Pet Emergency Resources
Plans, checklists, and local guidance so your pets leave with you — every time.
Life-threatening emergency? Call your veterinarian or the nearest 24-hour animal hospital immediately. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435. For human emergencies, call 911.
Emergencies rarely give pet families much notice. This hub covers the two things that matter most: a plan you rehearsed before the alert, and local knowledge about where you can actually take your animals. Start with your city below, then work through the universal guides.
Local emergency guides
Universal pet emergency guides
Everything to pack in a 72-hour go-bag for each pet, plus how often to rotate supplies.
Read guideA step-by-step plan covering destinations, transport, roles, and practice runs.
Read guideHow co-located shelters work, what they require, and how to pre-register.
Read guideBooking strategy, fee waivers during declared emergencies, and backup options.
Read guideWhich records shelters and vets ask for, and how to keep them accessible offline.
Read guideThe first 48 hours: reporting, searching, shelters, and microchip registries.
Read guideBleeding, burns, heatstroke, and shock — stabilize, then get to a vet.
Read guideWarning signs, cooling technique, and why every case needs a vet visit.
Read guideProtecting pets during wildfire smoke events and after fire exposure.
Read guideSafe rooms, crate training, water storage, and power-outage planning.
Read guideWhat emergency vet care costs and how to budget or insure for it.
Read guideMedications, mobility, oxygen, and vet continuity when you evacuate.
Read guideFrequently Asked Questions
What should I do first when an evacuation order is issued?
Leave on the first voluntary order with your pets, carriers, and go-bags. Waiting for a mandatory order means crowded roads and full pet-friendly shelters and hotels.
Do emergency shelters accept pets?
Many counties operate co-located pet shelters next to human shelters, but they require carriers and proof of current vaccinations, and some limit species to dogs and cats.
What belongs in a pet emergency kit?
At least 72 hours of food and water per pet, two weeks of medication, printed vaccination records, a carrier, leash, waste supplies, and one familiar comfort item.
Looking for a local vet or emergency hospital? Browse the PawAide local directory.