How do I evacuate with pets during a disaster? Everything you need to know

As monsoon storms begin and wildfires continue to burn throughout the state, many families are having to evacuate their homes. Having a pet can make evacuation plans even more complicated and stressful.

In a 2023 survey by PetSmart Charities, 90% of pet parents said they wouldn’t leave their home in a disaster if they couldn’t bring their pets. The organization started an ongoing partnership with the American Red Cross to address the need for pet protection during disasters.

The Red Cross now records pets as members of the family, PetSmart Charities senior community partnerships manager Melisa Pratt said, meaning families can bring their animals to Red Cross shelters and they are included in case management.

With this change, families can be assured there is a resource for both them and their animals in case of emergency.

“People will emphatically say, 'I just didn't know where to go, I didn't know what to do, I didn't want to leave my pet, my pet is everything to me,'” Pratt said. “Now, through our partnership with the American Red Cross, we're starting to see the numbers inch up of people taking heed to the disaster calls and getting to safety, knowing that if it is an American Red Cross-run shelter, they can come there with their domestic pet.”

In the first year of the partnership, there were over 34,000 overnight pet stays, Pratt said. In 2024, there have already been 52,000 household management cases including pets, she noted.

Pet owners can take several actions to prepare their pets and themselves for an evacuation. Here is everything you need to know to get your pets ready for an emergency.

Update and gather pet identification documents

One of the most important steps to prepare for an evacuation is having identification for your pets at the ready, Pratt said. This includes having a way to track your animal, current photos of them and access to any necessary medical documentation.

Pratt said the best thing to do is to microchip your animal. However, alternative practices could be using a tracking collar or an Apple AirTag to track the pet’s location.

Using a tracking device ensures the owner can find their pet if it runs away during frightening moments of evacuation.

Owners should also keep up-to-date photos of their animal, Pratt said, to show others exactly what their pet looks like if it goes missing. For pets that look significantly different after grooming, keep before and after images that show what the animal may look like at different times.

Pet parents should also be able to easily access any necessary medical documents like vaccination records, Pratt said. She recommended taking pictures of the documents to ensure there is a digital copy in case the physical documents are lost or destroyed in the disaster.

Prepare an emergency supply bag for pets

Pet owners should keep an emergency evacuation bag ready with supplies their pet will need during a disaster, Pratt said.

For her pets, Pratt keeps an easy-to-grab bag with food, water, a collapsible bowl, a leash and harness, comfort items and sanitation items in case of an evacuation.

Owners should date the food and rotate it as needed to make sure it doesn’t go bad, Pratt noted.

Sanitation items like litter boxes or puppy pads are important in case the pet is unable to go to the bathroom in a proper place, she said.

Plan your emergency route and safe locations

In case of a disaster, before evacuation is deemed necessary, families should take time to plan their evacuation routes, Pratt said. Being prepared to leave will decrease the level of stress in an emergency.

Individuals can call the Red Cross or check their website and social media to find their shelter locations during an event. Red Cross shelters will always accommodate pets, Pratt said.

Families should also identify friends and family who live outside of the evacuation zone and who could provide assistance when possible.

Prepare before disaster cycles begin

All preparation steps should be taken prior to the beginning of a disaster season, Pratt said. Revisiting the evacuation checklist every six months to a year will give owners the best chance of being prepared in the event of an emergency.

In Arizona, this means taking steps to ready your pet before the extreme heat and weather rolls in during the summer. Pratt recommended completing the checklist during the spring to ensure the entire family is prepared by the time monsoon and wildfire season approaches.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How to evacuate pets during an emergency