In the event of a disaster, pet evacuation shelters in Connecticut 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.
Connecticut Emergency Animal Response Service – EARS
The Connecticut Emergency Animal Response Service is a team designed for rapid-response to assist owners and emergency departments with animal incidents such as a household fire, evacuations, or disasters. If called upon, the EARS Team can provide technical rescue, triage, transport of animals to veterinary clinics, and establish temporary sheltering for a wide variety of animals. EARS is entirely run through the commitment of volunteers.
Connecticut State Animal Response Team (STSART)
The Connecticut State Animal Response Team (CTSART) program is a collaboration among government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, industry, and volunteers for preparing and responding to animal needs in disasters. It is a public-private partnership, organized to prepare our state for any disaster that involves domestic animals in Connecticut.
