To ensure the wildfire response is coordinated and we are meeting the most pressing needs of our community, Cat Adoption Team (CAT) is working with the Portland-area Multi Agency Coordination Group (MAC-G). This group also includes Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington County Animal Services; Humane Society of Southwest Washington; Oregon Humane Society; Portland Veterinary Medical Association; and Sound Equine Options.
Prepare Your Pets for Emergencies
In response to regional fires and levels of evacuation, CAT encourages you to prepare in advance to make sure your pets are supplied and have a place to go if you need to leave at a moment’s notice.
Sign up at publicalerts.org
Stay in the know by signing up for public alerts in your local jurisdiction. This is the best way to receive important notifications and evacuation information for your specific location.
Update your pet’s license and microchip information
If you and your pet are separated, having a license and a microchip are the best precautions to help others contact you in an emergency.Make sure tags have current phone numbers.
- License your pet with your local jurisdiction.
- Microchip your pet with your local vet.
- If your pet is microchipped, update your contact information with the microchip registry.
evacuation area lost & Found pets
Lost a pet in an evacuation area:
If you had to evacuate due to the wildfire and have lost your pet, there are several resources available to help you find your animal.
- Check your local animal services website to file a missing pet report or look for pets who have been found.
- The Oregon Department of Agriculture also has a resource list of all the local animal services agencies in Oregon. They have also launched a new search tool to help you find your lost pet or livestock.
- The Oregon Humane Society is accepting stray cats from evacuation areas in Clackamas County. You can see photos and descriptions on the OHS Wildfire Lost and Found Cats page.
Found a pet in an evacuation area:
If you have found a pet in one of the evacuation zones, please call your local animal services agency. A complete list can be found here.
If you have found a stray cat in Clackamas County, please call OHS Admissions at 503-285-7722 and press 0.
Prepare a 72-hour kit for pets
In addition to clothing and emergency supplies you’re packing for yourself, be sure to pack enough supplies for your pet.
Remember to pack:
- Food
- Bottled water
- Any medication your pet may need
- Treats
- For dogs, something to chew on in a stressful environment.
- For cats, several cans of high-quality wet food.
- A favorite toy
- A crate where your pet can be comfortably confined, if needed, in any environment you may be staying
- Bedding- a bed, pad, or blanket
- First aid and sanitation supplies
- Collars and leashes
- Proof of ownership – a copy of vet records, adoption or breeder documentation, licensing records, and photos of you and your pet together.
Plan where you can stay with your pets
Identify pet-friendly lodging in the area you plan to go in an emergency.
- Speak ahead of time with family and friends you may stay with about accommodations for your pets.
- Find a pet-friendly hotel or motel in advance.
- Find a pet friendly campground.
Emergency shelters
- If you plan to stay in an emergency shelter, find out what arrangements they may have for your pets before arriving.
- Most Red Cross shelters are unable to welcome pets into the shelter. The Red Cross has partnered with RedRover, which can help you find out where pets can safely stay during an emergency.
- In limited locations, in conjunction with local partners, some Red Cross shelters may have a designated, separate area where small pets can stay. These locations and their pet policies may change over the course of an emergency.
- In shelters that allow small pets, owners are expected to care for and spend time with their pets – shelter volunteers and attendants will not be able to care for them in your place.
- Most regional animal shelters will not have the capacity to provide emergency boarding for your pets in an evacuation.
- In the event that emergency shelters for people aren’t able to accommodate pets, emergency personnel and regional shelters may establish a separate emergency shelter for pets.
Plan ahead with neighbors who can take pets in an emergency if you’re unavailable
Make arrangements with a trusted neighbor in advance to find and bring your pets to you, or provide temporary care in the event that you are away from your property during an evacuation. You can also find temporary foster homes through websites like 911fosterpets.com. (Update 4/22/24: 911fosterpets is no longer in business.)
Additional resources for pet emergency preparedness
- Protect Your Pets from Wildfire Smoke
- ASPCA: Disaster Preparedness
- Ready America: Pet-related information, video, brochure and toolkit
- Disaster Preparedness for Pets – Medicare Supplement
- List of links and additional resources
About ASAP
Founded in 2006, the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland (ASAP) is a working coalition composed of the following Portland/Vancouver-area animal shelters and organizations: the Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs; Cat Adoption Team; Clackamas County Dog Services; Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon; Humane Society for SW Washington; Multnomah County Animal Services; Oregon Humane Society; Portland Veterinary Medical Association; and Washington County Animal Services. We envision a community that values, protects and cares for animals and provides a safety net for homeless and at-risk cats and dogs. Working together, we develop and sustain metro-wide programs and services that reduce the number of homeless cats and dogs, and save the lives of all shelter pets that can be humanely and responsibly rehomed. For further information, please visit www.asapmetro.org
