Schools Being Asked to Shelter Pets During Emergencies

Some officials worry about potential risks to students and staff.

Haunting images of people being forced to leave their pets behind during Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath have spurred a flurry of activity in Congress and among state and county officials to provide pet-friendly shelters in emergencies. With the arrival of hurricane season, schools are increasingly being asked to help ensure such scenes aren’t repeated, by converting their facilities to pet shelters, but the approach has met with opposition in at least some school districts.

Palm Beach County school board members last month opposed a request by public-safety officials to use the Florida schools as pet shelters during hurricanes and other storms. The opponents say pet dander could get into the schools’ ventilation systems, triggering asthma attacks or other allergic reactions in students or staff members once schools reopened. Board members were also worried about opening the district up to lawsuits, district spokesman Nat Harrington said.

“There are insurmountable problems with having pets in the same building that students would be in just hours after the hurricane’s passing,” he said. “It is very important that schools reopen immediately so students can go back to schools and parents...