Here is a directory The American Kennel Club has created in response to Hurricane Irma, that lists open pet-friendly shelters in Florida for humans seeking refuge with their furry family members.
Original list can be viewed here.
Directory is organized by county, descending in alphabetical order.
- Alachua County
If you are going to an Alachua County emergency shelter, you may bring your pet. Due to health and safety regulations, all pets arriving at these shelters will be picked up by Animal Services and transported to the animal shelter to be housed until the threat is over, and pet owners and pets can safely return home. Alachua County Emergency Shelters - Bay County Emergency Management
- Brevard County
Pet-friendly shelters are designed to accommodate household pets. Owners are responsible for the feeding, care, clean-up, and behavior of their pets. Shelter openings are incident-specific. Never go to a shelter unless local officials have announced it is open. - Broward County
A pet-friendly shelter operated by Broward County and the Broward County Humane Society is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pets staying at the shelter must be accompanied by their owners, but pets and owners will be housed in different buildings at adjacent facilities. Advance, in-person registration is recommended, but not required. Call the Humane Society at 954-989-3977 or visit their offices at 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale. The location of the shelter is: Millennium Middle School, 5803 N.W. 94 tth Avenue, Tamarac, Florida 33321. - Charlotte County
Report to your designated shelter as soon as the shelter has been opened. Animals allowed are dogs, cats (domestic breeds only in cages, birds (domestic in cages only), rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, gerbil (domestic in cages only). Pets are not permitted in “resident” areas. There are separate “living areas” for pets and for people. - Citrus County
The pet friendly shelter will be located at the Lecanto Primary School, 3790 W Educational Path, Lecanto, FL 34461. Dogs (80 pounds or less), cats and birds are welcome. Caging is available for dogs and cats; however if you have an bird, you must provide caging. All animals must be up-to-date with their county license and rabies vaccination. DHPP is recommended for dogs and FVRCP for cats. You must bring this information with you. You can pre-register your pet(s) to stay at the shelter - Citrus County Emergency Management
- Lecanto Primary School will be the site for the Pet Friendly Shelter for Citrus County residents. Animal Control will be in charge of this shelter.
- Clay County
Clay County offers one “Pet Friendly” shelter: Orange Park High School, 2300 Kingsley Road, Orange Park, FL 32073. The following animal species will be accepted into the shelter: dogs; cats; rodents (such as hamsters, gerbils, etc.); rabbits; and birds. No reptiles will be allowed in the shelter. All pets must have proof of vaccination and registration, be properly crated/caged and will be maintained by their owners. Animals may be housed in a separate room than their owners. Owners should provide all necessary supplies to maintain their pet. The public should pre-register annually. People will have the option to pre-register online. Pet Friendly Shelter Agreement - Collier County
Collier County Domestic Animal Services in conjunction with the Collier County Bureau of Emergency Services is offering a pet-friendly shelter to be located at North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road, Naples, FL. Only cats and dogs are accepted at the shelter. Pre-registration is required; registration runs from June 1 through the end of November. Registrations are suspended once a Hurricane Warning has been issued. - Destin, City of (Okaloosa County)
There are NO shelters in Destin. Currently, Okaloosa County has two pet friendly shelters located north of Destin in or near Crestview:- Davidson Middle School – 6261 Old Bethel Rd., Crestview, FL (Special Needs Shelter)
- Northwest Florida State College – Raider Arena, 90 College Blvd., Niceville, FL
- Antioch Elementary – 4700 Whitehurst Lane Crestview, FL
- Pets are not kept with the populace. They are kept separately.
