In the event of a hurricane or disaster, pet evacuation shelters in North Carolina will be coordinated by county and local emergency management agencies. Please check with your local emergency management agency for information on pet friendly evacuation shelters in your county. Local and state health and safety regulations do not permit the Red Cross to allow pets in disaster shelters. (Service animals are allowed in Red Cross shelters.). It may be difficult to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so plan ahead. Keep a list of pet friendly hotels in your area in case you have to evacuate and your local shelter is full.
Pet Friendly Evacuation Shelters in North Carolina Counties
Beaufort County NC Emergency Services
Bertie County Emergency Services
Bladen County Emergency Services
Brunswick County Emergency Services
Carteret County Emergency Services
Carteret County – Pet Shelter
Persons with small domesticated pets can shelter with their pet at the Newport Middle School, 500 E. Chatham Street, Newport, NC 28577. You can pre-register you and your pets online.
Catawba County Emergency Services
Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Emergency Management
Charlotte-Mecklenburg County – Pet Preparedness
Animal Care & Control works with Emergency Management and American Red Cross to ensure that emergency sheltering for pets is available for anyone who needs to evacuate their home. AC&C may set up temporary pet shelters at various Red Cross Evacuation Shelters to house pets. In the event that an Evacuation Shelter closes before an owner can find permanent housing for the pet, Animal Care & Control will make every effort to accommodate the pet at their facility at 8315 Byrum Drive Charlotte, NC until permanent housing is found. The Disaster Boarding Agreement states that Animal Care & Control will provide housing for a pet for up to 6 weeks.
Chatham County Emergency Management
Chowan County Emergency Operations
Craven County, NC Emergency Services
Cumberland County NC Emergency Services
Currituck County Government
Currituck does not have pre-storm shelters so you should have an evacuation plan in case it is necessary to evacuate the area.
Dare County Sheriff’s Office
There are no emergency shelters in Dare County.
Duplin County Fire & Emergency Management
Forsyth County Emergency Services
Forsyth County – Disaster Plan
Should severe weather or a disaster strike in Forsyth County, the Forsyth County Animal Response Plan will be implemented. That plan calls for the activation of a number of pet-friendly and emergency animal shelters.
Gates County Emergency Management
Greene County Emergency Services
Hertford County – Pet Friendly Shelters
Hertford County High School, 1326 W First Street, Ahoskie, NC 2791, is designated as a pet friendly shelter. Caretaker is responsible for feeding and cleaning of the pet under control of the Pet Shelter Manager. No pets are allowed in the general population area.
Hyde County Emergency Services
Johnston County Emergency Services
Lee County NC Emergency Services
Lenoir County Emergency Services
Martin County Emergency Management
Nash County Division of Emergency Management
New Hanover County Emergency Management
New Hanover County – Pet Shelter
During an emergency event in which the county opens shelters for residents, at least one of the shelters will be designated as a pet co-location. Only cats and dogs can be accepted at the pet co-location shelter. Owners must stay at the shelter with their pets. Pets will be housed in a separate area of the shelter due to health and safety concerns. Bring your pet(s) vaccination records and at least a 5 to 7 day supply of food. If you need to evacuate and can’t take your pets, New Hanover County Animal Services will shelter pets for free during an emergency. The animal shelter is located at 180 Division Drive in Wilmington. Space is limited and available on a first come, first-served basis. Please call (910) 798-7500 with questions.
Onslow County Emergency Services
Onslow County – Pet Friendly Shelter
There is a designated pet friendly shelter at Jacksonville Commons Middle School, 315 Commons Drive South, Jacksonville, NC 28546. If a citizen elects to use the pet friendly shelter they will not be able to drop off their pet and leave. Citizens are required to remain at the shelter with their pet. Citizens will need to bring appropriate and adequate supplies for their pet for the duration of their stay at the pet friendly shelter.
Pamlico County Emergency Management
Pender County Emergency Management
Pender County – Pet Friendly Shelter
There is a pet-friendly shelter at Cape Fear Middle School, 1886 NC Highway 133, Rocky Point, NC 28457. Pets will be housed at this shelter but in a location separate from the owners.
Pitt County Emergency Management
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County – Pet Preparedness
Forsyth County Animal Control is tasked with coordinating evacuees who arrive at public shelters with pets. Depending on the situation, Animal Control may take the following actions regarding housing pets:
Suggesting nearby kennels, shelters or veterinary clinics that will temporarily shelter pets.
Suggesting another public shelter that has covered outside corridors or adjacent support buildings where pets on leashes and in carriers can be housed.
Setting up temporary pet shelters at the fairgrounds or other similar facilities.
More Information
Do you need to evacuate when a hurricane is headed for NC? Here’s what to know
Find info on evacuation zones in North Carolina.
To find out if an evacuation has been issued for your area, you can check the interactive tool available at readync.gov/stay-informed/evacuation-orders.
North Carolina Emergency Stable Site Options for Horses
Call the stable site in advance to check availability, make reservations, get directions. All require CURRENT NEGATIVE COGGINS TEST.
