Crisis-Ready Society
Foundations

Pets in emergencies

Many shelters and hotels do not accept animals, so pets need their own plan and supplies. This page covers pet ID, a pet kit, where pets can go and how to keep them safe afterwards.

Foundation for every scenario
In the UAEThe u.ae emergency page lists animal-related contacts, including the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on 8003050 and Dubai Municipality on 800900.[4]

Prepare

  • Fit a collar and tag with current details, and microchip and register your pet.[1]
  • Find pet-friendly places to go, such as relatives, hotels or boarding kennels.[1]
  • Arrange a trusted neighbour to check on or move your pets if you are out.[1]
  • Keep at least one week of pet food, water and medicines.[2]
  • Train pets to enter and stay in their carrier, and practise evacuating together.[1]
  • Keep a leash or carrier near the exit.[1]
  • Keep vaccination records and vet contacts in waterproof copies.[3]

Use and maintain

  • Bring pets indoors at the first warning of a storm.[3]
  • Take your pet and its kit with you if you evacuate.[1]
  • Never leave a pet chained outdoors.[1]
  • When sheltering at home, use an inner room with few windows and remove toxic items.[1]
  • If you must leave a pet behind, leave extra food and water.[2]
  • Keep pets away from stagnant water, strays and wildlife.[1]

Review and restock

  • Keep pets on a leash or in a carrier outside, as familiar landmarks may change.[1]
  • Check your home for sharp debris, spilled chemicals and loose wires before letting pets roam.[1]
  • Contact a vet if your pet seems stressed, unwell or injured.[1]
  • Approach an injured pet slowly and keep your face away from its mouth.[1]
  • If your pet is lost, contact shelters and animal control and update the microchip record.[1]
  • Rotate pet food, using the nearest expiry date first.[2]

Watch

Short how-to videos for this topic are being added to our channel.
Watch Crisis-Ready Society on YouTube

Official sources

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Be Prepared: Pet Safety in Emergencies
  2. Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF): Preparedness for your pets
  3. Ready.gov (FEMA), via Cal Poly Pomona copy: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters
  4. UAE Government Portal (u.ae): Handling emergencies

Steps are written in our own words from these pages. If advice from your local authority differs, follow your local authority.

Offline mode: showing saved pages