Natural Disasters, Severe Weather, and COVID-19

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Lightning: Information for Pet Owners

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Your pets cannot protect themselves; it is your responsibility to help protect them. To help protect your pet from lightning:

  • Don’t leave your pet outdoors.
    Do NOT leave your pet outdoors or chained to a tree during a lightning storm. Doghouses are NOT safe shelters; bring your pet inside.
  • Remove any metal collars, leashes, or harnesses and replace with plastic.
    Even though metal does not attract electricity, it is a good conductor and can make injuries (i.e., burns) worse if struck.
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Page last reviewed: December 23, 2013
Content source:  National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)