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Emergency Preparedness

It is criminal to leave your pets behind!

Trooper’s Law is a Florida animal cruelty law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis that makes it a criminal offense to restrain and abandon a dog outside during a declared natural disaster or evacuation. The law was created to strengthen protections for pets in emergencies and to impose harsher penalties on owners who leave animals behind.

Pet Emergency Preparedness & Evacuation | Fortis Canine
Emergency: Call 911 for immediate danger. If evacuation orders are issued, leave early and take all pets with you.
FC
Fortis Canine

Pet Emergency Preparedness & Evacuation Guide

A mobile-friendly emergency guide for clients to prepare pets, people, and supplies for hurricanes, severe weather, flooding, power outages, and evacuation orders.

Immediate Action

What To Do During an Emergency

  • Call 911 for any life-threatening emergency.
  • For dangerous or aggressive roaming animals, active cruelty, or immediate public safety threats, call 911.
  • For stray, injured, or roaming animals in St. Lucie County, call animal dispatch.
  • Do not leave pets behind during evacuations.
  • Bring pets indoors before weather conditions worsen.
  • Use carriers for cats and small pets, and leashes or harnesses for dogs.
  • Keep medications, records, food, and water packed and ready to go.
  • Leave as soon as local officials issue evacuation orders or guidance.
Call 911 Animal Dispatch View St. Lucie Contacts
Emergency Contacts

National Emergency Contacts

These contacts help with disaster assistance, animal safety guidance, poison emergencies, shelter coordination, and recovery support.

Emergency Services

Purpose: Immediate police, fire, and EMS

Phone: 911

FEMA

Purpose: Disaster assistance and recovery

Phone: 800-621-3362

TTY: 800-462-7585

Website: fema.gov

ASPCA

Purpose: Pet safety and animal welfare

Phone: 212-876-7700

Website: aspca.org

American Red Cross

Purpose: Shelter and disaster support

Phone: 800-733-2767

Website: redcross.org

Humane Society of the United States

Purpose: Animal disaster guidance

Phone: 866-720-2676

Website: humanesociety.org

Pet Poison Helpline

Purpose: 24/7 poison support

Phone: 855-764-7661

Website: petpoisonhelpline.com

St. Lucie County Local Contacts

Local Non-Emergency and Animal Emergency Information

Use these St. Lucie County numbers for non-emergency reporting, public safety services, animal emergencies, shelters, veterinary care, utilities, health resources, and community support.

Public Safety & Law Enforcement

St. Lucie County 24-Hour Dispatch: 772-465-5770

St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office: 772-462-7300

Port St. Lucie Police Department: 772-871-5000

Fort Pierce Police Department: 772-467-6800

St. Lucie County Public Safety: 772-462-8100

Government Services & Utilities

St. Lucie County Main Line: 772-462-1100

Port St. Lucie Main City Line: 772-871-1775

Fort Pierce City Hall: 772-467-3000

Animal Control (Port St. Lucie): 772-871-5042

Port St. Lucie Utility Systems: 772-873-6400

Florida Department of Health - St. Lucie County: 772-462-3800

Emergency Animal Control Services

County-Wide Animal Safety Dispatch 24/7: 772-465-5770

Use For: Stray, injured, lost, roaming, or urgent animal-related calls county-wide.

Port St. Lucie Animal Control: 772-871-5042

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM-6 PM

After Hours in Port St. Lucie: Call 772-871-5000 or 772-465-5770

Animal Safety Administrative Office: 772-462-8120

24/7 Emergency Veterinary Hospital

Veterinary Medical & Emergency Center: 772-919-8049

Address: 7790 S U.S. Hwy 1, Port St. Lucie, FL

Hours: Open 24 hours

Use For: Immediate medical emergencies involving personal pets.

