have authority over pets and domestic livestock during an emergency.

To protect wild and domesticated animal resources (all animals whether, owned, stray, domestic, or wild), the public health, the food supply, the environment, and to ensure the humane care and treatment of animals during disasters.

Saving human lives and protecting property, in that order.

The North Carolina Director of Emergency Management will determine when it is necessary to initiate Animal Protection activities.

What Should Older Adults Do With Their Pets?
Older adults and any caregivers should be informed about North Carolina policy related to pets.

That policy is:

When disaster strikes, the American Humane Association takes responsibility for sheltering companion animals owned by evacuees admitted to American Red Cross shelters. Animals are either transported to AHA facilities or boarded in temporary structures adjacent to the ARC wild shelter, and operated by the AHA. The AHA will be responsible for ensuring the safe return of any animals sheltered.

It is the responsibility of Emergency Management to make sure that the public knows about sheltering options. However, if a disaster strikes unexpectedly, the first priority is protection of people and then property. So, pet owners should be advised to pre-plan what they might do if government sheltering of their pet is not available. Pet owners should have a disaster response plan for their pet(s) and livestock just as they should have a plan for their own safety and that of their family.

The appropriate agency listed above will take control and will do what is needed to make sure that any pet or livestock not attended to by it's owner does not become a threat or danger to the citizens they are trying to protect.

The public should check the news media for information prior to an impending disaster for information on animal sheltering and assistance. If there is no prior warning, the pet or animal owner should ensure the safety and well-being of the animals to the best of their ability. If a pet goes with a family to a shelter, the pet may have to stay in the family vehicle or within it's cage outside the shelter if government sheltering is not yet available. Pet owner's should prepare by bringing food, water, medicine, records of vaccinations, a toy, a bed, a leash, and a crate.

Ultimately, the sheltering and protection of pets and livestock are the responsibility of their owners.

What Will Happen to Ensure the Protection of Pets in a Public Shelter?
Animal protection resources will be mobilized at both the state and county levels. The county will take on primary responsibility for assessing the situation and needs and determining what resources are needed to meet the needs identified.

Local Emergency Management personnel, the State Emergency Response Team (SERT), the Federal Emergency Response Team (ERT), and the Disaster Field Office (DFO) will all work together to identify and meet needs for animal safety and welfare.

Requests for animal protection assistance and resources such as food, medicine, shelter material, specialized personnel, and additional veterinary medical professionals, will be transmitted from the local Emergency Management office to the State Emergency Operations Center. Should the need for federal resources exist, the State Emergency Operations Center will coordinate requests for federal assistance. Federal assistance may include animal feed, veterinary support, water, medicine and other technical assistance and resources as needed.

Since there is no equivalent Emergency Support Function for animal protection under the Federal Response Plan, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Coordination Center will be available for support through the USDA representative on the Federal Emergency Response Team.

Local animal control personnel, SPCA or others will handle domestic animals, livestock, and pets that are lost, strayed, homeless or otherwise in danger. Those animals will be sheltered, fed, and returned to their owners, if possible.

If it is not possible to return animals to their owners, these agencies have the authority to try to get the animals adopted, sell the animals, or use euthanasia as appropriate. Therefore, it is critical that pets wear up-to-date tags and that the owners check with the emergency shelters should they get separated from their pet accidentally. Many pets now have embedded microchips that could be used to locate owners. Pet owners might want to consider this option before a disaster occurs.

Emergency Management will work to coordinate resources to control disease and feeding of livestock and other farm animals in the event of a disaster. Should a senior have livestock or farm animals that they could not get to safety, they should notify shelter personnel, a local Emergency Management representative, or a SPCA representative as to the number involved, type, location, probable needs, etc.

How Should Older Adults Prepare?
Ultimately, the sheltering and protection of pets and livestock are the responsibility of their owners. Therefore, it is critical that pet and livestock owners plan ahead of time for a disaster.

For specific information on how to prepare, click on any of the resources below. The information provided will help you, as providers, the help older adults in your county prepare. Preparation will keep both pets and pet owners safe during a disaster.

Humane Society on Pets

American Veterinary Medical Association

Red Cross on Pets

FEMA on Pets - Before, During, & After

FEMA Planning Tips for Pets, Livestock, & Wildlife

N.C. State Animal Response Team

Find a Pet Friendly Place to Stay

Pets and livestock deserve to be appropriately cared for even in a disaster situation. Make sure older adults in your county know how to provide adequate safety and provisions for them so that everyone can be safe.

Encouraging Volunteer Help
With past disasters in our area, agencies within North Carolina worked together to both shelter animals and to assist those who became displaced, hurt, or otherwise in need.

An animal shelter was set up at the state fairgrounds. The NCSU Vet School sheltered and treated displaced and injured animals. Veterinarians and vet school students volunteered.

However, during major disasters, the need is so great that community volunteers are also needed. Volunteers may be needed at the shelter or Vet School. Or, temporary foster "parents" may be needed in the aftermath of a disaster. Oftentimes, communication avenues are down and pet owners cannot be contacted. Or, the pet or livestock animal may not have been wearing identification.

Please encourage all those who are able to volunteer to help the pets and livestock who depend on people to keep them safe.

Emergency Management, SPCA, or Humane Society personnel should be able to connect willing volunteers with opportunities.

Additionally, donations are always needed to help defray the costs, especially for the injured animals needing care.

Please Help Keep Me Safe!