Montreal SPCA wants Quebec to include animals in emergency response plans

Montreal's SPCA is asking for the Quebec government to include pets, such as cats and dogs, in emergency response legislation.

When a wildfire, flood or other natural disaster is bearing down, citizens need to act fast to gather essentials and loved ones and move out of harm’s way.

For over half the Quebec population, that loved one may be an animal.

The Montreal SPCA said that a Leger poll found that 86 per cent of Quebec pet owners would refuse to evacuate without their animal companions in case of disaster.

“This isn’t just an animal welfare issue; it’s a public safety issue,” said SPCA director of animal advocacy Sophie Gaillard. “This should really serve as an alarm bell to the provincial government because people who refuse to evacuate are, of course, putting themselves at risk and also putting first responders at risk.”

As such, the shelter is calling on the province to include animals in evacuation and emergency housing plans and to work with shelters and animal protection organizations to do search and rescue operations and ensure access to at risk or affected areas.

In addition, the shelter wants the following conditions:

• Implementing measures to make it easier to identify animals and reunite them with their guardians.
• Training first responders in animal capture and handling.
• Supporting animal shelters affected by a disaster.
• Making essential animal food and supplies eligible for post-emergency financial assistance.

Gaillard hopes that the ministry includes animals as it updates its legislation that would direct municipalities on their courses of actions in emergency situations.

“There is no mention at all of animals in the current regulation which is really, really problematic,” she said.

The SPCA points out that natural disasters are intensifying, pointing to wildfires in New Brunswick, Manitoba and B.C. and floods in Texas this year as recent examples.

Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash was among those evacuated in 2023 when wildfires ripped through northern Quebec. Fire departments in the communities allowed dog owners to drop off their pets and they secured temporary shelter spaces out of the region until evacuees could return home.

“All you had to do was drop off your pet at the firehall and put them on a list,” she said, adding that it relieved a lot of stress for pet owners. “Cities most likely have the resources necessary to do so. It just takes a bit of logistics to reassign resources and to plan out logistics.”

The SPCA points out that B.C. has already integrated animals into its emergency measures. In Quebec, it’s up to the municipalities.

“People put themselves in danger to save their animals, also endangering first responders,” the SPCA said in a news release. “Forced separation causes lasting psychological trauma for disaster victims.”

Pet owners are encouraged to assemble an emergency kit for their animals. More information can be found on the SPCA’s website.