- Escambia County
Escambia County has identified a pet-friendly shelter for dogs and cats only. Animals and pets not allowed include reptiles (including turtles), amphibians, fish, insects/arachnids, farm animals, livestock, rabbits, rodents, exotic animals and animals kept for racing purposes. Space is limited at the pet-friendly shelter. Pet owners will be required to shelter in the Red Cross shelter adjacent to the pet-friendly shelter so they will be available to care for their pets as required. The people and pet shelters are separate facilities, but are adjacent to each other. For the protection of people and other pets at the shelter, animals brought in without proof of current vaccinations will be vaccinated by Escambia County Shelter staff. - Flagler County
In a mandatory evacuation Flagler County will provide pet sheltering options. Bunnell Elementary, 305 N. Palmetto Street, Bunnell, will accommodate residents with pets; dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents and turtles are the allowed pets. There is a four pet maximum. Pet owners should bring current vaccination records and supplies, including crates and medications. - Florida Keys (Monroe County)
No shelters will be open anywhere in the Florida Keys for a Category 3-5 hurricane. Main shelter: Monroe County residents and their pets can seek public shelter at the E Darwin Fuchs Pavilion located at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, 10901 SW 24th St., Miami, FL 33165. Category 1-2 hurricane shelter located at Key West High School, 2100 Flagler Ave. - Florida Keys SPCA (Monroe County) – Hurricane Irma
The Florida Keys SPCA is evacuating the animals to foster homes from the Key West and Marathon locations. If you are able to take one animal and keep it safe until Irma passes, please contact the Key West shelter at 305-294-4857 or Marathon at 305-743-4800. The FKSPCA will provide all the supplies. - Fort Lauderdale (Broward County) – Humane Society of Broward County – Hurricane Irma
If the storm shelters do open, the Humane Society of Broward County will be activating a Pet-Friendly Shelter. Please note that the shelter has limited capacity and is geared towards those families that live East of US1 or live in mobile home parks. It should be the last resort for animal owners. This is the only pet-friendly shelter in Broward County where people and their pets are both allowed to stay, and it is located at Millennium Middle School, 5803 N.W. 94th Avenue, Tamarac 33321. Pre-registration is highly recommended to secure your space. Otherwise, registration will be on a first come, first served basis at the Pet-Friendly Shelter once the evacuation notice has been ordered. You can register weekdays from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm at the HSBC, or call to set up an appointment (954.266.6828). - Fort Lauderdale, City of (Broward County) – Hurricane Preparedness: Planning for Your Pets
- Hernando County
Pet Friendly Shelter is located at DS Parrott Middle School, 19220 Youth Drive, Brooksville, FL 34601. Residents with pets are encouraged to make prior arrangements or call 352-796-5062. Hernando County Animal Services for assistance. - Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County currently has four designated public pet-friendly shelters:- Bartels Middle School, 9020 Imperial Oak Blvd., Tampa, FL
- Burnett Middle School; 1010 N. Kingsway Rd., Seffner, FL
- Sgt. Smith Middle School, 14303 Citrus Pointe Dr., Tampa, FL
- Shields Middle School, 15732 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL
- The owner must be registered at the public shelter in order to utilize the services of the pet-friendly shelter. Space is limited and you must remain at the shelter to provide care for your pet(s). Bring proof of current rabies vaccination, a sturdy carrier, and supplies for your pet. No reservations will be accepted and space is first come, first served.
- Hollywood, City of (Broward County) – Hurricane Season Preparedness
- Indian River County
Indian River County has designated Liberty Magnet School at 6850 81st Street in Vero Beach as the county’s pet-friendly evacuation shelter. The Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County has accepted the responsibility of helping manage this shelter. To qualify for using the pet-friendly shelter, evacuees must meet certain requirements. First, they must reside in a mandatory evacuation area. Next, they must bring with them an animal crate large enough to comfortably accommodate bedding, a litter pan, and food/water. Finally, they are required to show proof of a current rabies vaccination and a county license for their pet, if applicable. Indian River County Pet Friendly Shelter Registration Form - Jacksonville, City of (Duval County)
Pet friendly shelters locations will be identified by local emergency management officials in response to the incident at hand and will be relayed to the public through known information thoroughfares such as TV, Radio, JaxReady.com, and social media. The following animal species will be accepted into the shelters: dogs, cats, rodents (such as hamsters, gerbils, etc.), birds, and rabbits. No reptiles will be allowed in shelters. - Lake County
All nine of Lake County’s emergency shelters are pet-friendly. The shelters are located at:- Astatula Elementary, 13925 Florida Ave., Astatula
- Leesburg Elementary, 2229 South St., Leesburg — special needs and pet friendly
- Lost Lake Elementary, 1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont — special needs and pet friendly
- Mascotte Elementary, 460 Midway Ave., Mascotte
- Round Lake Elementary, 31333 Round Lake Road, Mount Dora — pet friendly
- Spring Creek Elementary, 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley
- Treadway Elementary, 10619 Treadway School Road, Leesburg — pet friendly
- Umatilla Elementary, 401 Lake St., Umatilla — special needs and pet friendly
- Villages Elementary, 695 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake — special needs and pet friendly
- All pets arriving to county shelters will need to be crated and owners must bring their animal’s vaccination records along with food and water.
