Animal Welfare in Emergencies
Victoria is faced with many different types of emergencies and threats that impact on animals, whether they be companion animals, livestock or wildlife in bushland, rural or urban settings.
Animals play a significant role in the lives of Victorians. Furthermore, recent disasters in Australia and overseas have highlighted that bonds between people and animals strongly influence decision making in times of crisis. The lack of adequate planning for the management of animals and their welfare in emergencies can result in poor, last minute decisions with dangerous or fatal consequences for animals and their owners or carers.
Animal owners and carers have the ultimate “duty of care” to plan and provide for the needs of animals in their charge. However, in the event of an emergency, government and non government organisations and groups acknowledge the supporting role they can play in helping owners or carers meet their responsibilities.
The Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan describes the State arrangements and is supported by municipal plans and guidelines.
Information and fact sheets are also available to assist owners and carers of companion animals and livestock, and wildlife when preparing for, or responding to an emergency.
Planning for and responding to emergencies
Planning- Your animals and an emergency event
- Pets and emergency planning
- Farm and livestock bushfire planning
- Farm and livestock bushfire plan checklist
- Horses and emergencies
- Horses and bushfire
- Horses and floods
- American Veterinary Medical Association – Saving the whole Family Video
- Equine U Emergency Planning Workbook for horse owners
Evacuating
- Large Animal Checklist - Enacting your bushfire plan
- Evacuating with pets
- Guidelines for managing animals at Emergency Relief Centres, assembly areas or other places of emergency shelter
Recovering from emergencies
- Agisting livestock affected by bushfire
- Assessing cattle after bushfire
- Assessing sheep after bushfire
- Disposing of carcasses in response to bushfire, flood or drought
- Emergency stock containment areas
- Fencing assistance
- Floods and animal health
- Help for animals affected by bushfire
- Horses and bushfire
- Horses and flood
