Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan:
3.0 Guiding Principles
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In implementing this Plan the following principles apply:
- The safety and welfare of all people is the overarching priority at all times.
- The responsibility for the welfare of animals at all times remains with the person in charge of an animal.
- Emergency arrangements for animal welfare do not override normal legislative functions however the given circumstances may call for discretion in managing compliance given potential risks to human life or other practical limitations perceived to be present during the emergency.
- This Plan does not replace animal welfare arrangements described in existing emergency plans (ie. AUSVETPLAN and plans relating to cetacean entanglements or strandings and marine pollution).
- Organisations may strive for higher animal welfare standards than outlined in this document.
- While arrangements described in this Plan are typical, it is recognised that a Control Agency may recommend additional or alternative actions at the incident, regional or state level to meet the needs of the particular emergency.
- As the capacity and capability of agencies and organisations in animal welfare services will change, an adaptive, flexible and whole of government approach to arrangements is essential to ensuring the objectives of this Plan are met.