- Lee County
The Mandatory Evacuation Shelter(s) are to be used only by people affected by mandatory evacuation orders that are unable to seek alternative shelter. The only animals admitted will be cats and dogs. The shelter(s) may be located at South Fort Myers High School, 14020 Plantation Road, Fort Myers; East Lee County High School, 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave., Lehigh Acres; or potentially another location(s) depending on the nature and direction of the storm. The Mandatory Evacuation Shelter will be operated similar to people shelters, and like people shelters, you will not be able to register or reserve a space. Pet owners are required to stay at the shelter but will be housed in separate areas from their pets. When you are admitted to the shelter, one family member will be assigned the task of taking care of your pet at pre-assigned times. - Lee County Domestic Animal Services
- Leon County Emergency Management
- Levy County Emergency Management Hurricane Irma
If you have a question, public information lines are open 352-486-5155 or 352-486-5576. - Manatee County
Shelter openings vary with each emergency. Be aware of which shelters are pet friendly. The following shelters are pet friendly:- Braden River High, 6545 SR 70 East, Bradenton, FL
- Manatee High School, 1000 32nd Street West, Bradenton, FL
- Mills Elementary School 7200 69th Street East, Palmetto, FL
- Please check pet sheltering requirements and rules.
- Marion County
The only pet friendly shelter in Marion County is Vanguard High School, located at 7 NE 28th St., Ocala, FL 34475. You can board your pet in a kennel in a safe location. You should keep paperwork documenting your pet’s immunizations because many kennels will not accept pets that are behind on their shots. Bring your pet in a carrier with sufficient food. If you don’t go to a public shelter, bring your pet with you in a carrying cage. Bring along a familiar toy, a leash and any medication. Have current identification for each pet in case of separation. Pet Friendly Shelter, Marion County, Florida - Martin County
Martin County has an agreement with the Treasure Coast Humane Society at 4100 SW Leighton Farm Ave. in Palm City, to house PETS ONLY of families living in mandatory evacuation zones. For more information and to pre-register, call 772-223-8822. Pre-Registration is required due to limited capacity. - Miami-Dade Country
Pet owners residing in qualified evacuation zones, unsafe structures or mobile homes can participate in the Pet-Friendly Evacuation Centers (PEC). Pet friendly evacuation centers accept cats and dogs, birds, ferrets, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats and rabbits (small-sized, under 10 pounds, such as California or Dutch breeds). There are currently two centers that accept families with their pets during emergencies:- E. Darwin Fuchs Pavilion, 10901 SW 24th St., Miami, FL 33165
- Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High, 1410 County Line Road, Miami, FL 33179
- Pet owners residing in hurricane evacuation zones, unsafe structures or trailers can participate. Pre-registration for the two shelters is required and space is limited. Residents must provide proof of residency within an evacuation zone and present medical and current vaccination records for each pet. Pet owners must bring supplies for themselves and their pet(s). Limit of four (4) pets per household. Family member must remain in the PHEC with the pet(s). Animal Services does not board animals during emergencies. The Pet Adoption and Protection Center will be crowded due to displaced animals immediately after a storm, and it is not possible to kennel owned animals prior to an emergency event.
- If you live in Miami-Dade and want to take your animals to a pet friendly shelter you are encouraged to pre-register online or call 786-331-5354.
- Monroe County
Monroe County Shelters will not open in a Category 3, 4, or 5 Hurricane; you will need to evacuate to the mainland out-of-county shelter. For a Category 3 or higher Hurricane, Monroe County residents and their pets can seek public shelter at the E Darwin Fuchs Pavilion located at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, 10901 SW 24th St., Miami, FL 33165.- Monroe County Pet Friendly Shelters for Category 1 & 2 (In-County):
- Key West High School, 2100 Flagler Ave.- #4-124 &4-125
- Sugarloaf School, 225 Crane Blvd, MM19 – #3-123 & 1-123
- Coral Shores High School, 89591 O/S Hwy, MM89.9 – # 2-004A, 2-110A & 2-1108
- Marathon High School, 350 Sombrero Rd.
- The following pets are accepted at pet friendly shelters: Dog, Cats, Gerbils, Hamsters, Mice, Rats, Guinea pigs, Small Rabbits (small sized, under 10 pounds), Ferrets, and Birds.
- To place a pet in a County Pet-Friendly Shelter: Pre-register pet(s); Provide proof of residency within evacuation zone; Present medical and current vaccination records for each pet. Annual rabies vaccinations and visible Monroe County dog license are required by Monroe County Code. Cats are also required to have annual rabies vaccinations. Pre-register pet(s) for Monroe County shelters
- Monroe County Emergency Management – Hurricane Irma
The Monroe County Emergency Management hotline number is 1-800-955-5504. Check their Facebook page for updates on Hurricane Irma. - Monroe County – Hurricane Irma
People with special needs may bring their pets when they evacuate. Pets must be registered. If it is necessary to evacuate to the out-of-county special needs shelter at Florida International University in Miami, pets will be taken to a separate shelter with 24/7 care. - Nassau County
Pet friendly evacuation shelters are located at:- Yulee Elementary School, 86063 Felmore Road, Yulee, FL 32097
- Callahan Middle School, 450121 Old Dixie Hwy, Callahan, FL 32011
- Hilliard Middle/Senior School, 1 Flashes Ave., Hilliard, FL 32046 (this is the Special Needs pet friendly shelter).
