Household Pets, Services Animals, and Assistance Animals
COMMONLY USED PET ITEMS (CUPI) (March 2024)
The list of Commonly Used Pet Items (CUPI) supports household pets1 (including birds, cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents, and turtles) with food, food related items, kennels/crates/cages, handling/safety items for pet sheltering. This list is a planning tool to support jurisdictions in identifying resources to support pet sheltering. Pre-identifying the resources most likely to be requested for pets simplifies the procurement process.
During a Presidentially declared emergency or major disaster, under section 403 or 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5170b or § 5192, authorizing Direct Federal Assistance (DFA) or Category B Emergency Protective Measures, should local resources be unavailable or closed, then the equipment, materials, and supplies listed in the CUPI could be provided via FEMA procurement to support life-sustaining services or may be covered as a reimbursable expense respectively. Whether FEMA procures the items directly or an STT seeks reimbursement through Public Assistance the assistance FEMA provides is subject to a cost share. The Federal share is not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs.
Procurement of commodities will be based on the specifications provided by FEMA. Upon receiving a request from FEMA, GSA will review the request and may procure the requested commodities in accordance with GSA acquisition authority.
1Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide Version 4 (fema.gov) Page: 119-122, defining “Household Pets” and addressing Household Pet sheltering.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISASTER SHELTERING OF HOUSEHOLD PETS, SERVICE ANIMALS, AND SUPPORT ANIMALS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
- This information is provided to assist emergency planners who may need to consider local conditions, statutory authorities, resources, agreements, and other critical factors to form the final plan for disaster sheltering of household pets, service animals, and support animals during the pandemic.
- Emergency managers will face many challenges pertaining to both the pandemic and a disaster that requires evacuation and sheltering. There are no perfect solutions, and all strategies could contain an element of risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in people.
PET AND ANIMAL SHELTERING CAPACITY: FACILITY, SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS (JUNE 2020)
The focus of the information is on the kinds and quantities of resources (personnel, supplies & equipment) required to establish and manage a temporary shelter for the safe and humane handling, care and housing of companion animals, including pets, service animals and assistance animals as well as livestock.
Video: PET AND ANIMAL SHELTERING CAPACITY: FACILITY, SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
This presentation from NVOAD in conjunction with The Humane Society of the United States and National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition reviews sheltering pets in a community affected by a disaster.
COHABITATED HUMAN/HOUSEHOLD PET SHELTETING TOOKIT (JULY 2023)
The purpose of this Toolkit is to offer functional guidance to aid in the establishment, operation and maintenance of Cohabitated Human/Household Pet (CHHP) shelters in response to an emergency associated with a natural or manmade disaster.
NASAAEP EMERGENCY ANIMAL SHELTERING BEST PRACTICES WHITE PAPER (JUNE 2012)
The members of the NASAAEP Sheltering Best Practices Working Group have drafted this white paper as a resource and guide to those who have been tasked with emergency animal sheltering. The document addresses all aspects of emergency animal sheltering from the planning stages through activation and setting up the shelter, to the daily needs of animals and their caretakers, to the demobilization of the facility and resources, to long-term recovery needs, and include lessons to be learned from experiencing each of these stages.
DEVELOPING A LOCAL ALL DISASTER ANIMAL EVACUATION AND SHELTERING PLAN (FEBRUARY 2008)
This document provides guidance to assist in the development of a local all disaster animal evacuation and emergency animal sheltering plan.
Partners:
