If you are hospitalized unexpectedly, your pets depend entirely on someone knowing they need help. In most cases, that person is a designated emergency contact — a trusted family member, friend, neighbor, or professional pet sitter who has your pet care information and knows what to do. Without a documented emergency plan in place, pets can go without food, water, or medication for hours or even days while their owner recovers.
This guide explains who can check on your pets during a medical emergency, what information they will need, and how a wellness check-in service like MyPetsSafetyNet can automatically notify your contacts the moment something goes wrong.
What Happens to Pets When Their Owner Is Hospitalized?
When a pet owner is hospitalized suddenly — due to a fall, a medical event, an accident, or surgery — their pets are left at home alone with no way to signal they need help. Unless someone is specifically expecting to hear from you and knows to check in, your pets may not be found for an extended period.
Common situations where pets are left without care:
- An owner falls at home and is taken by ambulance — no one is notified about the pets
- A medical event occurs overnight and a neighbor doesn't notice anything is wrong for days
- A solo pet owner is admitted for surgery and hasn't arranged backup care
- An owner becomes incapacitated and their emergency contacts are not aware pets are home alone
Who Should Care for Your Pets During an Emergency?
Before an emergency happens, identify at least two or three trusted people who can step in. Each person should know your pets, have access to your home, and understand your pets' basic needs.
Family Members
A nearby family member is often the first choice — they are typically motivated, trusted, and available. Make sure they have a key to your home and know where your pet supplies are kept.
Friends
Close friends who know your pets make excellent emergency contacts. Let them know in advance that you're listing them as a backup caregiver, and share your pet care information with them so they're not starting from scratch during a stressful situation.
Neighbors
A neighbor can be especially helpful because they're close by and can check in quickly. Even if they're not your primary emergency contact, a neighbor with a spare key can serve as the first line of response.
Professional Pet Sitters
A professional pet sitter or dog walker is a reliable option, especially if you don't have nearby family or friends. Many professional sitters are available on short notice and are experienced with pets in stressful situations.
Designated Emergency Contacts
The most reliable approach is to formally designate emergency contacts — people who are listed in your pet care plan, given specific instructions, and who know they may be called upon in an emergency. MyPetsSafetyNet allows you to add multiple emergency contacts with priority levels so the right person is reached first.
Why a Verbal Plan Is Not Enough
Many pet owners say "my sister would take care of them" or "my neighbor knows what to do" — but verbal arrangements often fail during real emergencies for several reasons:
- Your contact doesn't know help is needed. They're waiting for you to call, but you can't.
- They don't have the information they need. What does your cat eat? Where is the dog food? Who is your vet?
- They don't have access to your home. A spare key was never exchanged.
- There's no escalation plan. If your first contact can't help, who is next?
What Information Should Every Pet Owner Store?
Whether you use a digital service, a printed resources guide, or a combination of both, make sure the following information is documented and accessible to your emergency contacts.
Pet Profiles
For each pet, document their name, species, breed, age, weight, and any identifying information. Note their personality traits and any behavioral considerations caregivers should know.
Feeding Instructions
How much does each pet eat, and how often? What brand and type of food? Are there any foods that are off-limits? Where are the food and feeding supplies kept?
Medical Information
List all current medications, dosages, and administration schedules. Note any allergies, chronic conditions, or recent medical procedures. Include your pet's vaccination history and any special care requirements.
Veterinary Contacts
Store your regular vet's name, phone number, address, and hours. Include at least one emergency veterinary clinic that is open 24/7. If your pet has a specialist, include their contact information too.
Emergency Care Instructions
What are your pet's daily routines? Are they anxious around strangers? Do they need medication before bedtime? The more detail you provide, the easier it is for a caregiver to step in seamlessly.
How Can Someone Be Notified If You Cannot Respond?
The most common failure point in pet emergency planning is notification. Even if you have a trusted contact, they won't know to act unless someone tells them. If you are hospitalized and cannot make a phone call, your contacts may have no idea your pets need help.
