Build a plan for your animals before threatening weather arrives: identification, supplies, transportation and a confirmed destination. Household pets and horses need different arrangements. Follow official evacuation and shelter instructions for the actual storm.
Preparedness guidance reviewed October 28, 2026. This article is not a shelter-opening announcement. Check Palm Beach County Emergency Management for current instructions and verify the opening, location and intake process before traveling to any shelter. Do not treat an older dated storm notice as a current activation.
Start with a practical question: if you need to leave, where will each animal go and who will transport it? For a Wellington home with pets or an equestrian property, write that answer down and keep a backup. A pet-friendly hotel, boarding facility or trusted contact needs to confirm its own availability and animal policies; none is a guaranteed reservation without an actual arrangement.
Before the Storm: Household Pets
- Update identification: Check collar tags and microchip contact information. Keep a recent photo of you with each pet, veterinary records and ownership documents in a waterproof packet and accessible electronic copy.
- Pack a pet kit: FEMA's pet checklist recommends several days of food and water, bowls, an extra supply of regular medication, a sturdy carrier, leash, sanitation supplies and familiar bedding. Review quantities and medical needs with your veterinarian. Keep food dry and rotate supplies before they expire.
- Confirm a destination: Ask about species, size, vaccination records, carrier requirements and available space. Have a second option and a person who can help if you cannot transport the animals yourself. The county shelter program below has specific eligibility limits.
- Bring pets indoors early: Have carriers ready before conditions deteriorate. Choose secure, suitable carriers and practice getting animals into them. Include litter, waste bags and cleanup supplies for the destination.
- Prepare the property and vehicle: Secure movable outdoor items, keep the pet kit accessible and plan the route before travel becomes hazardous. Do not wait for deteriorating conditions to begin arranging transportation.
During the Storm: Household Pets
- Follow the evacuation decision: An interior room is not a substitute for complying with an evacuation order. If authorities direct you to leave, use the destination and transport plan prepared earlier.
- If sheltering in place is appropriate: Keep pets with you in the protected area of the home and have their supplies nearby. Follow local safety instructions rather than assuming every home is suitable for riding out a storm.
- Prevent escapes: Keep carriers secured and control doors and exits. Make sure identification stays with the animal when you move between the vehicle and a destination.
- Use veterinary instructions: Discuss anxiety, ongoing medication and species-specific care with your veterinarian in advance. Do not improvise doses or give a sedative based on a general online checklist.
After the Storm: Household Pets
- Return only when permitted: Follow local authorities and check the property for obvious damage before entering. If there are structural concerns, downed lines or other hazards, obtain qualified help before bringing people or animals inside.
- Maintain control outdoors: Use leashes and suitable carriers while checking the surroundings. Damaged fencing and unfamiliar debris can defeat the containment you normally rely on.
- Avoid floodwater and electrical hazards: CDC warns that floodwater may contain germs, chemicals and other hazards. Keep people and animals away from downed power lines and floodwater. Never use a fuel-burning generator inside a home or garage; operate it outdoors more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, with working battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms in the home.
- Check your animals: Restore familiar routines where possible and contact your veterinarian about injury, illness, unusual behavior or interrupted medication. If a pet is missing, contact Animal Care and Control and provide identification and recent photos.
Horses and Large Animals: A Separate Wellington Plan
- Arrange transport early: Confirm the trailer or hauler, fuel, destination and backup plan before a storm threatens. Wellington warns that moving horses in high winds is dangerous; allow time to leave before conditions become unsafe.
- Keep identification and records: Photograph each horse's markings and keep owner contact information and veterinary records accessible. Ask your veterinarian and receiving destination about Coggins documentation, health certificates and any travel requirements.
- Assess the property: Work with your veterinarian, barn manager and qualified property professionals on a plan suited to the animals, buildings, fencing, trees and flood exposure. There is no universal barn-versus-pasture answer for every property.
- Plan feed and water: Wellington recommends at least 72 hours of feed and hay, with seven days preferred. Plan water for the number and needs of your animals, including loss of an electric well pump. Store feed to protect it from water; discuss individual requirements with your veterinarian.
- Do not rely on the household pet shelter: The county Pet Friendly Shelter excludes equines, livestock and small barnyard animals. Confirm your own receiving facility's acceptance and capacity; do not assume a county shelter or a boarding barn will take your horse.
- Inspect before turnout: Check fences, pastures, trees, debris and electrical hazards after the storm. Keep animals away from downed wires and damaged areas until the property is safe.
Palm Beach County Shelter Rules and Official Resources
- County shelter program: Emergency Management's shelter page lists the Pet Friendly Shelter at West Boynton Recreational Center, 6000 Northtree Blvd., Lake Worth, FL 33463. Eligibility is limited to county residents in a mandatory evacuation zone, mobile home or substandard housing, with proof of residency. Pets check in there; owners use adjacent Park Vista High School for human sheltering.
- Animal Care and Control: Review the pet shelter checklist and registration information or call 561-233-1200. The checklist specifies five days of food and water and a minimum five-day medication supply for each pet, plus carrier, bedding, leash, identification, county license/rabies tags and veterinary records. Confirm species acceptance and current intake steps. Space is limited and pre-registration does not guarantee a spot.
- Horse planning: Use Wellington's equestrian hurricane information with your veterinarian and barn team. The household pet shelter excludes equines, livestock, small barnyard animals, exotic pets and reptiles; aggressive dogs may also be refused for staff safety.
- Federal checklists: See FEMA's pet-kit checklist and CDC's returning-home safety guidance. They complement current local instructions; they do not announce local shelter availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the county pet shelter open whenever a storm is forecast?
No. Shelter openings and locations depend on the event. Check current county announcements and confirm intake instructions before traveling.
Who qualifies for the Palm Beach County Pet Friendly Shelter?
The county lists Palm Beach County residents in a mandatory evacuation zone, a mobile home or substandard housing. Proof of residency is required; confirm the current requirements with Animal Care and Control.
Do owners stay in the same shelter as their pets?
The published program uses pet check-in at West Boynton Recreational Center. Owners and family members may then use adjacent Park Vista High School for human sheltering; owners do not shelter inside the pet facility with their pets.
Does pre-registration guarantee a space?
No. Animal Care and Control states that pre-registration does not guarantee a spot. Confirm the current registration and check-in process directly and keep a backup destination.
Can horses or reptiles use the county pet shelter?
No. The county excludes equines, livestock, small barnyard animals, exotic pets and reptiles. Confirm acceptance of any other species directly before relying on the facility.
How much pet food and water should I pack?
The FEMA checklist calls for several days of supplies. The county pet shelter checklist specifies five days of food and water and at least five days of medication for each pet. Tailor the full plan to the animal, destination and veterinary guidance; horse planning is separate.
Planning a move with animals? When comparing Wellington properties, include your own animal-care needs, property restrictions, fencing, water supply and transportation plan in the questions you ask. I can help organize the property search; your veterinarian and emergency officials guide animal care and storm response.
Read the Buyer Guide Read the Seller Guide Book a Buyer Discovery Call
If a sale is part of the move, request a home pricing review so we can discuss the property and your timetable.
Brian Wilder
Wilder Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Realty
1,500+ homes sold. Investing in Palm Beach County real estate since 1996, licensed agent since 1998
Brian: 561-201-4717
Lucy Lopez, Spanish: 561-285-8809
Brian@WilderREG.com
Source data date: October 28, 2026. County program rules, Wellington equestrian planning, FEMA and CDC resources linked above. Current event instructions take priority.