Several years ago, when a hurricane was looming off the coast of Florida, pre-evacuation of shelter pets in the storm’s path to animal shelters out of state was the norm. Receiving shelters welcomed these pets who would appeal to adopters as pets from a disaster. There were positive benefits for the shelters on both ends. Unfortunately, times have changed. We are facing a disaster within the disaster: no place for homeless pets to go.

Last week, tropical storm Debby dropped catastrophic rain on Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the East Coast. Reports before the storm were frightening with projected rain of 20+ inches in flood-prone areas. BPF’s Animal Incident Management team received multiple requests to move pets in advance of the storm, but even with the extreme forecast, few shelters could receive them. Our nation’s shelters are full. The precious space available had to be saved for emergency transport from communities in dire need after the storm. The approach of “watch and wait” is painful for the animal welfare industry, but we were left with no choice.

With the increase of extreme weather, we must change our approach to continue to save lives. The new approach will require collaboration between animal shelters and the surrounding communities, pushing shelters to be proactive in disaster planning and calling on the community for support.

Alternatives to Pet Transport During Disaster

Here are steps for shelters, large and small, public and private, before and after disaster strikes:

1. If the disaster is a projected storm, call the local media! Get word out to the community that help is needed for homeless pets. Media enables shelters to request supplies, call out for fosters and adoptions, and inform the community on disaster planning for their own pets. Have a draft ready that can be adjusted quickly.
2. Reduce adoption fees. Families considering adoption may be encouraged to come to the shelter and adopt before the disaster.
3. Find foster homes. Ask the community for help with your pets and enroll in Home to Home to help track available fosters during disasters.
4. If the shelter is in a flood zone, have a plan and equipment in place to move pets to higher ground before the storm. Work with local officials and emergency management to identify a safe place for the pets in your care. Be sure you have enough crates on hand to house all the pets safely in a secondary location. Need crates? See item 1!
5. Start working now to identify a transport buddy. A transport buddy could be a shelter on higher ground in your state or a shelter in another state with a space to hold your pets until the danger passes.
6. Use any combination of 1-5 that works for you. These steps can also be taken when there is no warning before the disaster.

Shelters must have a disaster plan in advance. If shelters apply these steps first, space will be available when the situation is dire. Limited space forces us to focus on the pets that truly need evacuation.

Community Involvement for Homeless Pets During Disaster

The following are considerations for pet lovers:

1. Know where your community shelter is located, follow them on social media and sign up for their emails. Check to see what their needs are in advance of a disaster.
2. Adopt! If you, your friends or family are considering adding a pet to your family, go to an animal shelter. You will find a diverse selection of pets waiting for families in our nation’s shelters and you may just free up space to help a pet in a disaster.
3. Fostering during disaster or crisis is temporary and saves lives. All you need is a crate, food, and a space in your home. Many shelters will even provide the supplies for you. Please open your heart to large dogs, commonly left with nowhere to go during a disaster.
4. Volunteering is vital during disaster and can take many forms, from helping at a temporary shelter to calling numbers on microchips when pets arrive at the shelter. Our shelters need your skills.
5. Purchase supplies for your local animal shelter from their wish list. Be sure that in-kind donations you bring to them are actually needed. During a disaster, unnecessary items are a burden to sort and store.

With full shelters across the country and so many pets in need, we must be proactive to protect pets during times of disaster. Together, we can ensure that no pet is left behind.

  Until every pet has a home,  

Download and share BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Alternatives For Pet Transport flyer.