Primary Animal Shelters & Adoption Centers

The Humane Society of St. Lucie County: 772-238-5631

Address: 8890 Glades Cut Off Rd, Port St. Lucie, FL

St. Lucie County Animal Holding Facility: 772-462-8120

Address: 3404 W Midway Rd, Fort Pierce, FL

Dogs & Cats Forever: 772-489-5454

Address: 4600 Selvitz Road, Fort Pierce, FL

Fort Pierce Animal Adoption Center: 772-242-1662

Address: 100 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce, FL

Special Speed Dials

Community Resources & Social Services: 211

Traffic & Travel Information: 511

Immediate Life-Threatening Emergency: 911

Dangerous or Aggressive Roaming Animal: 911 or 772-465-5770

One-Week Pet Packout

Packout Needs for Dogs and Cats

Food and Water

  • 7 days of pet food per pet
  • 7 days of drinking water per pet
  • Food and water bowls
  • Manual can opener if using canned food
  • Treats for comfort and training

Transport and Safety

  • Carrier or crate for each pet
  • Leash and backup leash
  • Harness or secure collar
  • ID tags with current phone number
  • Recent printed photo of each pet

Health and Records

  • At least 7 days of medications
  • Prescription details and dosing instructions
  • Vaccination records
  • Microchip information
  • Veterinarian contact information
  • Pet first aid kit

Comfort and Cleanup

  • Blankets or bedding
  • Favorite toy or comfort item
  • Waste bags for dogs
  • Litter box and litter for cats
  • Paper towels and cleaning supplies
  • Trash bags and disinfecting wipes
One-Week Human Packout

Packout Needs Per Person

Food and Water

  • 7 days of drinking water per person
  • 7 days of nonperishable food per person
  • Manual can opener
  • Electrolytes or hydration supplies
  • Special diet items if needed

Medical and Safety

  • At least 7 days of medications
  • First aid kit
  • Medical devices and batteries
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer

Documents and Power

  • Photo ID
  • Insurance and medical cards
  • Emergency contact list
  • Cash in small bills
  • Phone charger and power bank

Clothing and Essentials

  • 7 days of clothing
  • Rain gear and sturdy shoes
  • Blanket or sleeping bag
  • Toiletries and hygiene items
  • Baby, elder, or disability support items
Preparedness Plan

Evacuation Planning Checklist

  • Update pet ID tags and microchip registration.
  • Keep carriers labeled and easy to access.
  • Identify at least two pet-friendly evacuation destinations.
  • Save local shelters, emergency vets, and animal control numbers in your phone.
  • Print copies of pet vaccination and ownership records.
  • Fuel vehicles early and keep phones fully charged.
  • Pack supplies before the storm or emergency arrives.
  • Bring pets inside early and load them safely before departure.
  • Leave immediately when evacuation notices are issued.
Publishing

Medium Canine First Aid Kit & IFAK | Fortis Canine
Emergency Use: This kit supports evacuation and field care until you can reach a veterinarian, animal services, or emergency responders.
FC
Fortis Canine

Medium Canine First Aid Kit & IFAK

A field-ready canine emergency kit designed to supplement your evacuation packout. This guide helps clients understand what to carry for injuries, bleeding control, wound care, transport, stabilization, and short-term emergency support.

Kit Overview

What This Kit Is For

A medium canine first aid kit and IFAK is built to give handlers and pet owners fast access to the most useful emergency care items during evacuation, storm response, travel, training, and field incidents.

  • Supports care for cuts, abrasions, paw injuries, and minor wound management
  • Provides rapid-access tools for bleeding control and trauma response
  • Helps stabilize a dog for transport to a veterinary clinic
  • Works as part of a larger pet evacuation and disaster preparedness plan
  • Fits well in vehicles, home emergency bins, travel crates, and go-bags
Use Priority

Emergency Use Principles

  • Control major bleeding first.
  • Keep the dog restrained and as calm as possible.
  • Protect the airway and avoid unnecessary movement.
  • Move the dog to a veterinarian as quickly as possible after stabilization.
  • For life-threatening danger to people, call 911.
Call 911 St. Lucie Dispatch Emergency Vet
First Aid Essentials

