Caring for

Animals During
Natural Disasters
A GUIDE FOR PET OWNERS AND RESCUE VOLUNTEERS
 In times of environmental events
like bushfires and volcanic eruptions,
it's important to keep the safety
and welfare of animals.
More often than not, in the face of
fear and panic, owners and carers
unintentionally leave them behind.
Prepare food and water

Look for any food items left in your fridge

that may be fed to your pets or other
animals left without shelter.
What to do when your food supplies are running low?

01 02
Contact your local animal Keep a list of groups and their
shelter that may have food contact info so you're prepared
stored for times like these. when these situations arise.
Comfort distressed animals

They can feel disoriented and frightened by the chaos

brought by natural disasters. There are various ways to calm
animals and lessen their anxiety. You may try any of the
following methods.
How to comfort animals

Take away the stressor or remove them from

the environment causing them stress. If an
animal is out on the streets looking
distressed due to loud thunder, keep them in
a shelter with less noise.

Distract an animal from what's causing them

anxiety. Apart from placing an animal in a
calm and quiet area, you may also give them
a toy or some food to divert their attention.
How to 01 Talk to them in a soothing manner and stay
closely by their side. Handle them with care and
comfort animals gentleness especially when you can tell they are
feeling anxious and restless.

02 Note that they may feel disoriented too especially

since disaster can greatly affect their scent
markers.

03 Take them to a veterinarian for proper

medication when things have calmed down. It's
also important to check if animals caught any
illnesses during the disaster so they can be
treated properly.
Place animals in
a clean environment

Apart from reducing noise Have trash bags and

pollution, it's highly paper towels ready at all
important to provide a times to maintain the
clean space for the animal cleanliness of their space.
whether it's in your own
home or an available
location outdoors.
Prepare a carrier

Having a crate or carrier is extremely

helpful during dire times when you
need to take an animal with you.
 Other items you may need

Make sure your pet is wearing a Bring your pet's medical records so
leash or collar with a tag containing veterinarians know how to care for
important information like its name, it in the best possible way when it
breed, and your contact details. gets injured or ill.
Plan your evacuation
01
Know how to bring your
animals with you and where
to go. Their evacuation is
equally important as yours. If
it's not safe for you to stay
behind, it's definitely not
safe for them too.
02
Note that animals may not
be allowed to enter some
evacuation centers except
for service animals. Hence,
the importance of planning
for their own logistics.
03
Talk to your local animal
organizations also for the
best course of action. It is
wise to know what your
community is up to in terms
of mass evacuation of
animals.
Prepare a first aid kit

Ask a veterinarian what items you need to keep in this

kit to better care for animals affected by natural
disasters. A kit may contain bandage rolls, ointment,
and medicines.
Do your research and
follow instructions from
concerned authorities

Seeking information on how to best care for

different kinds of animals is a must. Listen to
the advice of animal organizations and
provide assistance. This is especially
important after a huge calamities like
wildfires or hurricanes where several animals
may be displaced and are in need of care.
Volunteer

During natural disasters, plenty of groups assemble to care for

animals that have been affected. Help when you can and learn
how to approach these animals in the best possible way.