Your furry friends are important members of your family. Make sure they're safe during an emergency or disaster. Different disasters require different responses. But whether the disaster is a hurricane or a hazardous spill, you may have to evacuate your home.

In the event of a disaster, if you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them, too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost, or worse. So prepare now for the day when you and your pets may have to leave your home.  Here's what you can do:

Before a disaster  |  During an emergency  |  After

Be Red Cross Ready: print out your Pets and Disaster Safety Checklist