The best way to protect your pets from the effects of a disaster is to have a disaster plan in place, such as this Pet evacuation checklist. If you have pets, that plan must include them. Being well-prepared could save their lives. If you need to evacuate your home during a disaster, the best way to protect your pets is to do the same. If it is not safe for you to stay behind, leaving your pets behind is also not safe. Knowing which friends, relatives, boarding facilities, animal shelters, or veterinarians can care for your animals in an emergency. Make a Pet evacuation checklist for evacuating pets.