You May Never See Your Pet Again If It Gets Swept Up In A Storm.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control has a message for pet owners: prepare for storms now, while the 2025 Hurricane Season is quiet. No one wants their pet — whether a dog, cat, or cow, flying to its death during a storm. The agency issued a series of tips on Monday:
>> Pet owners need to be prepared for hurricane season, and Palm Beach County Public Safety Department Animal Care and Control Division (PBCACC) is here to help. Residents that must evacuate from their homes prior to a disaster should plan in advance where to take their pets whether it is to a friend or family member’s home, a hotel or the Pet Friendly Shelter.
In the event of an approaching hurricane, the Pet Friendly Shelter, located at 6000 Northtree Blvd. in Lake Worth, is available to residents who live in mandatory evacuation zones, sub-standard construction, flood prone areas or mobile homes. Residents must preregister. The form to preregister for the shelter can be found at https://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/animalcare/Pages/Hurricane.aspx. To preregister, all dogs and cats must be currently vaccinated against rabies, wear rabies license tags, be microchipped and protected against fleas and ticks with medication.
The following are suggestions for planning ahead during hurricane season:
· Have a pet carrier large enough for pets to stand, turn around and hold food and water bowls. Write your name and phone numbers on the carrier.
· Have pet vaccinated against rabies and other diseases.
· Pack pet’s medicines, vaccination papers, first-aid supplies, bedding, grooming tools, toys and at least five days of pet food and water in a go bag with the pet’s Rabies License tag and a temporary I.D. tag with the name and number of a friend or relative outside the disaster area attached to the bag.
· Ensure that microchip registration and contact information is up to date; a microchip is the best way to ensure a lost pet is reunited with its family.
· Take a photo of the dog, cat or horse with a family member as proof of ownership.
· On horses and livestock, either body clip or use non-toxic livestock markers to paint the owner’s name and phone number on the neck.
· Braid a waterproof luggage tag with owner information into the tail of the horse.
· For large animals, have a two-week supply of hay, feed and water secured in plastic water-tight containers.
Additional tips for pets and hurricane preparedness can be found in the Hurricane Preparedness Brochure on the PBCACC website at https://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/animalcare/pdf/hurri_brochure.pdf. Print copies of the brochure can be found at the PBCACC main facility located at 7100 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach.
PBCACC is dedicated to promoting the health, safety and welfare of both people and animals in the community. Join PBCACC in making Palm Beach County a safe and compassionate place for all animals.
For more information on PBCACC’s services, please visit the website, pbcgov.org/animal, call 561-233-1200 or visit 7100 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, 33411. <<
