Settle three things with a boarding kennel before June: what it does with the dogs in its care when a storm threatens, what paperwork it needs from you, and how you would reserve a place at short notice. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so those conversations belong in spring, when a kennel has time to answer and you have time to act on what you hear. The safest place for your dog in an evacuation is with you; boarding is the plan for when that isn't possible.
Why before June
The National Hurricane Center puts the season at June 1 to November 30, with its peak on September 10 and most activity between mid-August and mid-October. That is a long window, and the busiest part of it comes late, when summer plans have pushed storm preparation out of mind.
Two things take time and cannot be done the day a storm is named. Your dog's vaccinations have to be current and you need the record in hand: the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine advises keeping vaccinations up to date and keeping a copy of the record from your vet with your emergency kit. And a kennel that has never met your dog may want a visit or a trial stay before it takes a booking. Do both while the weather is quiet.
Two different uses of a kennel
Be clear which of these you are planning for, because the questions differ.
| Situation | What you need from the kennel |
|---|---|
| Your dog is already boarding near home when a storm approaches (you are travelling) | A storm plan: who decides, where the dogs go, how you are told |
| You evacuate and cannot keep your dog where you are staying | A kennel near your destination, outside the threatened area, that will take a reservation |
For the second case, LSU's advice is to ask the friends or family you would stay with whether your pets are invited, and if not, to get recommendations for veterinary hospitals or boarding kennels nearby and reserve in advance. The CDC says the same from the other direction: locate boarding facilities or animal hospitals near where you would shelter, before you need them. It also notes that many evacuation centers do not accept pets, which is why the arrangement has to be made ahead.
That usually means looking at kennels in a different part of the state from your own. You can compare boarding across Louisiana, including Shreveport and Leesville to the north and west, Lafayette, Lake Charles and Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, Metairie and Kenner.
The kennel's storm plan: what to ask
Ask these of any kennel you use in season, and write down the answers.
- Do you stay open when a storm is forecast, and who makes that call? Ask at what point they stop taking dogs in and at what point they ask owners to collect.
- If the area is told to evacuate, what happens to the dogs still here? Ask whether they move the animals, where to, how they are transported, and who travels with them.
- How will you reach me, and who do you call if you can't? Give a second contact outside your area. Ready.gov recommends an emergency contact outside your immediate area for the same reason.
- If I can't get back for several days, what then? Ask how long they will hold your dog, what it costs, and how you pay from a distance.
- Is someone with the dogs overnight? Some kennels we list are staffed through the night. In a storm it matters more than usual.
- What do you do when the power is out? Ask about a generator, cooling, and water. Louisiana heat after a storm is its own hazard.
- Will you give my dog's medication? Many of the boarding businesses we list state that they give medication, including injections. Confirm it for your dog's medicine and schedule.
- Do you take reservations from new customers when a storm is in the Gulf? Some kennels keep space for existing customers first. If a kennel is your evacuation plan, ask what it takes to be on its books now.
- What is your cancellation policy for a storm booking? Forecasts change. Ask what you owe if the storm turns away.
A kennel that has a written plan will be glad to describe it. A vague answer is useful information too.
Records and supplies to have ready
Keep these together, in a waterproof container, where you can pick them up on the way out. Ready.gov recommends keeping copies of your pet's documents in a waterproof container and available electronically as well.
Records
- proof of vaccinations and the rabies tag (on LSU's list of what to bring)
- your vet's name and number, and a list of medications with doses
- microchip number and the company it is registered with
- a current photo that shows identifying marks
- your contact details and those of your out-of-area contact
Identification. The CDC calls a microchip one of the best ways to be reunited with a pet you are separated from, provided the registration is current. LSU advises that at minimum your pet wears a tag with its name, your name and your phone number. Check both before the season: a chip registered to an old phone number will not help.
Supplies
- food: LSU lists enough for one week; Ready.gov says several days' supply in an airtight, waterproof container
- bottled water and bowls
- medication: LSU advises at least a two-week supply, plus heartworm preventative and flea and tick protection
- leash, and a harness or collar
- a crate large enough for your dog to stand and turn around in
- bags for waste, and towels or newspaper to line the crate
Ask the kennel which of these it wants you to bring. Many prefer you supply your dog's own food so its diet doesn't change during a stressful week. Questions about your dog's vaccines, medication or health in the heat are for your vet.
Reserving when a storm is named
Every source above gives the same instruction: arrange it in advance. A kennel has a fixed number of runs and rooms, and many owners make the same decision at the same time when a storm threatens. Don't count on finding space on the day.
In practice:
- Pick your kennel now, and a second in a different direction, since you won't know a storm's track until late.
- Become a customer before you need to be. Send the vaccination record, fill in the forms, and book a short stay so your dog knows the place.
- Know the kennel's trigger. Ask how far ahead it wants a storm booking and what deposit it takes.
- Call early. When a storm that could affect you is forecast, phone that day. You can cancel a booking; you can't conjure one.
- Have a fallback. Ready.gov suggests a buddy system: a neighbor, friend or relative who can care for or evacuate your pets if you can't.
What it costs
As of October 2026, boarding listed in Louisiana starts from $27 per night, with a middle starting price of $40 and the highest at $60; places that charge by the day start from $20, with a middle of $25 and the highest at $45. A storm stay can run longer than you plan, so ask whether the rate changes for extra nights and what a second dog sharing a kennel costs.
If you can take your dog with you, do
LSU's first tip for pet owners is never to leave a pet behind, and Ready.gov says that if officials order an evacuation, your pet should evacuate too. Boarding is a good answer when the place you are going can't have a dog. It is not a reason to leave your dog in the path of a storm while you go.
People with special needs or without transportation who have pets should contact their parish emergency preparedness office well ahead of time, as LSU advises, to register for assistance.
This is general information, not professional, legal or veterinary advice, and it can be out of date or wrong. Check anything that matters with the business, and ask your vet about your pet’s health. Our terms have the details.