- All pets must have proof of vaccination and Nassau County license, be properly crated or caged and be maintained by their owners. Animals may be housed in a separate room from their owners.
- North Port, City of (Sarasota County)
Sarasota County has six Pet Friendly emergency shelters, three of which are in North Port:- North Port High School, 6400 W. Price Boulevard, North Port, 34291
- Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W. Price Boulevard, North Port, 34291
- Woodlands Middle School, 2700 Panacea Boulevard, North Port, 34289
- Okeechobee County
- Pets are not currently allowed in Okeechobee shelters. Contact local pet shelters before an event to determine if that shelter will suit you and your animal’s needs.
- Okaloosa County Emergency Management
- Okaloosa County
Okaloosa County has two pet friendly shelters:- Davidson Middle School – 6261 Old Bethel Rd., Crestview, FL (Special Needs Shelter)
- Northwest Florida State College – Raider Arena, 90 College Blvd., Niceville, FL
- Pets are not kept with the populace. They are kept separately.
- Orange County
Orange County has four shelters to bring your pet with you in the event of an emergency evacuation:- Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32808
- Bithlo Community Center, 18801 Washington Ave., Orlando, FL 32820
- Ft. Gatlin Recreation Complex, 2009 Lake Margaret Dr., Orlando, FL 32806
- Orlo Vista Park, 1 N. Powers Dr., Orlando, FL 32835
- All shelters will not be open at once. Call 311 to find out which shelter is open and accepting pets and their families.
- Osceola County
Only certain shelter facilities are designated as “pet friendly”. As with all shelters, specific locations are announced prior to an event. However, in an effort to better people plan and prepare for an emergency, the 3 “pet friendly” shelters are Harmony, Kissimmee Middle, and Liberty High. If you intend to evacuate during a hurricane or other situation, please contact the Office of Emergency Management for specific details regarding pet friendly shelters at (407) 742-9000. - Palm Beach County
There is currently one shelter in Palm Beach County which take both pets and their owners. The county-owned gymnasium at West Boynton Recreation Center (east of high school), 6000 Northtree Blvd. in Lake Worth (between Hypoluxo Road and Gateway Boulevard off the east side of Jog Road) will be available as a pet friendly shelter. Dogs, cats and birds are accepted. No reptiles or livestock. The shelter is restricted to Palm Beach County residents residing in a mandatory evacuation zones or in mobile homes. Proof of residency is required. Space is limited and restrictions apply. Pet owners are required to stay at the shelter. Pets will be housed in a separate area from people; pet owners will be given a schedule to attend to their animals’ needs. For more information and to pre-register call the Palm Beach Animal Care and Control at 561-233-1266 or Pre-register for the Pet Friendly Shelter - Pasco County
- Pasco County has a limited amount of space available at the Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter, located at 11611 Denton Avenue in Hudson, for dog and cats only. Other types of pets will not be accepted. Pet owners must stay at the Fasano Shelter. The pet friendly shelter is not a boarding facility. The adult pet owner must be available at all times to care for their pets. The pet friendly shelter is for citizens that reside in evacuation zone A, B, C, and/or a mobile home. Two pets per residence will be allowed until capacity is reached. Please bring cage, food, water, medications and proof of vaccinations. Pasco County Shelter Information
- Pinellas County
Three public shelters in Pinellas County will accept pets, with priority given to people who are evacuating manufactured homes and flood zones:- Dunedin Middle School, 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin, FL
- Oak Grove Middle School, 1370 S. Belcher Rd., Clearwater, FL
- John Hopkins Middle School, 701 16th Street S., St. Petersburg, FL
- The facilities are substantially-built, have large indoor gyms and separate air handlers to ensure the comfort and safety of allergic citizens who shelter there. Residents must preregister themselves and their pets for these pet-friendly shelters, as space is limited. Mobile home residents are given first priority.
