Help Washington’s Pets Stay Safe When Natural Disasters Strike

WA H.B. 1201 — Include Pets in Emergency Planning

ASPCA Position: Support

Sponsors: Reps. Leavitt, Ryu, Macri, Bronoske, Simmons, Berg

Update — April 21, 2025: Great news for people and pets! This bill was just signed into law by Governor Ferguson. Please use our form below to send him a message of appreciation.

Washington lawmakers have passed law that will help families with pets stay safe during natural disasters. This new law will require counties and cities in Washington to:

Include pets in all levels of disaster and extreme weather response planning.
Create dedicated pet-friendly sheltering sites to give people with pets a safe and comfortable place to evacuate to.
Provide online guidance from organizations offering emergency pet assistance and advice.

Thank you for every action you have taken this year to help this bill cross the finish line.

Learn More

Natural disasters and extreme weather events are becoming more common throughout the Evergreen State, and Washington’s emergency plans have not adequately supported families with companion animals. When forced to flee their homes or find shelter from the elements, people have sometimes had to make an impossible decision: leave without their beloved pets or risk sheltering in place to stay together, threatening their own safety and that of first responders.

What You Can Do

Please use our brief form below to send a message thanking Governor Ferguson for signing this bill into law.

Advocacy Alert

Your Message

Subject Thanks for Signing H.B. 1201 to Help People and Pets!

Dear Governor Ferguson,

Message

As a resident of Washington with pets, I want to thank you for signing H.B. 1201 into law to ensure that families with pets can safely seek shelter during natural disasters and extreme weather events throughout the Evergreen State.

Thank you for recognizing that offering pet friendly shelters in emergency events not only prevents families from making the heartbreaking decision of separating from their pets, it also improves disaster preparedness and public safety by increasing evacuation rates.

Preparing for the inclusion of at least one designated co-shelter in every emergency operations plan, as in H.B. 1201, will increase disaster preparedness among pet owners, enhance public safety, reduce evacuation noncompliance, enable pet owners to manage the care of their animals during the emergency, and mitigate separation-induced trauma and psychosomatic conditions.

Thank you once again for signing H.B. 1201 into law to increase pet-friendly emergency shelters, keep families and pets together and improve disaster preparedness!

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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