Urgent: Flood Survival Tips for Animals Amid Texas Disaster Declaration
For Immediate Release:
July 15, 2026
Contact:
Alex Payne 202-483-7382
With a disaster declaration issued for dozens of Texas counties threatened by catastrophic flooding, people should stay vigilant as the storms continue and never leave dogs tethered or penned outside.
Whenever 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, unfortunately, keeping dogs tethered outdoors is common across the nation. PETA’s Animal Rescue Team has witnessed firsthand the trauma animals endure when left behind to face floodwaters and flying debris. During previous weather events, we have found dogs dying or already 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 during a storm. Never leave them tethered or penned outside, or crated.
- If you need to evacuate at any time, plan your destination in advance, and don’t leave animals behind or unsupervised in a car. When traveling, use secure carriers, leashes, and harnesses, and bring along water and food bowls, a favorite toy, a blanket, a towel, and enough food for a week. Have your animals microchipped, attach legible ID tags securely to their collars and consider investing in a collar with a GPS tracker, like those made by Fi and Tractive.
- Watch for other animals in trouble. If you see any animals in distress but can’t help, note their location and call authorities immediately.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
