Animal welfare in natural disasters

Why are animals left out of emergency plans?

The reasons are many and reinforce one another:

• The first is cultural: in the hierarchy of emergency priorities, animals come last – if they feature at all.
• The second is logistical: including animals in evacuation protocols requires specific resources – suitable vehicles, shelter space, trained staff – that most authorities neither have nor plan for.
• The third reason is legal: in many countries, animals are still legally treated as movable property rather than as sentient beings with needs of their own. Even where the law has moved on – in Switzerland, “animals are not objects” since 2003; in France and Spain, they are recognised as sentient living beings – protecting them in emergencies is rarely an explicit obligation and mostly depends on voluntary good practice.
• The fourth reason is economic: farm animals in particular have economic value for their owners, but rescuing them in a disaster is covered neither by insurance nor by public compensation schemes.

The real cost of ignoring animals in a crisis

The consequences of this omission go far beyond the direct suffering of animals:

• When pets are left behind during an evacuation, their owners often go back for them, putting their own lives at risk and complicating rescue operations.
• The mass death of livestock creates serious health problems: untreated carcasses contaminate groundwater and soil, giving rise to outbreaks of secondary diseases that persist long after the initial disaster.
• The loss of wildlife and the destruction of their habitats have long-term effects on ecosystems: disrupted food chains and irreversible loss of biodiversity. Unlike a building, this damage is not repaired in a few years but over decades – if it is repaired at all.

Fondation Franz Weber projects that make a difference

The Fondation Franz Weber is actively working to change this reality. Through its animal protection programme, the Foundation is involved in both prevention and emergency response.

The Sanctuary Equidad in Argentina is a concrete example: when a fire of suspected deliberate origin threatened the sanctuary’s facilities and animals, the Foundation coordinated the emergency response and activated a plan that included strict veterinary protocols.

The Red Dove: rescuing animals affected by disasters. In 2026, powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela and then Colombia. Animals were buried under rubble, injured, lost or left without food and care. Calls for help multiplied. Families who had lost everything still asked us: “Please help our animals too.”

Present in Latin America for many years, the FFW had the means to act. We speak the language, we know the realities on the ground and we can count on trusted teams and people. We mobilised rescuers and veterinarians, transported medicines, supplies and food, and organised care even in the most isolated communities.

A protocol that exists… but is not applied

The paradox is that the knowledge and tools needed to protect animals in emergencies already exist. International organisations have developed protocols. There are examples of good practice in various countries. And many municipalities and regions want to do better.

What is missing is for that will to become an obligation. For emergency plans to include animals systematically, not as an optional extra. For resources to be in place before disaster strikes, not improvised in the chaos of the moment.

How you can support this cause

Changing emergency protocols takes public pressure, political work and financial resources. Organisations working in this field, such as the Fondation Franz Weber, need the support of people who believe animals deserve better than to be forgotten.