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Pet Emergency Plan: Kits, Records, and Evacuation

By The Hansome Family · Last reviewed

Watercolor of a mother, father, and two kids packing a pet emergency go-bag with water, food, and medicine while their golden retriever and an orange cat in a carrier wait by the door

A pet emergency plan has three parts, following Ready.gov: a plan for where your pets will go and who will help, a kit with food, water, medicine, and supplies, and a way to stay informed. The step most families skip is the paperwork: records, photos, and microchip details kept together and ready to grab.

Did you know? Ready.gov suggests packing a picture of you and your pet together. If you are separated in an emergency, the photo helps you prove the pet is yours and helps others identify your pet. Ready.gov: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters

Ready.gov three steps for pets: make a plan, build a kit, and stay informed
Ready.gov's three steps for pets.

Ready.gov also suggests a buddy system: a neighbor, friend, or relative who can care for or evacuate your pets if you cannot. It notes that many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside, so find a pet-friendly place ahead of time, and bring pets indoors at the first warning of a storm.

Watercolor of a young family handing a spare house key and a beagle's leash to a smiling older neighbor at her door while a black and white cat watches from the window
A pet buddy: a neighbor who has a key and knows your pets.

Our guides compare what official sources like the CDC, ASPCA, AVMA, and Ready.gov recommend, so you can see where they agree and make a plan that fits your home.

Where should I start?

  1. Pet emergency kit checklist: official lists compared, plus the documents to pack.
  2. Pet medical records template: a free one-page summary, and why a shelter may ask for rabies proof.
  3. Who will take care of my pet if I die: myths vs facts, plus a first 48 hours caregiver plan card.
  4. What to leave for a pet sitter: emergency information for whoever is caring for your pets.

Your grab-and-go paper folder

Keep copies of these together in a waterproof bag, and save photos of them on your phone too.

Watercolor of a grandmother and her teenage granddaughter sliding vet papers and a family photo with their dog into a clear waterproof bag at the kitchen table, with a gray cat and a golden dog beside them
Pack a photo of you with your pet. Ready.gov says it helps prove the pet is yours.

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Want this on paper with room to write? See what's inside the Pet Emergency Binder.

Printable checklist of the papers for a pet emergency folder: records, medicines, microchip, photo, contacts, places to stay, and feeding notes
The same folder list as a printable page.

Guides in this topic

See all our guides

Printables for this topic

Frequently asked questions

What is a pet emergency plan?

A pet emergency plan is a written plan for keeping your pets safe in a disaster or crisis. Ready.gov breaks it into three steps: make a plan, build a kit, and stay informed. It covers where your pets will go if you evacuate, who can help if you are away, and what supplies and records to bring.

Should I take my pets with me if I evacuate?

Yes. Ready.gov says that if local officials ask you to evacuate, your pet should evacuate too, because pets left behind may end up lost, injured, or worse. The ASPCA says the same: if it is not safe for you, it is not safe for your pets. Plan pet-friendly places to stay ahead of time.

Should I microchip my pet for emergencies?

Ready.gov and the ASPCA both recommend microchipping as a lasting form of ID, along with a collar and current ID tags. A microchip only helps if the registration is current, so keep your address and phone number up to date with the microchip company and add an emergency contact who lives outside your area.

Please note: This page is for general education only. It is not veterinary, medical, legal, or financial advice. Official guidance and phone numbers can change, so confirm them on the official sites linked here. We are not affiliated with any agency or organization we cite.

Sources

  1. Ready.gov: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters (updated March 2026)
  2. CDC: Build a Pet Disaster Preparedness Kit
  3. ASPCA: Disaster Preparedness
  4. AVMA: Save the Whole Family (PDF)
  • Pet Sitter Instructions: What to write down for a sitter, a neighbor, or family before you leave your pets.
  • Death Binder Checklist: What to put in an in case of death binder, a free printable checklist, and how to start together.