Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners — Calgary

Roughly 30% of pet owners have any kind of emergency plan that includes their pets — and most of those plans are incomplete. Calgary has experienced major flooding, extreme cold events, and urban wildland interface fire threats. When an emergency moves fast, the time to figure out pet logistics is not in the moment. A plan that takes two hours to build can make a critical difference.

Key Context

Why This Matters

Planning

During the 2013 Calgary Bow River flood, thousands of pets were displaced and many were separated from owners because no backup arrangements existed. Owners who were evacuated to shelters — most of which don't accept pets — had no alternative options pre-arranged. The same scenario plays out in every major Canadian emergency: the people who make it through with their pets intact are the ones who had a plan.

Evidence-Based

Key Facts

Source: 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines

Only 30% of pet owners include their pets in their household emergency plan — despite pets being consistently listed as a reason people delay or refuse evacuation.

American Veterinary Medical Association Emergency Preparedness Guidelines

Most public emergency shelters in Alberta do not accept pets — owners must research pet-friendly shelter options or private boarding facilities in advance.

Alberta Emergency Management Agency

A 72-hour pet emergency kit should include: dry food (sealed), water, vaccination records, a current photo with the dog's description, medications with dosing instructions, collar/leash, waste bags, a familiar toy or blanket, and carrier or crate.

Canadian Red Cross Emergency Preparedness for Pet Owners

Calgary has experienced major flooding (2013 Bow River/Elbow), urban wildland fire risk in the western suburbs, and routine extreme cold events at -30°C to -40°C that can require rapid indoor shelter.

City of Calgary Emergency Management

Alberta 211 is available 24/7 and can help locate pet-friendly emergency shelter options, including boarding and vet clinics during area-wide emergencies.

Alberta 211

Action Steps

What Owners Should Do

Practical steps you can take right now.

1
Build a 72-hour pet emergency kit and store it somewhere you can grab in under two minutes: food, water, medications, vaccination records, a leash and collar, waste bags, and a photo of your dog.
2
Identify at least two people outside your immediate household who have a key to your home, know your dog, and are authorized to pick up your dog from any facility — including PAWS.
3
Research pet-friendly hotels within 150–200km of Calgary and save a list — include phone numbers, not just names, because websites go down during emergencies.
4
Call Alberta 211 to ask about pet-friendly emergency shelters in advance — not during an event. Add the number to your phone contacts.
5
Update your veterinary and daycare facility with your emergency contact information whenever it changes — these facilities may be caring for your dog when you can't reach them.
6
Make sure your dog's vaccinations are current — many emergency boarding facilities require proof of rabies and DHPP within the past 12 months.
7
Store a digital copy of your dog's vaccination records and microchip number in your email drafts or cloud storage — paper records in a go-bag are good, but a digital backup works when the bag is inaccessible.

Red Flags

Warning Signs to Watch For

Know when something needs attention.

Your dog has no current vaccinations on file — most emergency boarding and pet-friendly shelters require proof, and you won't have time to get them during an evacuation.
You have no designated emergency contact who can reach your dog in a crisis — if you're injured, hospitalized, or unreachable, someone needs to be authorized to act.
Your dog is on daily medications with no documented protocol — anyone caring for your dog in an emergency needs to know dosing, timing, and what to do if a dose is missed.

When to See a Vet

Schedule a wellness visit to update vaccinations and request printed records if you don't already have them. Ask your vet to give you a written medication protocol if your dog is on any prescription medications — this is exactly the kind of document that gets needed in an emergency when the vet's office is closed.

From the Pack

The PAWS Perspective

What We See

We've had clients who couldn't reach their dog because they were in a hospital, a car accident, or a family emergency — with no one authorized to pick up. Those calls are stressful for everyone involved. Having a designated emergency contact is as important as anything else in this plan.

How Daycare Connects

If Calgary experienced a flooding event or a cold weather emergency during a daycare day, we need to know who to call and who can take your dog. We keep that information in your file, but it has to be current. An emergency contact from 2022 with a disconnected number doesn't help.

Eric's Take

"The 2013 flood hit Calgary in June, which is a normal busy daycare month. It was chaos for a lot of people — pets included. I watched families scramble because they had no plan. An afternoon building a go-bag and a contact list is not a lot to ask for something that can matter enormously."

— Eric Yeung, Owner, PAWS Dog Daycare

Honest Note

We're a daycare, not an emergency boarding facility — in a large-scale disaster, our own operations may be impacted. The plan needs to account for the possibility that your daycare facility is also disrupted. Have backup options.

Common Questions

Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners — FAQs

Can I bring my dog to a public evacuation shelter in Calgary?

Most public emergency shelters do not accommodate pets beyond service animals. The City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta have been working toward more pet-friendly emergency infrastructure, but it remains inconsistent. Research options before an event — do not assume.

What's the fastest way to find pet-friendly accommodation in a Calgary emergency?

Alberta 211 is your first call — they maintain updated resources including emergency boarding. Beyond that, a pre-researched list of pet-friendly hotels in the corridor between Calgary and Edmonton or Calgary and Lethbridge is your practical backup.

What should be in my dog's emergency medication supply?

A 7-day supply of any prescription medications, stored in clearly labeled containers with dosing instructions any caregiver can follow. Also include your vet's emergency contact number. If your dog has a known condition like epilepsy, include instructions for what to do in an emergency episode.

How do I make sure PAWS can handle an emergency if I can't be reached?

Make sure your emergency contact listed with us is current and that person knows they are authorized to pick up your dog. We keep your emergency contacts on file and will reach out down the list if we can't get you. If your circumstances change, update us.

My dog is anxious in new environments — how do I prepare them for emergency displacement?

Practice being in different environments: car trips, brief stays at a friend's house, exposure to unfamiliar people. A dog who has experience being cared for by different trusted people is more resilient in an emergency than one who has only ever known one home. Daycare itself is good preparation for this.

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