01/12/2026
What to do with your pets if ICE shows up in your neighborhood:
1. Supplies. When making sure you have supplies for hunkering down inside, include extra food. Kibble does have an expiration date. Get an air tight container, keeping the food INSIDE the bag, and use tape to write the expiration date on top. Dog food can still be used while past expiration in *emergencies* if it is not safe to get new food. On top of this, making sure your dog’s medication is also on deck.
2. Crate training is ESSENTIAL for your dog. If you haven’t done it, you need to start asap. ICE agents will open closed doors and execute your animals, so a bathroom or contained room is *not safe*. You need a secure crate. This goes for animals such as cats, lizards, etc. make sure every animal has a safe space.
3. If your animal gets out, don’t chase them. Wait for ICE to clear out. Do not panicked if your animal runs. We can find them later. Do not chase them in front of ICE.
4. Contact a Life Line. As soon as you can, make arrangements for someone to retrieve and care for your animals in an unfortunate case you are detained.
5. Assign Charges. If you have a multi-family, assign out loud what adult gets what children and/or animals, and who speaks to ICE.
6. Get cameras everywhere. You want to record and hopefully ability to check on your animals from a distance.
7. Potty patch/pads can be useful to keep your home clean If It Is unsafe to leave.
If ICE shows up:
1. One person handle them while someone else contains animals in other rooms.
2. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. They need specifically a judicial warrant. Look at it THROUGH A WINDOW and only state: “I need to see a warrant signed by a JUDGE”
3. If they break down your door, do not resist as this will escalate aggression. State loudly: I do not comply to this entry or search.
Below are examples of judicial (green, left) and administrative (blue, right). They MUST HAVE A WARRANT SIGNED BY A JUDGE.
Please contact us if you need assistance finding a life line for your pets, regardless of distance from us, we will find someone near by you.
If you are able to take an animal in case of emergency, please reach out to me.
