If your home is a safe place during a storm and officials have not ordered you to evacuate, you and your pet should stay at home until the storm passes. Be sure you have enough supplies for you and your pet during and after the storm. Ensure your pet has identification securely attached to their collar in the event they escape outdoors during the storm.

If you are ordered to evacuate or do not feel safe in your home, your first option should be to go with your pets to a family member or friend’s home located in a safe area until the danger passes. Bring emergency supplies for you and your pets and make sure you call in advance to make sure your pets are welcome.

A secondary option for shelter during a disaster is to make arrangements at a pet friendly hotel located outside of the projected impact area. Select several hotels in advance and call to confirm their pet policies. Hotels tend to fill up quickly once a storm is approaching so make a reservation as soon as you think evacuation is imminent. You can search for a pet friendly hotel through the following websites:  

 Petswelcome.com      -or-       Takeyourpet.com

Through the Animal Safety, Services & Protection Division, St. Lucie County residents are eligible to bring their cats and dogs to use the Pet Friendly Shelters located at Westwood High School located at 1801 Panther Lane, Fort Pierce, Florida, and Treasure Coast High School located at 1000 SW Darwin Blvd., Port St. Lucie, Florida. The shelters should be utilized as a last resort, only cats and dogs are permitted at the shelters and space is limited. Pre-registrations is strongly encouraged but is not required. You can pre-register your cats or dogs for the Pet Friendly Shelter by clicking the link below:

Pet Friendly Shelter Pre-Registration (Cats & Dogs Only)

Please note you are responsible for bringing all necessary pet supplies and will be responsible for caring for your pet while at the Pet Friendly Shelter during allocated times. Pets may NOT be dropped off at the shelter while you evacuate the area; this would be considered abandonment of an animal, and charges may be filed.

Disclaimers: 

• Only cats and dogs are permitted at the County's Pet Friendly Shelters.  
• Due to State health and safety regulations, humans and pets are not sheltered in the same area, therefore, animals and humans are housed in separate buildings. Once the pet has been registered and housed at the Pet Friendly Shelter, owners must report to the “people section” to allow other pet owners to register and house their pets.
• Animals MUST be current and up to date on their rabies vaccination in order to stay at the shelter - (proof is required).
• Dogs must be on a leash (retractable leases discouraged due to safety reasons) and collar/harness, while at the shelter.
• Due to the nature of disasters, spending time or socializing with your pet once at the shelter may be very limited. This helps reduce the possibility of accidental bites or scratches from occurring which would result in a 10 day quarantine of the animal at an animal shelter or veterinary clinic during the disaster at the expense of the owner as quarantined animals would not be permitted to stay at the Pet Friendly Shelter for safety purposes. 
• You must bring your pet disaster supply kit to the shelter.
• All animals are kept in carriers/crates during their stay at the shelter.
• Dog owners will be able to take their dogs out for brief potty walks during an allotted time schedule for safety purposes.