Hurricane Evacuation With Pets and Service Animals

Start with the plan, not the storm

Florida’s Division of Emergency Management advises residents not to leave pets or other animals behind when evacuating. Animals can be injured, trapped, separated from their families or left without dependable food and water as conditions worsen. A plan made early gives you options: a relative outside the evacuation area, a pet-friendly hotel, a boarding facility, a designated pet-friendly shelter or another location approved by local officials.

Begin with your household’s evacuation zone and likely route. Decide who will collect each animal, who can help if you are away, and where everyone will meet. Keep a second route and a second destination in mind. Do not wait for a shelter to appear on a general list and assume it is open: county officials activate shelters for a specific event, and the location, capacity, eligibility and animal procedures can change from one storm to the next.

• Identify your evacuation zone and the situations that would require you to leave.
• Choose at least two destinations outside the area officials may evacuate.
• Call in advance to confirm pets, species, size limits, fees and reservations.
• Make a pickup plan with a trusted neighbor or family member if you may not be home.
• Keep your pet kit and carriers where you can reach them quickly.
• Follow county emergency management, local alerts and evacuation orders.

Florida’s new animal-abandonment law: what owners should know

Florida’s “Trooper’s Law,” enacted as Chapter 2025-101 and effective October 1, 2025, amended section 828.13 of the Florida Statutes. The added subsection says that a person who restrains a dog outside during a natural disaster and thereafter abandons the dog commits a third-degree felony, punishable as provided by law or by a fine of up to $10,000, or both. “Restrain” includes attaching a dog to a stationary object or trolley system using a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable or another device.

The statute’s definition of “natural disaster” is specific: a hurricane, tropical storm or tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service for a municipality or county, or a municipality or county under a mandatory or voluntary evacuation order. The general abandonment section separately makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to abandon an animal to suffer injury or malnutrition, or to abandon an animal in a street, road or public place without providing care, sustenance, protection and shelter.

This is a plain-language summary, not a ruling about any particular situation. It does not replace the statute or legal advice. The practical message is straightforward: do not leave a dog tethered outside as a storm threatens, and do not abandon an animal. Bring animals with you when evacuating, or arrange responsible care with someone who can reach them and provide for them. If you cannot safely evacuate an animal yourself, contact your county emergency management office or animal services early to ask what assistance is available.

Pets, service animals and Florida shelters

“Pet-friendly shelter” and “service-animal access” are different arrangements. Florida Disaster says most public emergency shelters do not permit pets, although they do permit service animals; communities may designate pet-friendly shelters, and residents should research those options in advance. Florida Statute 252.3568 requires a county that maintains designated shelters to designate a shelter that can accommodate people with pets. That statewide requirement does not mean every shelter accepts pets, every pet-friendly shelter is open for every storm, or every animal species can be accommodated at every location.

Ask your county emergency management office which shelters are operating, who is eligible to use them, which animals are accepted, whether animals stay with their owners or in a separate area, and what supplies or records are required. Some pet-friendly shelters may be limited to residents in evacuation zones, people with no other safe option, or particular species. Capacity, transportation and intake procedures can change quickly. Confirm details with officials for the specific storm.

Service animals

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is generally a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. A service animal is not a pet for access purposes. A comfort or emotional-support animal whose presence alone provides reassurance is not an ADA service animal, although other laws or local programs may address those animals differently. ADA rules do not require a service dog to wear a vest or carry professional certification. Tell shelter staff what assistance you need and keep the animal under control and cared for; check with the county about its emergency shelter procedures.

People with disabilities should not delay evacuation while trying to obtain a certificate or vest. If you use a service animal and need accessible transportation or shelter support, contact your county before hurricane season, and register for local assistance programs when appropriate. Florida’s Special Needs Registry is for people who may need assistance during an emergency; contact your county to confirm eligibility and arrangements. Service-animal access does not automatically mean that other household pets can stay in the same shelter.

Questions to ask a pet-friendly shelter

• Is the shelter open now, and who is eligible to enter?
• Does it accept your animal’s species, size and number of pets?
• Must pets be in individual carriers, crates or enclosures?
• Must the owner bring food, water, medications, litter, bowls or bedding?
• Are vaccination records, licenses or identification needed at intake?
• Will the pet remain with you, or will animals be housed in a separate area?
• Can you bring a service animal and other pets together, and what space is available?
• Is transportation available, and can the vehicle transport the animals safely?

Build a portable pet evacuation kit

Florida Disaster recommends keeping a portable kit in an accessible, sturdy container. Pack for the possibility that you will be away longer than expected. The state’s disaster supply checklist recommends pet food and water for at least seven days; tailor quantities to your animal’s needs, the trip length and any medical condition. Refresh food, medications and water before hurricane season and whenever you use the kit.

Food, water and everyday care

• At least seven days of food and drinking water, plus familiar bowls.
• Manual can opener if needed, treats and any special-diet food.
• Leash, harness, secure collar with current ID tags, waste bags and cleanup supplies.
• Carrier or crate for each animal, labeled with your contact information; include a familiar blanket or toy.
• For cats: litter, a portable litter tray and scoop. For other species, pack their appropriate enclosure and care supplies.
• Food for a service animal, leash or harness, working equipment and any task-related gear.

Records, medicines and identification

• Current vaccination and veterinary records, license details and microchip number.
• Medication in original labeled containers, written dosage instructions and your veterinarian’s contact information.
• Written notes on feeding schedules, allergies, medical needs, behavior triggers and safe handling.
• Recent photos of you with each animal, plus a clear photo of each animal alone.
• Proof of ownership and emergency contacts, stored in a waterproof folder and backed up on your phone.
• Pet first-aid supplies and any medical devices or mobility supports the animal needs.

