Service Animal Disaster Information Sheet

From Service Dog Training

In September, I’ll be doing a blog series on disaster preparedness for service dog users. This blog is sort of a preview, since I had it ready in advance.

Service animal users generally prepare their disaster plans with the assumption that they will never be separated from their service animal. Usually, this is true. Disaster services, such as evacuation and sheltering, must be provided in compliance with the ADA, and this includes permitting service animals to remain with their handlers. However, there is always the worst case scenario that must be considered. A service animal bolts during evacuation and gets lost in the crowd. A service animal user is seriously injured and the animal must be sheltered apart from the handler until the handler recovers enough to care for the animal. In these situations, it is important to have the necessary information available to disaster responders to ensure that your service animal gets appropriate care during the disaster.

You can find a sample emergency information sheet here. There is also a downloadable PDF version and an example of a completed emergency information sheet. I recommend that you keep this form in a safe place, preferably in your disaster kit. During an evacuation, a copy of the information sheet should be kept on your dog and one on your person. I also keep one with me when traveling. Hopefully you will find this information useful as part of your disaster planning.