Sonoma County Animal Shelter and Rescue Resources
Does your family’s emergency plan include your animals? Catastrophic weather-related events—floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and storms—can have a devastating effect on our pets and livestock, as well as humans. Now that we’re officially into California’s fire season, it’s important to know how to prepare and where you can shelter or locate both large and small animals in an emergency. Here’s some Sonoma County resources, we hope will help.
Please let us know if you have any others to share, we would love to add to our list.
Important Links:
County of Sonoma Animal Services
Humane Society of Sonoma County
Sonoma Action for Equine Rescue
Lost Hearts and Souls Horse Rescue
Shelter Resources:
24/7 ASSISTANCE:
Sonoma CART hotline (707) 861-0699
Sonoma Sheriff (707) 565-2511
Napa CART (707)-732-1555 info@napacart.org / www.napacart.org
Sonoma Community Animal Response Team
1415 Fulton Rd, Ste 205-415, Santa Rosa, CA
www.sonomacart.org | www.facebook.com/sonomacart
Hotline: (707) 861-0699
Sonoma County Animal Services
Dog / Cat / Companion Animals / www.sonomacounty.ca.gov
1247 Century Ct, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | (707) 565-7103 (open 8am-5:30pm)
North Bay Animal Services
Dog / Cat / Companion Animals / www.northbayanimalservices.org
840 Hopper St, Petaluma, CA 94952 | (707) 762-6227 (open 9am-6pm)
Sonoma County Horse Park
All Horses / Donkeys / Mules / Ponies (equids) / www.sonomahorsepark.com
7600 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma, CA 94954.
Enter long driveway, turn right at Giant Steps, Left at KMC barn. Look for signs for Large Animal Evac / CART Intake. Main contact to text/call when enroute (707) 861-0699
Petaluma Fairgrounds
Livestock / Goats / Sheep / Camelids
100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA . Enter on Payan St.
Finley Center Human Shelters
Allowing Dog / Cat / Companion Animals
2060 W College Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Sonoma State University
Human Shelters allowing Dog / Cat / Companion Animals
1801 E Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Sonoma County Fairgrounds
1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA | (707) 545-4200
Contact information: Cliff Sanders | (707) 529-8464
How to Prepare for an Emergency:
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- Microchip your pets whenever possible
- Talk to your local veterinarian about disaster planning
- Identify best travel routes for any scenario and always have an alternate route as a backup.
- Prepare property access for first responders and animal response teams.
- Have a Disaster Plan binder ready, including: proof of ownership, multiple emergency contacts, vet records, medical directives, photos, brand registration, microchip info, insurance contacts and proof of insurance, out of area emergency contacts.
- Stay plugged into your local community! Often times, locals pitch in to help in the event of an evacuation.
- If you have horses or livestock, good barn and field maintenance can reduce danger.
- Download this comprehensive disaster preparedness checklist
Evacuation Tips:
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE!
Countless times people have been told to leave their homes for a “short time,” only to find they cannot return for days or weeks. Even disasters like gas leaks and minor flooding can keep you from tending to your animals for an extended period of time.
To prevent situations such as these: take your animals with you, whenever possible! It is best to be overly cautious when a disaster advisory or warning has been issued. Preparing ahead of time and acting quickly are the best ways to keep you and your family, including your animals, out of danger.
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- Know how to get evacuation information regarding your area and pets — see local resources above!
- Know the best potential shelter locations for horses and livestock, and for cats, dogs, birds, exotics, and other companion animals. In small local disasters you may need to make your own arrangements for transportation and temporary boarding in a safe place.
- In a larger incident, emergency managers may open special emergency animal shelters and possibly activate Animal Disaster Response Teams to assist with evacuations and care for animals sheltered-in-place.
- Official Emergency Shelter locations for people and animals will be communicated by local emergency services. Check ahead for availability. At many shelters you may be responsible for care and feeding of your animals. Have everything you will need packed and ready.
- Make sure responders can find your animals.
- Ensure all vehicles and trailers are loaded with supplies, equipment, first aid kits, and fuel tanks are full. Stage for quick animal loading and fast getaway. Check hitch, brake and tail lights.
- Ensure halters, leashes, ropes, crates, cages, etc. are ready for each animal.
- Grab your disaster plan binder (See above) and leave duplicate documentation and info about all animals left behind for first responders and evac team.
- Take lots of water with you!
- If evacuating is impossible, decide on the safest housing option for your animals, realizing that the situation is still life threatening.
Sources: AVMA , Ready.Gov, Halter Project
Lost Animals:
If you’ve lost or found a small animal during a disaster, one of these many resources can help you be reunited with your furry friend!
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- Josie’s Lost Dog Alert of Sonoma County
- Sonoma County Animal Services Lost and Found Page (707) 565-7103
- North Bay Animal Services (City of Petaluma & Cloverdale, Town of Windsor) (707) 762-6227
- Pets Lifeline (City of Sonoma, Unincorporated areas of Sonoma Valley) 19686 Eighth St. East, Sonoma (707) 996-4577
- Forgotten Felines (All areas of Sonoma County) Cats only Empire Industrial Ct., Santa Rosa (707) 576-7999
Other Lost Animals: Visit the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue website and read all the information before calling their hot at (707) 526-WILD (9453)