This is where a wellness check-in service becomes essential. A wellness check-in service contacts you on a regular schedule — via phone, text, or email. If you don't respond within a set window of time, it automatically alerts your emergency contacts. You don't have to be conscious, mobile, or able to make a call. The system acts on your behalf.
This type of automated safety net is especially important for:
- Pet owners who live alone
- Seniors who may experience a fall or medical event
- Anyone with a chronic health condition
- Pet owners who travel frequently without bringing their pets
How MyPetsSafetyNet Helps Protect Pets During Emergencies
MyPetsSafetyNet was built specifically for this problem. It combines pet profile storage, emergency contact management, and automated wellness check-ins in one simple service.
- Create detailed pet profiles — store feeding schedules, medical information, vet contacts, and care instructions for each pet
- Designate emergency contacts — add multiple trusted contacts with priority levels and backup options
- Set up automated check-ins — choose your schedule (daily, every other day, weekly) and preferred contact method (SMS, phone call, or email)
- Customize your countdown window — select 8, 12, 24, 36, or 48 hours before your contacts are alerted
- Automatic escalation — if you don't respond, all emergency contacts are notified simultaneously with your pet care instructions included
You can start a free 7-day trial with no credit card required. Not ready yet? Join the early access list to stay informed about new features.
Pet Emergency Planning Checklist
- Identify at least two emergency contacts who can care for your pets
- Give each contact a spare key to your home
- Document each pet's name, age, breed, and identifying information
- Write down feeding schedules and food types for each pet
- List all medications, dosages, and administration instructions
- Record your primary vet's contact information and a 24-hour emergency clinic
- Note any behavioral traits, fears, or special handling instructions
- Share all of this information with your emergency contacts
- Set up a wellness check-in service so contacts are notified automatically if you cannot respond
- Review and update your plan every six months
Frequently Asked Questions
Who checks on pets if their owner is hospitalized?
Unless the owner has a documented emergency plan with designated contacts, nobody may know the pets need help. You must proactively arrange trusted caregivers and ensure they know when and how to act.
Can hospitals notify someone about my pets?
Hospitals are not responsible for notifying anyone about your pets. Medical staff focus on your care. This is exactly why an automated wellness check-in service matters — it acts on your behalf before you even arrive at the hospital.
What should I include in a pet emergency plan?
A complete pet emergency plan includes: designated emergency contacts with contact information, a spare key arrangement, pet profiles with feeding and medical details, veterinary contacts, behavioral notes, and an automated notification system so contacts are alerted without you having to make a call.
How do emergency contacts know when to help?
Without an automated system, they often don't. A wellness check-in service solves this — if you don't confirm you're OK within your set window, the system automatically contacts all your emergency contacts with instructions to check on your pets.
What is a wellness check-in service?
A wellness check-in service contacts you on a regular schedule via phone call, text, or email. If you don't respond within a set period, it alerts your designated emergency contacts. It's designed for people who live alone and want a reliable safety net without depending on others to proactively check in.
How does MyPetsSafetyNet work?
MyPetsSafetyNet sends you a scheduled check-in by phone, text, or email. You respond with "1" to confirm you're OK or "9" to request immediate help. If you don't respond within your chosen countdown window (8–48 hours), all your emergency contacts are automatically notified with your pet care instructions. Start a free 7-day trial here.
Final Thoughts
Responsible pet ownership means planning for the unexpected. If something happens to you — a fall, a sudden illness, a hospitalization — your pets cannot advocate for themselves. They rely entirely on you having made arrangements in advance.
Building a pet emergency plan doesn't take long. Identify your contacts, document your pet care information, and connect it all to an automated check-in system. When you do, you can go about your daily life knowing that if the worst happens, your pets are protected.
Your pets are counting on you — even when you can't be there. Get started with MyPetsSafetyNet today and build the safety net your pets deserve.