OLYMPIA, WA — Washington residents will soon have more assurance that their pets can stay with them during emergencies, thanks to a new law requiring local governments to plan for companion animal accommodations.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1201, sponsored by six Democratic lawmakers and signed into law in April, mandates that cities and counties identify emergency shelters that can accept pets. The measure takes effect on July 27, 2025.

Under the new law, each political subdivision must, when updating its comprehensive emergency management plan, identify at least one “coshelter”—a temporary facility that allows people and their companion animals to remain together or in adjacent spaces during a disaster or extreme weather event. These shelters must follow safety protocols and align with FEMA’s disaster assistance guidelines.

Local governments must also update their websites to indicate which emergency shelters can accommodate pets. The online resources must include information about evacuation planning for animals, FEMA-recommended checklists, and contact details for local organizations offering pet emergency assistance.

Advocates argue the bill addresses a major barrier in emergency response: pet owners who refuse to evacuate if shelters don’t accept animals. According to testimony in support of the bill, up to 80% of individuals who re-enter evacuated areas do so to retrieve pets, and many choose to remain in unsafe conditions rather than leave their animals behind.

“No Washingtonian should be forced to choose between personal safety and their pet,” said Representative Mari Leavitt, the bill’s prime sponsor. “This law ensures that our disaster planning reflects the reality that pets are family.”

The legislation builds on best practices already in place in counties such as Snohomish, Pierce, and Kittitas, where pet-inclusive sheltering is already part of emergency response protocols.

There was no recorded opposition to the bill, which passed the House 69-26 and cleared the Senate on a 38-11 vote.