All creatures safe and sound: The social landscape of pets in disasters Sarah E. DeYoung and Ashley K. Farmer Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 2021. pp. 210. Kindle Edition. LCCN: 2020045466.

• Published date: 01 June 2023
• Author: Mitchell Berger
• Date: 01 June 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.480

DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.480

BOOK REVIEW

All creatures safe and sound: The social

landscape of pets in disasters

Sarah E. DeYoung and Ashley K. Farmer

Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 2021. pp. 210. Kindle Edition. LCCN: 2020045466.

Amidst August 2021's Hurricane Ida, with much of New Orleans lacking power and parts of

the Mid‐Atlantic states flooded, pets were evacuated to foster and adoptee homes

throughout the nation. In fact, even in advance of the storm trained animal rescuers

converged on affected areas to provide assistance in evacuating pets (Beveridge, 2021;

Overdeep, 2021). Though a welcome change from Hurricane Katrina in 2006 (pp. 8, 10),

when numerous pet deaths, abandoned pets, and owners refusing to evacuate New Orleans

garnered national media attention, there is much for the general public, pet owners,

emergency responders, and volunteers to learn. Sarah E. DeYoung and Ashley Farmer

underscore the importance of improved disaster planning and response for pets in their

recently published book, All Creatures Safe and Sound.

DeYoung is an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of

Delaware and a faculty member of its Disaster Research Center. Farmer is an assistant

professor of criminal justice sciences at Illinois State University. Both authors are among the

60%–70% of the nation's households (p.x) that include pets (Pet Industry Market

Size, 2020; p. 6).

The book includes data analysis from online surveys and groups and detailed interviews

with volunteers, emergency responders, pet owners, and staff from large and small animal

welfare organizations, including those newly established or expanded in response to dis-

asters (pp. 25, 74, 83, 183). DeYoung and Farmer show how pet owners, rescuers, and

communities were affected by recent hurricanes (Florence, 2018; Harvey, 2017; Irma,

2017), wildfires (2017 Carr Fire and 2018 Camp Fire and Tubbs Fire in California), and the

2018 Hawaii Lava Flow incident. The authors analyze how to better ensure that pets and

other animals can be protected or safely evacuated within disaster areas. Importantly,

DeYoung and Farmer discuss not only cats and dogs but also challenges associated with

caring for larger animals, such as horses, during disasters (p. 152).

The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act of 2006 (Public Law

109‐308) requires states and localities seeking federal assistance under the Robert

T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to plan for the disaster and

emergency needs of individuals with household pets and services animals. The bill was

signed into law by President George W. Bush during Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. The

PETS Act also helped encourage similar or even more comprehensive state laws (Map of

States, 2016). However, DeYoung and Farmer discuss several limitations of current policies

that may be overlooked by pet owners and policymakers. For instance, the PETS Act:

•Does not require shelters, hotels, or privately rented facilities to accept pets evacuated by

their owners during emergencies (pp. 7, 26);

World Medical & Health Policy. 2023;15:214–216.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/wmh3214

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