Pet Preparedness
Make a Plan For Your Pet
Do you have a plan for your pets in case of an emergency, including an earthquake, a flood, or a wildfire? In the event of an emergency, a well-practiced pet preparedness plan will not only reduce stress but will also save precious time and possibly lives.
Here are some tips on how to plan to keep your pets safe in case of an emergency.
Build a Kit for Your Pet
Store a disaster kit for your pet with your own and keep it in a safe, accessible place. Most households should have two types of kits: one for leaving quickly and one for staying at home.
Supplies for Pets
Store a disaster kit for your pet with your own and keep it in a safe, accessible place. Most households should have two types of kits: one for leaving quickly and one for staying at home.
Disaster kits may include:
- Bottled water (a 7-day supply for each animal).
- Pet food (a 7-day supply for each animal).
- Portable carrier or crate.
- Pet medication and a copy of the prescription (a week’s supply).
- A copy of all licenses, registrations, and medical records, including vaccinations.
- Laminated photos of you and each animal, including photos with your pet and other pet-caregivers.
- A leash and collar (dogs) or harness (cats) with identification tag (pack extra identification tags).
- A pet first aid kit with large and small bandages, scissors, tweezers, Q-tips, antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide, elastic tape, eyewash, ear cleaning solutions.
- Waste supplies, including plastic bags for litter disposal/dog cleanup.
- Grooming Items
- Comfort Items
Getting Your Pets Ready to Travel
If you ever need to leave your home quickly, you should take your pets with you. They might need to ride in a pet carrier, so it helps if they feel safe and comfy in it. Here are some simple ways to help them:
- Put the pet carrier in a place your pet likes to go.
- Keep the carrier door open.
- Give your pet treats near the carrier — you can even put treats inside.
- Put a soft blanket or small bed in the carrier so it smells like home
How to Prepare your Pets to Leave
- Put your pets in a safe room so they can’t run away while you get ready.
- Place them in their carrier or cage. You can put a light sheet or towel over it to help them feel calm. View this video demonstration on how to place a pet into a carrier.
What to Do If You Can’t Take Your Pet With You
Always get yourself to safety first. If you can’t bring your pet, call 2-1-1 for help. Leaving your pet home alone should be the very last choice.
- Put up signs to help rescuers find your pets:
- On a door or front window
- In more than one place so rescuers can find your animals
- If you put a sign outside, keep it safe in a baggie or plastic cover
- Leave a key in a safe place so rescuers can get inside and rescue your pets.
- Never leave your pet chained outside.
- Never let small pets out of their cages. Birds, hamsters, rabbits, and other small pets are safest in their cages with food and water.
- Keep cats and dogs in different safe rooms. Give them plenty of food and water and let them move around freely inside the room.
Pet Safety Tips for Bad Weather
Bad weather can be hard on pets. Very hot days and very cold days can make them sick or hurt. By learning a few easy tips, you can help your pet stay healthy and comfortable.
Hot Weather
- Watch for Signs of Heat Stroke
- Heavy panting
- Trouble breathing
- Fast heartbeat
- Drooling
- Feeling weak or fainting
- Keep Your Pets Safe
- Never leave your pet in a hot car.
- Do not walk your pet during the hottest part of the day.
- Stay off hot pavement. It can burn their paws. Test pavement with your hand.
- Help Them Stay Cool
- Keep pets inside in the coolest room.
- Put their bed in a shady spot.
- Give your pet plenty of cool water.
- Keep windows and doors closed if they don’t have screens. Pets can fall out and get hurt.
- Trim long fur, but do not shave dogs.
- Brush more often to help pets stay cool.
Cold Weather
- Watch for Signs of Hypothermia
- Shivering
- Moving slowly
- Whining
- Weakness
- Bring them inside right away!
- Keep Your Pets Safe
- Never leave them in a cold car.
- Look under and inside your car before starting it. Cats may hide there.
- Wipe paws. Use paw balm and booties.
- Help Them Stay Warm
- Keep pets inside in a warm and humid room.
- Make a warm bed with a blanket.
- Give a little extra food and plenty of water.
- Dry your pet when they come inside.
- Don’t shave your pet’s fur. It helps keep them warm.
- Keep space heaters out of reach. Pets can knock them over or get burned.
Tips for Taking Care of Large Animals
- Know at least two ways to get out of your area with your animals.
- Have the right trucks or trailers ready to move your animals. Make sure people who know how to handle them can help.
- Make sure every animal has a tag or something that shows who they belong to.
- Make sure the place you take them has food, water, and a vet if they need one.
- If you cannot leave, you must choose to put your animals in a barn or let them stay outside.
- Never leave animals locked in barns or sheds.
- Move them into open area where they can’t get onto roads or cause danger
More Help for Large Animals
- Alameda County Livestock Pass Program
- American Veterinary Medical Association Large Animal Preparedness
- Disaster Help For Ranchers, Farmers, and Livestock Owners
- Farm Animal Disaster Preparedness Plan
- Farm Service Agency Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP)
- Hold Your Horses Evacuation
Animal Services and Shelter List
Plan ahead for where both small and large animals can stay if shelters are overwhelmed during an emergency.
Visit our Alameda County’s Animal Services and Shelter List for more information.
Pet Preparedness Resources
State Resources
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services: Animal Preparedness supports local governments, tribal nations, and the public in supporting animal response efforts.
CAL FIRE: Wildland Fire Safety for Your Livestock and Pets: This PDF handout is for livestock and pet owners, providing practical guidance on creating evacuation plans, preparing emergency supply kits, safeguarding barns and animals.
CDFA: California Animal Response Emergency Support (CARES) provides emergency preparedness and disaster response resources to help protect pets, livestock, and other animals during disasters in California. It includes evacuation planning tools, emergency supply checklists, guidance for animal owners.
California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET): CVET is a specialized state resource that provides veterinary care during disasters and supports communities when local veterinary resources are overwhelmed.
National Resources
Humane World for Animals: Disaster Relief for Animals: provides emergency care, animal rescue, and disaster response to support communities.
Ready.gov: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters explains how to include pets in your family’s emergency preparedness plans, including identifying pet-friendly shelters or lodging before disasters occur.