A study conducted in Australia by researchers at James Cook University has found that most pet owners have given limited or no thought as to how to include their pets in any disaster response planning they may have done. This may be a considerable source of concern for those overseeing disaster response activities, as it’s well understood that relationships between people and their pets can lead to challenges during an emergency or evacuation, with people being reluctant to leave their pets behind, or rushing to return too early after an evacuation to check on their animals’ welfare. Says Dr. Yetta Gurtner, supervisor for the study, published on Science Daily, “The desire to safeguard animals in an emergency situation can ultimately result in human fatalities, and people who risk their safety for the welfare of animals remain a significant emergency management issue.”
This exclusion is caused in many cases by a lack of understanding of what rules may apply to local shelters with respect to pets, with 71% of respondents indicating they didn’t know whether government shelters allowed pets. Importantly, only 39% of respondents indicated they had considered how to safely evacuate their pets in their emergency planning.
Source:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211012095045.htm
