Emergency Preparedness for Pet Care

Emergencies test the strength of your operations, training, and communication. Whether you manage a boarding kennel or a busy urban daycare, a robust emergency plan protects dogs, staff, and your reputation.

Why Emergency Preparedness Matters

Emergencies escalate quickly in animal-care settings: stress rises, dogs vocalise, and decision windows shrink. A written plan with role assignments and checklists reduces confusion and legal risk.

Risk Assessment: Know Your Hazards

Start with a location-specific risk register. List hazards, likelihood, impact, and mitigation:

Facility hazards: Fire, smoke, power loss, HVAC failure, water leaks/floods, chemical spills
Environmental hazards: Severe weather (heat waves, storms), wildfire smoke, flooding
Security hazards: Unauthorised entry, animal escape, civil disruption
Animal health hazards: Infectious disease exposure, aggressive incidents, medication errors
Transportation hazards: Road closures affecting pickups and evacuation routes

Update the register annually and after every incident or near-miss.

Build Your Written Emergency Plan

Your plan should be concise, role-based, and easy to access—printed at key stations and stored digitally. Include:

Command structure: Incident Lead, Animal Care Lead, Safety Officer, Comms Lead
Activation criteria: When to trigger the plan (alarm, threshold temperature, flood warning)
Contact lists: Staff phone tree, partner vet/ER, animal control, utilities
Floor plans: Exits, fire extinguishers, shut-off valves, electrical panels, assembly points
Dog rosters by zone: Kennel assignments, temperament flags, medication needs
Checklists by scenario: Fire, power outage, severe weather, missing dog, medical emergency
Communication templates: Parent notifications, voicemail changes, website banner text
Recovery steps: Damage assessment, sanitation protocol, reopen criteria

Emergency Supplies & Facility Hardening

Stock supplies for 72 hours of operations without deliveries:

Animal care:

Extra food (labelled per dog), water, bowls
Leashes, slip leads, muzzles for emergencies
Crate labels/ID tags

Medical:

First-aid kits, non-latex gloves, eye wash
Digital thermometers, bandage materials
Emergency contact forms

Facility & safety:

Flashlights/headlamps, batteries, portable chargers
Radios/whistles, tarps, duct tape
Absorbents for spills, wet/dry vac

Hardening:

Fire extinguishers (inspected)
Smoke/CO detectors
Surge protection, backup heat/cooling
Secure fencing and double-gate entries

Parent & Stakeholder Communication

Clarity calms people. Decide the channel, cadence, and content before you need it:

Channels: SMS for urgent alerts, email for details, phone for sensitive decisions

Cadence: Initial alert (within minutes), follow-up within 60 minutes, then periodic status every 2-4 hours

Content: What happened, what you’re doing, dog status, pickup guidance, next update time

Evacuation vs. Shelter-in-Place

Evacuation (Fire, Gas Leak, Structural Risk)

Trigger alarms; Incident Lead calls emergency services
Animal Care Lead moves dogs from nearest exits first
Bring printed roster and medication bag
Assemble at pre-defined safe area; conduct roll call
Comms Lead sends status to parents

Shelter-in-Place (Severe Weather, External Hazard)

Move dogs to interior rooms away from windows
Separate anxious or reactive dogs
Fill water containers; secure food and meds
Monitor HVAC and temperature
Send “all-safe but sheltering” message with timing for next update

Medical Incidents & First Aid

Define thresholds for onsite first aid vs. immediate veterinary transport:

First-aid scope: Minor cuts, nail quick bleeds, heat stress response, bee stings (monitor swelling)

Do-not-administer list: No human pain meds; no off-label drugs without vet direction

Transportation: Pre-authorise emergency transport with owners; maintain a go-bag with medical records and consent forms

Bite/incident protocol: Separate calmly, assess both dogs, provide first aid, document with photos, notify parents

Emergency Response Comparison

Emergency	Immediate Action	Primary Goal	Key Tools
Fire/Smoke	Evacuate by nearest exits; roll call	Life safety	Slip leads, crates, extinguishers
Power Outage/Heat	Deploy fans/backup; reduce activity	Temperature control	Thermometers, backup power
Water Leak/Flood	Shut off source; move dogs elevated	Prevent injury	Wet/dry vac, absorbents
Severe Weather	Shelter-in-place interior rooms	Debris protection	Crate covers, radios, first aid
Missing Dog	Lockdown; last-seen sweep; alert staff	Containment	Radios, perimeter checks
Medical Emergency	First aid; call vet/ER; transport	Stabilisation	First-aid kit, go-bag

Training, Drills & Continuous Improvement

Onboarding: Every new hire completes emergency orientation
Quarterly drills: Rotate scenarios and document results
After-action reviews: Within 48 hours, document what worked and update SOPs
Vendor coordination: Review plan annually with partner vet and building manager

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should we run emergency drills?

Quarterly is a solid baseline. Rotate scenarios and document times, gaps, and corrective actions. New hires should complete a drill within their first month.

What belongs in our emergency go-bag?

Printed rosters, labelled slip leads, a basic first-aid kit, flashlight, phone charger, markers/tape for crate labels, and copies of owner contacts.

How do we decide between evacuation and shelter-in-place?

Evacuate for immediate life threats (fire, gas, structural risk). Shelter for external hazards (severe weather). Pre-define criteria and train staff to act without delay.

What should we tell parents during an incident?

State the situation, actions taken, the dog’s status, whether pickup is needed, and when you’ll update again. Keep messages short and consistent.

Conclusion

Preparedness is a daily practice—part facility design, part staff training, and part clear communication. Start with a risk register, write role-based checklists, stock supplies, and drill quarterly. A practised plan protects pets and people—and earns lasting parent trust.