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Department of Health and Human Services > Epidemiology
and Disease Reporting > Epidemiology
Corner > Pets and disasters
Epidemiology
Corner
August
12, 2005
Pets and disasters
The US Census Bureau,
using data from the American Veterinary Medical Association,
estimated that in 2001, 36.1 percent of households owned dogs
with an average of 1.6 dogs per household and 31.6 percent owned
cats with an average of 2.1 cats per household. When these national
numbers are used to estimate the number of pet dogs and cats
in Houston, it is approximately 414,685 dogs and 476,428 cats.
However, these numbers to do account for households with pet
rabbits, hamsters, snakes, turtles, horses, birds, ferrets and
other more exotic critters. Pets rely on their owners for food,
housing, attention and all other aspects of care even during
an emergency.
When a disaster occurs, people
may have to evacuate. People can stay with friends, stay in
a hotel or even stay in a shelter. What about their pets? Emergency
shelters do NOT allow pets. Many hotels do not allow pets and
if they do, it is typically only for certain types or sizes
of pets. Furthermore, while someone may not mind their friend
sleeping on the couch for a week, they may not be as happy with
a cat or dog.
What happens to pets during an
emergency or disaster? Some pets are lost in the confusion,
left
behind or even abandoned. When pets are left behind, they can
destroy property, hurt themselves or hurt others. Animal control
agencies are often at their busiest after a disaster trying
to pick up loose animals and locate their owners. Even indoor-only
animals may escape during a disaster and wind up at an animal
shelter. It is very important that pet owners have a plan for
their pets during an emergency. A family disaster plan can save
time, money and possibly the lives of pets.
Preparing your pets
for a disaster:
- Tags and licenses should
be up-to-date (even for indoor only pets)
- Vaccinations should be up-to-date
and a copy of most recent vaccinations included in your family
disaster plan
- Pet carrier and leash are
readily available
- Water readily available (portable
water dish)
- Alternate housing or care
have been identified in advance:
- kennels or vet clinics
that can house your pet in town and in towns you may evacuate
to
- local and long distance
family or friends who are willing to watch your pets for
you
- hotels that accept pets
in the towns you may evacuate to
Information on pets and emergencies
can be found at the FEMA website at www.fema.gov/library/anemer.shtm
as well as on the Houston SPCA website at www.spcahouston.org/spcahouston/Default.asp.
The US Census
Bureau statistical abstract is available at www.census.gov/statab/www/.
The HDHHS Bureau
of Animal Regulation and Care web site is at: www.houstontx.gov/health/BARC/index.html.
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