The worst wildfires on record: the realities and challenges of evacuating with pets

Many pets and livestock have been killed or injured in the recent devastating wildfires that have ravaged the Southern California region. The disaster has once again highlighted the structural limitations and practical challenges of evacuating with pets.

Pets are a 'blind spot' in disasters

During large-scale disasters such as wildfires and floods, evacuation centers are primarily designed for human safety. As a result, pets are not allowed to enter evacuation centers, and owners are often forced to evacuate with their family pets or leave them tethered. In fact, there have been multiple cases of dogs left unattended on leashes that have been caught in the flames15.

Rescue, treatment, and the problems left behind

More than 100 people, including veterinarians, animal organizations, and volunteers, were on the scene to rescue and treat injured animals. A coalition of animal rights organizations, Friends of Lucy, responded by setting up an animal emergency clinic in Andong, Gyeongbuk, where they rescued and treated more than 200 animals23. However, even after the rescue efforts ended, legal and institutional gaps in the evacuation of pets remained unresolved.

Government guidelines and limitations

The government's Disaster Response Guidelines for Pet Families recommends that pet owners look for evacuation centers that allow pets in advance. However, in practice, very few shelters are pet-friendly, and most do not allow pets68.

The need and reality of legal improvements

Representative Han Jung-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea has introduced a bill to amend the law to allow pets to evacuate with their owners in the event of a disaster. The main points of the bill are to include pets in the relief program and to provide temporary housing facilities that allow pets to stay with them. However, the bill has not passed the Diet, despite being introduced several times68.

Conclusion: Evacuation with pets requires social consensus and institutional support

Evacuating with pets is more than just a matter of animal protection; it also affects the safety and psychological well-being of the family unit and the efficiency of on-site control during a disaster. Governments and local governments need to actively seek social consensus to expand shelters that allow evacuation with pets, as well as institutional complements, such as amending relevant laws.

The recent devastating wildfires that hit the Yeongnam region of South Korea have not only taken a toll on lives and property, but also on pets and livestock. Many animals lost their lives due to structural limitations, such as not being able to take pets to evacuation centers, owners evacuating with family members, or evacuating with tethered pets. Animal organizations, veterinarians, and volunteers have been rescuing and treating animals on the ground, and there are growing calls for a “companion evacuation law” that allows pets to evacuate with their owners. The government has set up guidelines, but there are not enough evacuation centers that allow pets to evacuate together, and the law has yet to pass the National Assembly.

Disaster Evacuation for Pets FAQs

Q1. Are pets allowed in evacuation centers during disasters?

Currently, according to official guidelines such as the National Disaster Safety Portal, pets are not allowed to enter evacuation centers, except for service animals such as guide dogs for the blind68.

Q2. Why are there no pet-friendly evacuation centers?

Administratively, evacuation centers have been designed primarily for human safety, and it has been difficult to apply them in practice due to issues such as hygiene, safety, and noise that may arise when pets are present68. However, in recent years, there has been a change in social awareness and an increase in the number of pet-owning households.

Q3. What should I do if I have to evacuate with my pet?

Government guidelines encourage owners to look for pet-friendly shelters ahead of time, and to have a plan for transportation. In an emergency, pets should never be tied up, and you should have enough water and food for several days6.

Q4. Why hasn't legislation for evacuating with pets been passed?

There have been several bills introduced over the past few years, but they have failed to pass the National Assembly due to health and safety issues in shelters, conflicts between animals, and lack of public consensus68.

Q5. How would a pet-friendly shelter make a difference?

By allowing owners and pets to evacuate together, it can reduce unnecessary animal sacrifice, promote family safety and psychological stability, and improve the efficiency of on-site control and rescue activities during disasters67.

#evacuationwithpet

#disastersafety

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#wildfire

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