Emergency shelters often don’t accept pets. Evacuation routes can take longer when you’re managing an anxious animal. And animals — especially cats — have a frustrating habit of hiding the moment the energy in a household shifts toward crisis.
If you have pets, they need to be part of your emergency plan. Not as an afterthought, but as a real factor that shapes what you pack, where you can go, and what you need to do in the first minutes of an emergency. The good news: preparing your pets doesn’t require much. It requires some forethought and a dedicated kit.
The Core Problem: Most Shelters Won’t Take Your Pet
In a large-scale evacuation, most emergency shelters established for humans do not accept animals other than certified service animals. This is a reality you need to plan around in advance — not discover when you’re standing in a shelter parking lot with a crate.
Your alternatives:
- Pet-friendly hotels — research which chains and local motels in your likely evacuation direction allow pets; keep a list with phone numbers in your go-bag
- Friends or family outside the affected area — identify someone 50–100 miles away who could take you and your animals
- Pet-friendly emergency shelters — some counties maintain separate shelter facilities for evacuees with animals; contact your local emergency management office to find out if yours does
- Boarding facilities outside the area — identify a vet or kennel in the direction of evacuation who could take your pet in an emergency; call ahead and establish the relationship now
Make this list now and put it in your go-bag. In the middle of an evacuation is not the time to start Googling.
Build a Pet Go-Bag
Your pet needs their own dedicated kit. Store it with your household go-bag so you can grab everything in one trip.
For Dogs
- Food and water — at least 3 days of their regular food in a sealed, waterproof container; a collapsible water bowl; 1 liter of water per medium-sized dog per day
- Medications — any regular prescriptions, plus flea/tick prevention; keep a week’s supply in the kit and rotate it
- Leash, collar, and harness — a second set dedicated to the kit; disaster situations can be chaotic and dogs can slip collars
- Crate or carrier — even dogs who don’t normally crate may need to be confined in a shelter or hotel; a collapsible crate is easier to store
- ID and vaccination records — copies of registration, rabies vaccination, and any other relevant records; some shelters and kennels require them
- Comfort items — a familiar toy or blanket can reduce stress significantly for anxious animals
- Poop bags and sanitation supplies
For Cats
- Food and water — 3 days of regular food; cats on specialty diets need their specific food, not a substitute
- Hard-sided carrier — for safety in a vehicle and containment in unfamiliar environments; cats need to be secured, not loose in a car during an evacuation
- Portable litter pan and litter — a disposable aluminum pan and a small bag of litter in a zip-lock works well
- Medications and vaccination records
- A recent photo of your cat — in case of separation; have digital and print copies
For Small Animals, Birds, or Reptiles
Fish are typically not evacuable. For birds, small mammals, and reptiles, the key questions are: How do you safely transport them? What temperature do they need? How long can they survive without specialized care? Research your specific animal’s needs and plan accordingly. Your vet is the best resource for species-specific guidance.
The Hardest Part: Finding Your Pet First
Cats especially will hide at the first sign of household stress. If you need to evacuate quickly, a cat that has disappeared into a wall cavity or under the bed is a serious problem.
Prepare for this now:
- Know your cat’s two or three most reliable hiding spots
- Practice using their carrier regularly so they don’t associate it with stress alone
- Consider a breakaway collar with a current ID tag for indoor cats — in the chaos of a disaster, interior doors get left open
- Microchipping is the single most reliable tool for reuniting lost pets with owners after a disaster; if your pet isn’t chipped, schedule it
Critical Documents to Have Ready
Keep physical copies in your pet’s go-bag kit and digital copies in cloud storage:
- Current vaccination records (especially rabies)
- Veterinarian contact information
- Any prescriptions with dosage information
- Recent clear photos of each pet (for lost pet identification)
- Microchip numbers
- Your pet-friendly lodging and kennel list with phone numbers
Talk to Your Vet Now
Your veterinarian is one of the most useful resources in pet emergency planning and most pet owners never think to ask. A single conversation can cover: what to do with medications during an extended power outage, whether your pet’s anxiety warrants having a sedative on hand for evacuation scenarios, and what local emergency resources exist for animals in your county.
Many Pacific Northwest counties have Animal Services units within their emergency management structure. Find out what yours offers — some run their own pet-friendly shelter programs during large evacuations.
Got pets with special medical needs or mobility issues? Drop your situation in the comments — we’re happy to help think through it. And if you haven’t built your household go-bag yet, start with our free 72-hour go-bag checklist.