Climate change presents a fundamental threat to human and animal health, directly contributing to emergencies such as heat waves, wildfires, floods, tropical storms, and hurricanes (World Health Organization, Climate change, 2023). Heat waves are the leading cause of weather-related human mortality in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 2023). Along with the climate crisis, the United States is experiencing cultural shifts, including changing definitions of ‘family’ and increasing levels of pet or companion animal ownership, specifically related to the multispecies family and ‘pet parenthood.’ The human-animal bond and the perception of pets as family members have made them important throughout the life course and in disaster situations. Having companion animals may positively impact an individual’s social capital. Although studies in sociological and disaster literature have focused on the human-animal bond and pet owner risk perception and preparedness during disasters, little research has addressed these topics specifically in relation to climate change and weather. As pets grow more central to family life, impacting people’s emotions, routines, and decisions, they also play a crucial role in the climate crisis. This review will briefly focus on heat waves to highlight the potential role pets can play in people’s responses to the climate crisis. Emergency managers should consider including pets to better serve affected families when planning for climate-related weather events and responding to extreme heat situations. They can also leverage the increasing trend of animal attachment to motivate climate action, enhance communication efforts, and encourage protective or preventative behaviors. Further research is needed to deepen our understanding of the human-animal bond in the context of climate change and to inform targeted policies and mitigation strategies.