- Polk County
Polk County has three pet-friendly shelters that allow residents who own pets to shelter with their pets. Pre-registration is strongly suggested to ensure you have a spot at the shelter and some limitations apply. ONLY dogs, cats and birds and their owners will be allowed to shelter in Polk’s pet-friendly shelters. Three shelters in Polk County will accept pets:- Philip O’Brien Elementary School, 1225 East Lime Street, Lakeland, FL 33801
- Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake, FL 33839
- Alta Vista Elementary School, 801 Scenic Highway, Haines City, FL 33844
- Pet Shelters are primarily for pet owners who live in mobile or manufactured housing, substandard housing or in an area prone to flooding. All pets must be in an airline approved carrier. Proof of all required vaccinations, food, a leash, a collar and supplies for proper waste disposal must be brought to the shelter.
- Port St. Lucie, City of (St. Lucie County) – Pet safety and emergency readiness
Do not leave your pets home alone. If you evacuate, and for some reason are not able to take your pets with you, please contact Port St. Lucie Animal Control at (772) 871-5042. - Putnam County
Putnam County only has one Pet-Friendly Evacuation Shelter located at Ochwilla Elementary in Interlachen. For additional information on Evacuation Shelters in your area, please contact the Putnam County Emergency Operations Center at (386) 329-0379. - Santa Rosa County
A pet-friendly shelter is available for residents who wish to shelter with their cat or dog at Avalon Middle School, 5445 King Arthurs Way in Milton, FL. Pre-registration for the pet-friendly shelter is required each year. To utilize the shelter, all pets must have proof of current vaccinations. - Sarasota County
Sarasota County offers six dog and cat-friendly shelters:- North Port High School, 6400 W. Price Blvd., North Port, FL 34291
- Pine View School, 501 Old Venice Road, Osprey, FL
- Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W. Price Blvd., North Port, FL 34291
- Brookside Middle School, 3636 S. Shade Ave., Sarasota, FL 34239
- Riverview High School, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota, FL 34231
- Woodland Middle School, 2700 Panacea Blvd., North Port, FL 34289
- These shelters accept dogs and cats only. Pet friendly shelters require current vaccination records for dogs and cats.
- Sarasota County Emergency Services
- Seminole County
Two emergency shelters in Seminole County accept pets:- Lyman High, 865 South C.R. 427, Longwood, FL 32750
- Bentley Elementary, 2190 Oregon Ave., Sanford, FL 32771
- Seminole County – Pets and Disasters
- St. Johns County
St. Johns County has two (2) Pet Friendly Shelters to meet the needs of pet owners during an evacuation situation. The following two schools are designated as Pet Friendly Shelters:- South Woods Elementary School, 4750 SR-206 West, Elkton, FL 32033
- Timberlin Creek Elementary School, 555 Pine Tree Lane, St. Augustine, FL 32092
- Pre-registration is not required to go to a Public Pet Friendly Shelter. You only need to register if you need transportation assistance during an evacuation.
- St. Johns County
The following two schools are designated as Pet Friendly Shelters:- South Woods Elementary School, 4750 SR-206 West, Elkton, FL 32033
- Timberlin Creek Elementary School, 555 Pine Tree Lane, St Augustine, FL 32092
- Pre-registration is not required to go to a Public Pet Friendly Shelter. You only need to register if you need transportation assistance during an evacuation. Pet owners are required to shelter with their pets and care for them. Farm animals and exotics (primates, snakes, spiders, insects, etc.) are not permitted at Pet Friendly Shelters.
- St. Lucie County
St. Lucie County currently has no official designated emergency pet shelters. Residents should contact their local animal hospitals/clinics to make arrangements. - Sumter County
The only pet friendly shelter in Sumter County is located at Sumter Fairgrounds, 7620 SR 471, Webster, FL 33513. All pets must be crated. - Taylor County Emergency Management
- Venice, City of (Sarasota County) – Hurricane Information
Pet friendly shelters require current vaccination records for dogs and cats. Sarasota County Shelter Information - Volusia County
The members of Volusia Animal Prepardness are working to provide shelter for owners and their animals. In the event of a disaster, owners and their animals will be provided shelter at the Volusia County Fairgrounds on S.R. 44, one-quarter mile east of I-4, or other Volusia County designated pet friendly shelters. All companion animals must have a current license, vaccinations, identification and rabies tags. They must be confined in pet carriers or crates and must be under control at the facility at all times. Some shelters in Volusia County have been designated “pet friendly.” Pet friendly means the owners and their animals can stay at the same shelter, but will be housed separately. - Wakulla County
All pet owners should make arrangement for their pets if they plan to evacuate. Public shelters will not accept pets. If you can’t take your pets with you, arrangements should be made with a clinic or kennel that is outside of the evacuation area. These arrangements should be made well in advance because available spaces fill up quickly as a storm approaches.
