Dealing with separated owners and their animals can become a predominant issue in large-scale evacuations, because people who want to be reunited with their pets may take steps to do so. Regardless of whether such behavior is appropriate, officials must have a good plan for handling it.

Close cooperation with the animal care community is the best way to plan and respond to these issues. Even in the absence of a formal disaster preparedness plan, local veterinarians and animal control or humane shelter directors can be asked to coordinate evacuations and rescues of animals in ways that are compatible with the procedures of the ICS.

Click on this link for an example of a situation in which animal-owner separation became a major issue.