Pet Evacuation Checklist: How to Leave Safely With Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets

Quick answer

When an evacuation is ordered or your written safety trigger is reached, secure every animal before opening exterior doors, take the prepared kit, use a confirmed destination, and keep each pet under direct control during travel. Leave early enough to avoid blocked roads and crowded shelters. Do not assume that a hotel, public shelter, or temporary site accepts every species; confirm before departure whenever conditions allow.

Before opening the door

Bring companion animals indoors and locate every animal before loading. Close interior doors as needed so a frightened pet cannot hide or escape. Gather carriers, leashes, harnesses, food, water, sanitation supplies, identification, photographs, records, and familiar comfort items. Ready.gov recommends keeping both a larger shelter-in-place kit and a lighter evacuation kit. AVMA recommends storing the evacuation kit in a waterproof container near an exit.

Use a carrier or crate appropriate for the animal, and label it with contact information. A collar with an identification tag and a backup leash or harness add another layer of control. Keep an updated photograph and ownership information with the kit in case an animal becomes separated from the household.

Load in a written order

Write the loading order before an emergency. Secure animals one at a time, close each carrier or vehicle door, and check the room before moving to the next animal. Never rely on an open door, an unsecured carrier, or a loose animal in a moving vehicle. If a carrier is unfamiliar, practice leaving it open in the home and place familiar bedding or snacks nearby before an emergency occurs.

Keep the kit, contact list, destination details, and route options together. Include the names and telephone numbers of the primary caregiver, backup caregiver, veterinarian, boarding facility, local animal-control office, and out-of-area contact. AVMA also recommends accessible records, a photograph, food and water, sanitation items, and transportation equipment.

Confirm the destination and travel safely

Call ahead when possible to confirm that the destination accepts the species and number of animals. Identify a second destination outside the affected area. Public shelters and hotels may have different rules. If a Red Cross shelter is involved, household pets may be housed separately depending on the situation, while service animals that assist people with disabilities follow different access rules.

Keep animals secured during travel and follow local public-safety instructions. Do not stop in a hazardous area to release an animal. Use the planned route only when it remains safe, and follow officials if roads or destinations change. For horses, goats, pigs, or other large animals, plan earlier, arrange suitable transport and handlers, and confirm that the destination has appropriate equipment.

Arrival and return

At the destination, confirm that every animal is present and keep animals controlled until the new space is secure. After returning home, inspect for debris, damaged fences, spilled chemicals, unsafe water, wildlife, and other hazards. Keep cats, dogs, and small animals indoors or restrained until the area is safe. Re-establish familiar routines gradually and contact a veterinarian if an animal is injured or appears unwell. This checklist is general emergency-preparedness education and does not provide individual care instructions.