Pet Owners Can Find Pet-friendly Options
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam urges Floridians to heed evacuation orders as Hurricane Irma approaches. For pet and animal owners, there are options available so you can safely evacuate and also ensure the safety of your pets and animals.
“Don’t stay behind and ignore evacuation orders just because you don’t want to leave Fido. There are pet and animal-friendly options available, and now is the time to do your research,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Hurricane Irma is potentially catastrophic, and planning now can save your life and your pet’s life.”
Floridians can visit FreshFromFlorida.com and visit the “Hurricane Irma” webpage to find useful links, or directly visit these sites to find pet-friendly shelters:
- FloridaDisaster.org, Search by local county and note that some shelters require advanced notice.
- AKC’s Hurricane Irma Pet-Friendly Shelters
- PetFriendlyTravel.com provides information on pet-friendly lodging and shelters.
- Equine evacuation information can be found at FlaHorse.com.
During an emergency, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides necessary food and water to affected areas and helps protect animals and pets. The department’s Florida Forest Service is responsible for incident management and assists emergency responders in clearing debris and distributing supplies. Additionally, the department’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement provides law enforcement services to police departments and county sheriff’s offices as necessary.
For more information and tips on hurricane preparedness, visit FloridaDisaster.org.