Core Items for a Medium Canine First Aid Kit

Wound Care

  • Sterile gauze pads
  • Roll gauze
  • Non-stick wound pads
  • Vet wrap / cohesive bandage
  • Medical tape
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Saline wash or wound flush
  • Small trauma shears

Paw and Limb Care

  • Paw bandaging materials
  • Bootie or paw protector
  • Tweezers for debris or splinters
  • Tick removal tool
  • Instant cold pack
  • Elastic wrap for support

Handling and Protection

  • Nitrile gloves
  • Slip lead or backup leash
  • Soft muzzle or muzzle alternative
  • Towel or compact blanket
  • Emergency carry sling or lift strap
  • LED flashlight

Health Support

  • Digital thermometer
  • Lubricant for thermometer use
  • Emergency contact card
  • Medication list
  • Vaccination copy
  • Microchip information
Trauma Loadout

IFAK Essentials for Canine Emergency Response

This section covers rapid-access trauma items intended for severe bleeding and urgent field stabilization during evacuation or transport.

Critical Bleeding Control

  • Compressed gauze
  • Hemostatic gauze
  • Pressure bandage
  • Extra cohesive wrap
  • Trauma shears
  • Protective gloves

Rapid Access Equipment

  • Clearly labeled IFAK pouch
  • Quick-pull zipper or tear-open access
  • Water-resistant bag or insert
  • Marker to note incident time or observations
  • Emergency instruction card

Recommended IFAK Positioning

  • Store in the top or outer-access area of the evacuation bag
  • Keep separate from food and comfort items
  • Make bleeding-control supplies reachable with one hand
  • Use internal labels so items are easy to find under stress
Evacuation Supplement

How This Kit Supports Emergency Evacuations

Vehicle Evacuation Use

  • Keep one kit inside the main pet go-bag
  • Keep a second trauma-focused pouch in the vehicle
  • Store water, bowls, and first aid together for faster deployment
  • Place documents in a waterproof sleeve inside the kit

Shelter or Temporary Housing Use

  • Helps manage minor injuries without unpacking the full vehicle load
  • Supports paw care after flood debris, heat, broken glass, or rough terrain
  • Provides clean wound supplies for repeated bandage changes
  • Gives handlers better control during stressful relocations
Suggested Pack List

Recommended Medium Kit Buildout

Medical Supplies

  • 8 to 12 sterile gauze pads
  • 2 to 4 roll gauze wraps
  • 2 non-stick wound dressings
  • 2 to 4 cohesive wraps
  • 1 medical tape roll
  • 1 saline flush bottle

Tools

  • 1 trauma shears
  • 1 tweezers
  • 1 tick tool
  • 1 thermometer
  • 1 flashlight
  • 1 permanent marker

Field Support

  • 2 to 4 pairs nitrile gloves
  • 1 soft muzzle
  • 1 spare slip lead
  • 1 compact towel
  • 1 paw protector
  • 1 emergency contact card set
Storage & Maintenance

How To Store and Maintain the Kit

  • Keep the kit in a water-resistant bag with clear internal organization.
  • Inspect supplies every 30 to 60 days.
  • Replace used, expired, damaged, or heat-compromised items immediately.
  • Update medication lists, emergency contacts, and vaccine records regularly.
  • Store one kit at home and one in the primary evacuation vehicle if possible.
Care Notes

Field Care Notes for Clients

This kit is intended to support immediate stabilization and short-term field care. It does not replace veterinary evaluation, diagnosis, or advanced medical treatment.

  • Use the kit to buy time and improve safe transport.
  • Seek professional veterinary care after significant bleeding, bite wounds, collapse, heat injury, breathing issues, fractures, toxin exposure, or shock.
  • Keep emergency veterinary numbers saved in your phone and printed in the kit.

Take the First Step

Become your pet's best advocate by signing up for our PETTECH Pet First Aid and CPR training now!

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