In the event of a disaster, animal and pet evacuation in Massachusetts will be coordinated by county and local emergency management agencies. Please check with your local emergency management agency for information on pet friendly evacuation shelters in your county. Local and state health and safety regulations do not permit the Red Cross to allow pets in disaster shelters. (Service animals are allowed in Red Cross shelters.). It may be difficult to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so plan ahead. Keep a list of pet friendly hotels in your area in case you have to evacuate and your local shelter is full.
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency – Emergency Preparedness for Pets and Animals
Ordinarily, only service animals are allowed inside public shelters, although in Massachusetts, the State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team (SMART) has made great strides in creating ‘pet-friendly’ sheltering options. Contact your Local Emergency Management Office regarding community animal policies at shelters, as well as other options you may have for sheltering your pets during an emergency.
Barnstable County – Sheltering and Pets
Red Cross people shelters cannot accept pets (though service animals are always welcome). This policy is designed to ensure that Red Cross shelters are safe and comfortable places for everyone. But the Cape Cod and the Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross realizes that, for many people, pets are considered members of the family. The Cape Cod and the Islands Chapter has taken part in a dialogue with local emergency managers and encouraged them to establish rooms or areas in the facilities which house both Red Cross shelters and where pet owners and their pets can stay separately. These pet- friendly facilities are located alongside, but are not under the control of Red Cross shelters. A key element of the full-service regional shelter includes being able to provide shelter for pets, which is organized by the Cape Cod Disaster Animal Response Team (CCDART). The experiences in past emergencies show that some residents have been reluctant to leave for shelters because they don’t want to leave their pets. Currently three out of the six regional shelters can accommodate pets but the plan calls for all six shelters to have this capability. At the present time, emergency animal care during a declared emergency/disaster will be limited to three proposed Regional shelters with animal care components – Dennis-Yarmouth High School (DY) in Yarmouth, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich and the Oak Ridge School in Sandwich. Animals admitted to these shelters will be limited to dogs, cats, ferrets and other small mammals (gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits, potbelly pigs) brought to the shelters by owners or rescuers. Birds, reptiles, fish, arachnids, wild or feral animals, endangered or threatened species, and exotic pets are excluded. Other animal care shelters will be staffed as locations become available.
Cape Cod Disaster Animal Response Team
In the event of a declared emergency, Cape Cod Disaster Animal Response Team (CCDART) may provide for rescue, triage, temporary sheltering and/or transport of animals to veterinary clinics or alternate boarding facilities, CCDART strictly adheres to the Incident Command System as put for by FEMA.
Eastham, Town of – Emergency Pet Shelter
L.C.A.S.T. [Lower Cape Animal Shelter Team] operates the pet component of the local BCREPC Emergency Shelter. In event of a regional emergency the Nauset High School, 100 Cable Rd, Eastham, MA 02642, will host services for you and your pets.
Palmer, Town of – Emergency Shelter Information
The primary emergency shelter for the Town of Palmer is located at the Converse Middle School, 24 Converse Street, Palmer, MA 01069. Pets should not be brought in until the evacuee is registered. Animals, other than service animals, will be placed in an alternate location, not in evacuees areas. All animals, other than service animals, shall be caged.
Yarmouth, Town of – Emergency Shelter Information
The primary shelter for the Town of Yarmouth is the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, which is located at 210 Station Ave, South Yarmouth. The Town of Yarmouth and the Barnstable Country Regional Emergency Planning Committee will notify the public if this shelter and others on Cape Cod are opening due to a storm.
Pets are allowed at this shelter, however, they will be sheltered in a separate location within the building. Each pet must have their own food, proof of ownership, and a cage. You must check your pet(s) in first at the pet shelter before checking yourself into the human shelter. Please bring all your pet supplies to the shelter except for crates, which are provided by the shelter. You cannot sleep with your pet(s). Once your pet(s) are in the shelter, you will be able to see them during morning, afternoon, and evening visiting hours. The Cape Cod Disaster Animal Response Team (CCDART) manages the pet shelters at Falmouth High School, Sandwich High School, Barnstable Intermediate School, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, and Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich. The Lower Cape Animal Shelter Team (LCAST) manages the pet shelter at Nauset Regional High School in Eastham.
