1. Choose a backup caregiver
Pick someone nearby who has, or can get, a key and whom your pet knows. Ask them before you need them, and agree on a second person in case the first is away.
2. Write down what they’d need to know
- Each pet’s name, species, and a recent photo
- Feeding amounts and times
- Medications, exactly as your vet prescribed them
- Vet clinic name and phone number, and an emergency vet nearby
- Microchip or tag details
- Where the carrier, leash and food are kept
- Behaviour notes: fears, hiding spots, other animals to avoid
3. Pack a pet emergency kit
Keep food, water, bowls, a carrier or leash, medications, records and a photo together. Our emergency kit checklist has a pets section you can switch on and print.
4. Plan for leaving home with pets
If you might need to evacuate, find pet-friendly places to stay ahead of time and bring your pets with you when you can. Follow instructions from local officials about when and how to leave.
In the Family Ready app
You can record pets alongside dependants in your household plan, and note who cares for them in your Emergency Card. Family Ready Plus adds a Pet-Sitter Pack, a printable PDF with only the pet and home details you choose to include.
Common questions
What should I include in a pet emergency kit?
Food and water for several days, bowls, a carrier, leash or harness, medications, vaccination and vet records, a recent photo of each pet, waste supplies, and your vet’s phone number. Ready.gov lists these as core pet kit items.
Who should look after my pet if I can’t get home?
Pick a nearby person with a key who is comfortable with your pet, and agree on it in advance. Write down feeding, medication and vet details so they don’t have to guess.
Can I take my pet to an emergency shelter?
It depends on the shelter and your area. Look up pet-friendly hotels, boarding options and friends outside your area ahead of time, and check your local emergency authority’s guidance.
Official sources
General preparedness guidance. Always follow instructions from your local emergency authority. Family Ready is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.