Pets depend on us for their safety and well-being, so be sure to include them in your family emergency plan. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them with you. CMPD Animal Care & Control encourages you to be prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster situation. This page contains information and links to tips on how  to make sure you and your pet are best protected and prepared in the event that you must evacuate your home.

Animal Care & Control works with Emergency Management and American Red Cross to ensure that emergency sheltering for pets is available for anyone who needs to evacuate their home. Animal Care & Control is equipped to set up temporary pet shelters at various Red Cross Evacuation Shelters to house pets.

Stay tuned to your local news stations for information on specific locations of Evacuation Shelters.

Click here for information on preparing a PET SAFETY PLAN (ReadyNC.org)

What to bring to an Animal Care & Control Pet Evacuation Shelter:

• Dogs on leashes and cats in carriers
• Cages for crate-trained animals
• Proper identification tags for all pets
• Pet immunization and medical records
• A minimum of a two-week supply of any medicine or special diet food that your pet requires
• Blankets and toys

If there is not a Pet Evacuation Shelter available where I'm evacuating, what should I plan to take to properly care for my pets?  Click Here

Planning Ahead & Pet Safety

Warnings are often issued hours, even days in advance. A little planning and preparation will enable you to evacuate with your pets quickly and safely.

• Keep pet disaster supplies ready to take at a moment's notice.
• Bring all pets inside so you do not have to search for them if you must leave in a hurry.
• Securely fasten collars with up-to-date identification on all dogs and cats.
• Attach phone numbers (including cell phone) and address of your temporary shelter or a friend or relative outside the disaster area.
• Keep dogs securely leashed.
• Keep cats in carriers.
• Birds and animals kept in cages should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier.
  • In cold weather, wrap a blanket over the carrier.
• Remember that pets can react differently under stress.
  • Do not leave animals unattended where they can run off.
  • Do not turn animals loose during an emergency. 
  • The most trustworthy pets might panic and hide or even bite.
• Consider having your pet microchipped, in case your pet gets lost during an emergency.
  • Microchips provide permanent identification for your pet. 

Click here to see when our next low cost microchip clinic is scheduled.

Animal Care & Control's Disaster Boarding Agreement

In the event that an Evacuation Shelter closes before an owner can find permanent housing for the pet, Animal Care & Control will make every effort to accommodate the pet at its facility at 8315 Byrum Drive, Charlotte, NC, until permanent housing is found. The Disaster Boarding Agreement states that Animal Care & Control will provide housing for a pet for up to six weeks.

The first 14 days will be free of charge. Beginning on the 15th day, there will be a charge of $10 a day for dogs and $6 day for cats. The owner is required to check in with Animal Care & Control at the end of the first seven days with an update and each seven-day period thereafter. At the end of six weeks, the situation will be evaluated and Animal Care & Control will do its best to accommodate the situation. 

In limited circumstance, boarding fees can be waived, if a financial hardship can be validated.

Lost Pets

Animal Care & Control takes photos and post photos and descriptions of every stray animal that comes into the shelter. These photos are posted on the Lost Pets Section of our website. 

It is also a good idea to come to the shelter every day to look through our stray kennels.

Post flyers with photos and descriptions of your pet in your neighborhood, local veterinarian's offices, grocery stores, etc.