Broken Bond: An Exploration of Human Factors Associated with Companion Animal Loss During Hurricane Katrina1

Hurricane Katrina was not the first disaster to expose companion animals and their guardians to significant risk, nor was it the first time organizations were involved in the recovery of animals left by people who evacuated. Yet it was during Hurricane Katrina that there was significant media exposure to the plight of pets in disasters. The purpose of this article is to (1) explore preexisting characteristics of disaster vulnerability of people who experienced pet loss, and (2) examine pet loss in association with evacuation behaviors and other traumatic experiences. The survey data are from a random sample of 1,510 Hurricane Katrina survivors conducted by the Gallup Organization in September and October 2005. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. Women, younger adults, and people who evacuated were more likely to have lost a pet during Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, people who lost pets were statistically different from their counterparts in terms of experiencing other traumatic events, including being separated from family, staying in an emergency shelter, and being hurt or injured. The results of this study support calls for greater attention to companion animals and their guardians during disasters in order to promote public health and safety.