SPCA Urges Pet Emergency Preparedness for NZ ShakeOut 2026

SPCA New Zealand is urging households nationwide to include their animals in their emergency plans as part of NZ ShakeOut 2026, with backing from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

ShakeOut is New Zealand’s national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi, in which participants practise "Drop, Cover and Hold" for 60 seconds and review their evacuation plans. The official national drill took place at 1:30pm on Wednesday 21 October, but households can still register and take part at any date and time that suits them.

Preparing for Every Paw

NEMA Deputy Chief Executive for Emergency Management John Price urged people to "prepare for every paw", noting that earthquakes give little warning, so it pays to have a plan, practise it and include every member of the whānau, pets included.

SPCA Head of Community Operations Rebecca Dobson said that in an emergency you may be cut off from other members of your household, so everyone needs to know the plan. If you have to evacuate, take your pets with you: "If it's not safe for you, it's not safe for them."

A central recommendation is a dedicated pet survival kit. Home survival kits should hold enough food and drinking water for up to five days, for pets as well as people. SPCA's pet kit list includes:

• Carriers or leads, and collars with your contact details.
• Food, water and bowls.
• Medications, a basic animal first-aid kit, bedding and cleaning supplies.
• Registration papers and vet records, plus photos of you with your pet.

Keeping Microchip Details Current

SPCA describes microchipping as one of the most critical things owners can do. After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, microchips helped reunite many lost animals with their owners.

A microchip only helps if the details behind it are current, so owners are encouraged to check and update their contact details on the online animal register.

For more on getting a new pet set up, see our new puppy checklist and our travelling with pets guide.

Sources

• https://www.spca.nz/news-and-events/news-article/spca-shakeout-2026