Florida Disaster recommends keeping medical records and medications in a waterproof container and bringing an updated photo of you with your pet in case you are separated. A microchip is most useful when its registration has current phone numbers. Check the contact details before the season, and make sure a trusted person can access your records if you are unreachable.

Transportation: get animals ready before roads become crowded

Practice loading carriers and securing crates well before an evacuation. A frightened animal may hide, bolt or resist handling. Keep dogs leashed outside the home and transport cats in carriers, as Florida Disaster recommends. Do not let an animal ride loose in a vehicle, and never leave an animal unattended in a parked car during dangerous heat or other unsafe conditions.

Check fuel, tires, vehicle space and the route before departure. If you rely on public transit, paratransit, a rideshare or a neighbor, confirm the animal policy and the vehicle arrangements in advance. Ask a friend or relative to be the backup driver. If you have several animals, large crates or limited mobility, plan enough time and more than one trip if needed; do not assume an emergency shelter will provide transportation for pets.

For people who need accessible transportation or disability-related assistance, contact the county emergency management office early. Florida’s Division of Emergency Management says its State Assistance Information Line (SAIL), 1-800-342-3557, is activated during emergencies and can provide information about open shelters, hotels that accept pets, road closures and other current resources. Its operating hours depend on the event; follow local announcements and check the state website.

Choose backup lodging and animal care now

Make a short list of options beyond public shelters. Florida Disaster recommends asking friends or relatives outside the affected area, checking pet-friendly hotels and motels for species and size restrictions, and identifying boarding facilities and veterinarians that may shelter animals in an emergency. Call to verify policies and keep the numbers on paper. A listing that says “pets allowed” may still exclude certain species, limit the number of animals or require advance reservations.

Pick lodging outside the evacuation area and, when possible, outside flood-prone locations. Ask whether an emergency waiver is possible if the property normally has a no-pet policy, but do not depend on an exception until the property confirms it. Save the confirmation, address, directions, cancellation rules and after-hours number. Animal shelters may already be caring for displaced animals during a disaster, so Florida Disaster advises treating them as a last resort rather than assuming space will be available.

For livestock and other large animals, make a separate plan with suitable trailers, experienced handlers, feed, water, identification, medications, dry bedding and a destination that can safely accommodate them. The state’s animal disaster-planning resources include the Florida State Agricultural Response Team.

Find live county updates and shelter information

County and municipal emergency managers make storm-specific decisions about evacuation orders, shelter openings, pet eligibility, transportation and intake. Start at the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s county contacts and emergency-management directory. Follow your county’s official website and emergency-management social channels, sign up for local alerts, and keep a battery-powered radio or another way to receive updates if cell service fails.

Florida Disaster’s Make a Pet Plan guide, Plan & Prepare resources and shelter guidance for pets and service animals offer statewide starting points. Use them to prepare, then confirm the details with the local county for the storm you are facing.

1. Before hurricane season: confirm your county contact, evacuation zone, destination, transport and pet kit.
2. When a storm threatens: check official county updates for evacuation instructions and the exact shelter that is open.
3. Before leaving: confirm that the destination accepts your animals and take records, medicines, food and water.
4. After the storm: wait for officials to say it is safe to return; check for downed power lines, contaminated water, debris and displaced wildlife before letting animals outside.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my pet to any Florida hurricane shelter?

No. Florida Disaster says most public emergency shelters do not permit pets, although they do permit service animals. Counties may designate pet-friendly shelters, but availability, eligibility, accepted species and opening status vary. Confirm with local officials for each storm.

Does Florida require counties to have a shelter for people with pets?

Florida Statute 252.3568 says that if a county maintains designated shelters, it must also designate a shelter that can accommodate persons with pets. Ask your county what the requirement means for local shelter options and the current storm; it does not mean every shelter accepts pets or every location is open.

What is Trooper’s Law?

Trooper’s Law is the name of Florida’s 2025 law adding a felony penalty for restraining a dog outside during a defined natural disaster and thereafter abandoning it. The change took effect October 1, 2025. See the current text of Florida Statute 828.13.

Does the law apply only to dogs left on a chain?

The new felony subsection uses “restrain,” which the statute defines to include attaching a dog to a stationary object or trolley system by chain, rope, tether, leash, cable or another device. The statute’s other neglect and abandonment provisions apply separately to animals generally. For a specific legal situation, consult the statute and a Florida attorney.

Is an emotional-support animal a service animal in a public shelter?

Not under the ADA definition by itself. ADA service animals are generally dogs trained to perform work or tasks related to a person’s disability; an animal whose presence alone offers comfort is not an ADA service animal. County shelter programs may have separate rules for pets, so check local arrangements.

How much food and water should I pack?

Florida’s disaster supply checklist recommends at least seven days of pet food and water. Adjust for the animal’s size, medical needs and household plan, and bring the food it is accustomed to eating.

Where can I ask about open shelters and pet-friendly hotels during an emergency?

Follow your county’s emergency-management updates and FloridaDisaster.org. When activated, the State Assistance Information Line is 1-800-342-3557 and can provide information on open shelters and hotels that accept pets. Hours vary by emergency.

Official sources and further reading

• Florida Statutes, section 828.13: animal confinement and abandonment.
• Florida Senate bill record for SB 150, Trooper’s Law.
• Florida Statutes, section 252.3568: emergency sheltering of persons with pets.
• Florida Disaster: Make a Pet Plan.
• Florida Disaster: Sheltering with your pet or service animal.
• Florida county emergency management contacts.
• Florida Disaster: State Assistance Information Line.
• U.S. Department of Justice: ADA service-animal FAQs.

Official sources reviewed November 9, 2026. Emergency information can change quickly. Follow current emergency instructions from local officials.