Emergency preparedness and response for pets is exactly what it sounds like. It’s planning how to safeguard your pets before an emergency. After all, when you’re actually in one there simply isn’t the time. With the recent flooding in Northland and the ever present possibility of an earthquake in NZ, pets need our protection.
How can we give them the soft landing they deserve? And are pets properly included in New Zealand’s Emergency Management Bill?
In this article PD unpacks the Bill and how you can help make it better for pets. We also give several tips on how to respond to common pet emergencies. When you and your pets are in the midst of a crisis, knowing what to do can be life saving.
In this article
New Zealand natural disasters and animals
Us Kiwis have ample experience with natural disasters. Whether it’s the ground shaking beneath our feet, or endless rains falling from the sky – we see some hair-raising situations up close.
During a natural disaster like the recent Northland Floods, most of the news covers people being evacuated or facing danger. But of course, everything we face our pets do, too.
This is why emergency preparedness and response for furkids during New Zealand natural disasters is nothing less than crucial. Pets face other common emergencies too that require quick response. Like toxic ingestion and choking for example – but more on that further down.
Are pets covered in New Zealand’s Emergency Management Bill?
New Zealand’s Emergency Management Bill is a law proposed in 2023 that updates how the country prepares for and responds to emergencies like floods, earthquakes and storms.
The first version of the Bill didn’t mention animals at all. After strong input from animal organisations like Companion Animals NZ (CANZ), it now includes animals but still doesn’t fully protect pets during emergencies.
For the second revision, CANZ is calling for clarity and asking the public to make their own submission by 3 February 2026.
What is CANZ asking for?
Right now, the law treats pets as property, not as living beings. This can mean animals are treated as objects during disasters, even though New Zealand law already recognises that animals can feel pain and distress. The Bill also allows emergency authorities to destroy animals, with too little guidance to make sure animal welfare comes first.
The Bill is also unclear about including pets in emergency planning. It doesn’t clearly say that pets are part of households or explain how they should be cared for during evacuations, emergencies, and recovery. This is a serious issue, as many people delay leaving dangerous areas or return to rescue their pets, putting everyone at risk. This matters because about two thirds of New Zealand households have a companion animal.
Recovery is another missing piece. Finding and reuniting lost pets is vital for families and communities, but this is not clearly recognised as an essential part of emergency response.
How can you help?
To ensure the Bill better protect pets, you can make a submission on the Emergency Management Bill before the deadline of 3 February 2026. Submissions allow people who care about pets to tell Parliament why animals should be better protected in emergencies. It’s also to support changes like recognising animal sentience and including pets in evacuation and recovery planning.
You can also help by raising awareness, sharing information from organisations like us and CANZ, and encouraging others to submit. On a practical level, ensuring pets are microchipped, registered, and included in household emergency plans also strengthens the case for better animal-focused emergency responses.
Emergency preparedness and response for furkids
Here’s a list of emergency preparedness and response tips for safeguarding Kiwi pets:
Microchip pets
It’s very telling that after the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, 85% of microchipped pets were reunited with their owners, compared with only 15% of non-chipped pets.
Microchips are the most reliable way to ID you pet – collars and tags can fall off, but a microchip stays with the animal for life.
When pets are microchipped and registered, they’re listed on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR). This way, shelters, vets and emergency responders can quickly identify them and contact their people.
Pet collar and tag
In addition to a pet microchip, make sure your pet wears a collar and tag. This will speed up identification if a good Samaritan finds your pet. Be sure to use a safety breakaway collar for cats too.
Prepare an emergency bag
Have an emergency pet kit ready and packed to go at any time with basic first aid supplies. In addition to food, a bottle of water and bowls (collapsible ones are great), pack a blanket or towel to help keep them calm them in stressful situations. Consider including poop bags, leashes and your pet carrier, and be sure to pack a copy of your pet’s medical records with a recent snapshot.
Keep vaccinations up to date
Pets can be exposed to a myriad of rotting and decayed debris after natural disasters. Keeping pet vaccinations schedules up to date helps mitigate unwanted illness from this.
Also be sure to read PD’s guide to help and/or find a lost pet in a fire or flood and what to do if you find an injured animal.
Common pet emergencies and how to respond
Besides understanding what’s best practice in emergency preparedness and response for New Zealand natural disasters, what about other risks to pets?
There are several common pet emergencies you might one day need to respond to outside of fire, flood and earthquake. For example, some of our top claims include infections, injuries, allergies and illnesses. Depending on the situation there may be temporary steps you can make to treat your pets at home but generally pets will need an unplanned visit to the vet.
Understanding common risks pets face helps in your emergency preparedness and response planning. Here’s a list of several common health risks for pets – click through for what to do if they arise:
- What to do if my cat or dog is choking
- Accidental ingestion guide
- The ins and outs of animal CPR
- Safety measures for dog vomiting and gastro
- Preventing dog bites
- Things that can poison your pet to keep away
- Dog skin conditions
Remember to read through our blog to find more tips for common pet emergencies and how to respond. Our list of topics is always expanding so you’ll always find something new there.
Thankfully many pet health conditions can be remedied or mitigated if you catch early warning signs. It’s one of the reasons pets need regular vet check-ups. As pet parents we’re not always clued up as to what exactly a vet is doing and checking for, that’s why PD and Dr Cath made this video to explain:
Emergency preparedness with pet insurance
Pet insurance is a key part of emergency preparedness and response. In a pet emergency you want to think about what your pet needs and not what the costs are going to be. In a lot of cases, pet insurance helps you do this by paying towards unexpected visits, helping cover diagnosis and treatment costs. This can include hefty bills like hospitalisation and surgery too.
And with PD, you can get 1 MONTH FREE when you sign up. Simply click below to get a quote today.