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Keeping Pets and Livestock Safe During a Disaster

Who is Responsible?

Are Pets Allowed in Shelters?

How Should I Pre-plan for My Pets?

How Should I Pre-plan for My Livestock?

Will My Pet be Safe at a Pet Shelter?

Would You Like to Volunteer?

Who is Responsible?
Ultimately, the sheltering and protection of pets and livestock are the responsibility of their owners.

Pets and livestock deserve to be appropriatly cared for even in a disaster situation. Make sure you plan to provide adequate safety and provisions for them so that everyone can be safe. We can help.

Are Pets Allowed in Shelters?
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 (though this policy is being re-evaluated given behaviors during Hurricane Katrina).

However, North Carolina's disaster response plan does include guidelines for the sheltering of pets and the safety of individuals from pets and livestock that are unattended or unsecured and those posing a threat to citizens.

North Carolina policy on pets during an impending disaster 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.

Please note: Each county may establish their own Animal Protection Plan that would be more specific and appropriate for the county.

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 pre-plan what they might do if government sheltering of their pet is not available.

The public should check the news media for information prior to an impending disaster for information on animal sheltering and assistance.

How Should I Pre-plan for My Pets?

Pet owners should have a disaster response plan for pet(s) just as they should have a plan for their own safety and that of their family. Never leave your pet chained, tied, or otherwise secured inside a home.

First develop a family plan. Know what you will do should a disaster happen. It is important to think about the types of disasters that are likely to occur in North Carolina and to plan for each type. Your response may be different.

If you decide to go to a shelter set up for the disaster, find out if a pet shelter will be open as well. The media will be a good source of information about the opening of shelters. Since the American Humane Association would be the lead agency for a pet shelter, they would also be a good source of information prior to a disaster. They offer a pet disaster planning checklist as well. Call 303-792-9900 extension 608 or link below.

American Humane's Animal Emergency Services

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.

If you go to a shelter and decide to leave your pet at home, you should ensure the safety and well-being of your pet to the best of your ability. However, this is the least desirable option. Please take your pet with you. They will be more safe with you than if left alone. Taking your pet with you will also mean one less pet to rescue after the fact.

For specific information on how to prepare, click on any of the resources below. Preparation will keep both pets and pet owners safe during a disaster.

American Humane Association on Pets

Humane Society on Pets

Humane Society of the US Disaster Center

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

Durham County's Animal Response Team's Tips

Low Cost Micro-chip Program for NC

Saving the Whole Family Brochure

Understand that, if a disaster strikes unexpectedly, the first priority of Emergency Management is protection of people and then property.

North Carolina's disaster response plan does include guidelines for the sheltering of pets and the safety of individuals from pets and livestock that are unattended or unsecured and those posing a threat to citizens. However, people will be the first priority.

How Should I Pre-plan for My Livestock?
The American Humane Association offers these tips for planning for the safety of livestock and farm animals preceding a disaster event.

• Post emergency contact numbers at your barn or on your pasture fence.
• Have sufficient transportation available for all your livestock or know where to obtain it. Train your livestock how to board the vehicles.
• Create a list of neighbors within a 100-mile radius of your home who would be willing to board your livestock if you are forced to evacuate.
• Form agreements with neighboring ranches and farms to help each other with disaster preparation and evacuations.
• Know organizations in your area that are prepared to rescue and house displaced livestock.
• Involve your family and neighbors in establishing an evacuation plan for animals in barns and outlying buildings.
• Have a supply of feed at a separate location, which could be air-dropped if the animals become stranded.
• Make up a kit with leads, halters, equine and bovine first aid kits, quieting hoods for easy transport, and water.
• Keep photos and a copy of your ownership papers or brands with you at all times in case you are separated from your livestock.

courtesty NCSU School of Veterinary Medicine

Will My Pet be Safe at a Pet 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.

State Emergency Management for North Carolina

Local Emergency Management for North Carolina

Local Red Cross

Would You Like to Volunteer?
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.

Volunteers are needed to help the pets and livestock who depend on people to keep them safe.

Emergency Management, SPCA, Humane Society or Animal Humane Association 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 Us Safe!