New Law Ensures Pet Safety in Fires, Storms, Disasters
thevirtualgazette.com · post 59696 · 2026-09-08
NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 8 — The question for pet owners is not whether a disaster will strike, but when. That is the central warning from the animal rights organization PETA, which is urging families to plan in advance for fires, winter storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and other natural or human-made emergencies so that every member of the household — including the four-legged ones — stays safe. At the heart of the group’s latest push is a straightforward message: preparation cannot wait until the sirens sound.
PETA has released a review of disaster preparedness tips for animals, though the specific steps are not detailed in the material. The emphasis, instead, is on the responsibility owners carry to think through evacuation and shelter scenarios before they become urgent.
Beyond the emergency kit
The preparedness campaign sits alongside a broader slate of PETA animal welfare initiatives. The group is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the identification of the person who dumped a badly injured Yorkie in a Norfolk, Virginia, field and drove away. Other efforts target the daily conditions of animals.
PETA is promoting the sponsorship of doghouses for “backyard dogs” to shelter them in snow and freezing winter temperatures. The organization also continues to advocate for adopting rather than breeding or buying animals, for always spaying and neutering, and for providing vegan food for dogs and cats.
Resources for owners
For those looking to keep animals safe and stimulated, PETA points to a catio-building guide for outdoor cat exploration and offers advice on preventing dog injuries from jumping and stairs. There is also guidance on finding a lost animal companion. The group’s calls to action include texting VEG to 73822 for vegan lifestyle tips and urgent action alerts — available in the U.S. only, with message and data rates that may apply — as well as making a special gift to support PETA’s rescue team.
What to watch next: whether the disaster-preparedness guidance prompts more municipalities to factor pets into their emergency plans, and how PETA’s reward in the Yorkie case advances the search for the person responsible.