HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS:

GUIDLINES FOR PETS

• Have current color photos of your pets to be kept with your emergency supplies.
• If you know that a disaster (such as a hurricane) is immediate, bring your pets inside.  Lee County Ordinance prohibits pets from being tethered outside during a storm or hurricane.
• Because of a greater threat of disease, it is important that your animals be up to date on their vaccinations.
• If you must evacuate, take your pets with you! Your pet’s best protection is to be with you! 
• Call ahead to make sure that hotels will accept your animals. Evacuation shelters will not accept pets of any kind unless designated an "Evacuation Pet Shelter."  Click on the following links for pet friendly lodging in Florida and throughout the US: www.petswelcome.com (select "Lodging Listings" then "US Lodging," then select a state and city) or www.hotdealsonhotels.com/pets (select a state and then a city).  You should pick a location outside of the area where the hurricane is projected to hit.
• Call boarding kennels or veterinarians with boarding facilities to see the possibility of housing them.  Ask if someone will be there with the pets during the hurricane and if their boarding facility is structurally prepared to withstand hurricane force winds. 
• Ask friends or family to provide temporary foster care for your pets.
• Lee County's Evacuation Pet Shelter will be open for residents who live in areas that are under manadatory evacuation orders in the area where they live.  This option should be your last resort if you are unable to execute your own personal evacution plan for your family and pets.  It should not be your "evacuation plan."  Please click here for more information on the Evacuation Pet Shelter.
  

Acquire an impact resistant pet carrier or cage for each animal to use as protection if you are riding out the storm with your pets at home.  Exceptions can be made to house more than one animal per carrier but do not mix different animal species together!  Frightened animals may exhibit behavior changes.  If you evacuate and must leave your pets behind do not leave pets in carriers as they will not be able to get more food and water when needed.  Remember, you may not be able to get back to your house for days or weeks.