As Hurricane Melissa barrels towards Jamaica, people should never leave dogs tethered or penned outside and always take their animal companions with them if they have to evacuate their homes

Every time there’s a natural disaster, many dogs and other companion animals are left outside to fend for themselves and even left behind when humans evacuate.

Dogs kept tethered will swim to exhaustion and drown—and there are tethered dogs everywhere. PETA’s Animal Rescue Team has witnessed firsthand the trauma that animals endure when left behind to face floodwaters and flying debris. When previous storms hit, we found dogs dead. We have also found them up to their necks in water and unable to sit or lie down, in almost-submerged crates inside houses, and even flung around by high winds. And of course, animals are petrified in these types of weather conditions. 

• Keep all animals indoors with you if you choose not to evacuate. Never leave them tethered, penned, or crated.
• If you evacuate, plan your destination in advance and do not leave animals behind or unsupervised in a car.
• A hurricane of this intensity can be very dangerous for people residing on boats. Please consider evacuating, and always bring your animals with you.
• Be prepared: Use secure carriers, leashes, and harnesses. Bring along water and food bowls, a favourite toy, a blanket, a towel, and enough food for a week. Have your animals microchipped, and put secure, legible ID tags on them.
• Watch for other animals in trouble. If you see any animals in distress and can’t help, note their location and call authorities immediately.