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Hurricane Preparedness

Now is the time to prepare for hurricane season! As a member of your family, your pet needs to be included in your hurricane plan.

Your plan should include what you will need to have on hand for your pet in case of an emergency, and where your pet will go if you have to evacuate your home.

Humane Society of Broward County’s Pet Hurricane Hotline: 954.266.6871

  • Make sure your pets are vaccinated, have proper collars and leashes.
  • Make sure your pets are spayed/neutered.
  • DO NOT TRANQUILIZE YOUR CAT OR DOG EXCEPT UNDER THE ADVICE OF YOUR VET.
  • Be Responsible- Don’t leave your dog, cat, bird, hamster or any other animal alone during a hurricane. And NEVER leave your dog tied outside!
  • 2 week supply of food and water
  • 2 month supply of heartworm prevention and other medications
  • Up-to-date photos of you with your pet. (For identification and proof of ownership.)
  • Favorite toys for comfort
  • Proper leash and collar with ID tags and license. Make sure the ID tag includes the phone number of a person in an unaffected area who will know how to reach you.
  • Proof of current vaccines
  • Newspapers and plastic bags for waste
  • Towels and Blankets
  • Portable carrier/crate
  • Litter box and scoop with litter/newspaper

If your home is a safe place to be during a storm and you have not been ordered to evacuate, then you and your pet could probably stay home until the storm passes. Be aware that pets will sense the change in the weather and changes in the household routine. He may become nervous or anxious, characterized by excessive panting, whining, pacing and/or hiding. To help lessen the pet’s stress, try to keep his routine as normal as possible (feed him at the same time, in the same bowl, in the same place, etc.) It may be comforting if you make a special cozy area just for him in a quiet area away from any windows (such as a utility room or bathroom) with blanket, a few treats and a favorite toy. A radio playing soft music may also help.

If you plan on going to a Red Cross Shelter, remember that they cannot accept animals. Make arrangements for your pets now, space is limited and advance planning is crucial! Create a list of boarding facilities including veterinary practices within a 100-mile radius of your home, and a list of nearby hotels that accept pets and under what circumstances.

If it is too dangerous for YOU to stay home during a hurricane, then it is too dangerous for your pet to stay there! If you live in an evacuation zone, ask a friend or relative that lives in a safe zone if you can come with your pets to ride out the storm. Ask in advance! A pet-friendly hotel in a safe zone is another option. Before a storm hits, make a list of several pet-friendly hotels and call to verify their policies. Keep the numbers on hand in case of an emergency. Once a storm is approaching, hotels fill up quickly so make a reservation as soon as you think you may have to evacuate. If you have a place to stay but your pet is not allowed there, you could take them to a boarding kennel. Ask your friends or neighbors for recommendations. Visit a few prospective boarding kennels and find out what their policies are for emergency situations. Or, ask your veterinarian if he or she offers pet boarding – many do. Most boarding facilities require proof that your pet is up-to-date on their vaccinations.

  • Broward County Animal Care and Adoption – 954-359-1313

  • AT&T – 888-757-6500
  • Broward County – General Information – 954-831-4000
  • Broward County Sheriff’s Office (Non-Emergency) – 954-765-4321
  • FPL (Downed Power Lines & Outages) 800-468-8243
  • Waste Management – 954-974-7500Broward County Animal Care and Regulation – 954.359.1313
  • American Red Cross of Broward County – 954.797.3800
  • FPL – 954.797.5000
  • Bellsouth Repairs – 888.757.6500
  • Broward Emergency Management Offices – 954.831.3900
  • Broward County Health Department – 954.467.4700
  • Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Broward – 954.765.4321
  • Large Animal Disaster Planning Committee – 954.370.3725
  • Special Needs Shelter and/or transportation – 954.537.2888/ TTY 954.537.2882
  • Homeless Shelters – 954.792.2337 or toll free 1.877.524.2337
  • Broward County Hurricane Hotline – 954.831.4000 or 954.831.3940
  • Community Emergency Response Teams – 954.831.3900
  • National Flood Insurance – 800.638.6620
  • School District Hotline – 754.321.0321
  • Elder Affairs Hotline – 800.963.5337
  • FEMA Hotline – 800.342.3557 or 850.413.9900
  • First Call for Help – 211
  • Emergency – 911
  • Sanitation Waste and Recycling Services – 954.765.4202
  • Transportation Broward County Paratransit – 954.357.6794
  • Mass Transit Rider Services – 954.357.8400
  • Transporation for Homeless – 954.792.2337
  • Broward County Licencsed Tree Trimmers – 954.519.1456
  • Utilities TECO Energy/People’s Gas 24 Hour Emergency – 877.832.6747
  • FPL to report an outage – 800.468.8243

Please note this guide contains information about a Pet Friendly Shelter in Tamarac that previously was operated by the Humane Society of Broward County. Effective June 2018 all Pet Friendly Shelters in Broward County will now be overseen by Broward County Animal Care and Adoption, a division of Broward County Government. These are shelters designed where people can stay along with their pets. Please call 954-359-1313 or visit their website for more information.

Take caution in letting your pet outside after a storm. Familiar landmarks and scents may be altered and your pet could become confused and lost. Be aware of broken glass, shingles with nails in them, downed powerlines etc. Make sure to walk your dog on a leash so they will be safe around unknown hazards.