• Relief functions provided by these groups vary, but may include:
• Assisting in the establishment and resourcing of triage sites.
• Provision of veterinary and animal treatment services.
• Provision of boarding facilities and portable housing.
• Distribution of donated pet food and fodder.
• Maintaining agistment registers.
• Assistance with animal transport.

• Maintain a volunteer data base of veterinarians and veterinary nurses.

Response

• In level 2 and 3 incidents (refer to 8.2), the AVA will activate its Emergency Taskforce to:
• Contact AVA members and other relevant stakeholders who may be affected to gather information about the situation.
• Inform AVA members and other relevant stakeholders about the emergency response.
• Utilise the resources of the AVA Communications Team as appropriate.
• Assist DSE and DPI with the dissemination of relevant information.

Relief

• Facilitate communication between veterinarians and the AVA through activation of the 1300 number, mobile telephone contact and electronic communications.
• Facilitate contact with volunteer “Triage Veterinarians” - defined as persons with current veterinary qualifications responsible for the appropriate treatment of injured animals and who will be responsible for the management and tasking of Volunteer Triage Assistants and Volunteer Triage Record Keepers.”
• Assist in the identification of veterinarians and practices within affected regions.
• Support veterinarians and practices to care for animals [emergency & long-term] & monitor the level of support being provided by veterinarians & practices [including pro bono work].
• Liaise with pharmaceutical companies using their distribution networks to transport essential supplies
• Work with veterinarians in the proximity to affected areas, and facilitate access for volunteer veterinarians to requisite supplies, for example, by storing locked bags.
• Liaise with Zoos Victoria in the dissemination of information and advice for veterinarians regarding the treatment of wildlife.
• Prepare & distribute fact sheets & other technical information to veterinarians treating injured animals.
• Report unmet animal welfare needs arising from the emergency to relevant agencies and organisations.

Recovery

• Advise the AVA Benevolent Fund of veterinarians in difficult financial circumstances as a result of the emergency.

• Ensure animal welfare arrangements are represented in state level incident response plans.
• Work with DPI and DSE in the development and delivery of appropriate animal welfare messages in community education programs.

Response

• As a control agency, ensure approved animal welfare messages are provided to the community and media.
• Ensure animal welfare and other rural issues identified through rapid impact assessment activities are referred to DPI or DSE.

• Ensure animal welfare is represented in state and regional relief and recovery plans.

Relief

• Ensure animal welfare requests for assistance are referred in accordance with established protocols.

• Represent DPI and the state’s animal welfare arrangements on relevant emergency management and animal welfare committees and forums.
• Communicate emergency animal welfare arrangements and operational requirements to relevant stakeholders.
• Provide advice to agencies, organisations and the community regarding animal welfare management in emergencies and risk management planning.
• Maintain this Plan.

Response

• Provide advice to control and support agencies regarding the impact, or potential impact of an emergency on animal welfare, including biosecurity (disease) risks and management strategies.
• Liaise with relevant animal welfare agencies and organisations to enable effective and timely delivery of animal welfare services during an emergency.
• Develop information for the public and media relating to the management of livestock and companion animals impacted by the emergency, for release through the Incident Controller.

Relief

• Liaise with animal welfare support agencies and organisations to ensure effective allocation of resources.
• Identify and assess injured and affected animals (livestock and companion animals).
• Provide advice on options for treatment, humane destruction or emergency salvage slaughter. Refer treatment needs to triage points (when established and where relevant).
• Where necessary, assist with humane destruction of injured or affected animals.
• Advise local government of containment needs of stray or roaming animals and disposal needs of dead or injured animals (e.g. location, number and type of animals).
• Assess fodder and water needs of impacted animals and advise distribution bodies of needs (quantity, type, location).
• Provide advice to DSE regarding wildlife welfare response.
• Direct animal welfare organisations, volunteer groups or community groups wanting to contribute.
• Assess and report losses and damage to agricultural assets and animals, and needs of affected persons and communities to government.
• Investigate complaints relevant to animal welfare.

Recovery

• Provide advice to individuals, communities, agencies and government on strategies for the re-establishment of rural enterprises and economic recovery.
• Provide advice about fencing (for safe ongoing containment), feed planning and pasture management, water supplies including dam management, and animal health considerations, which will vary depending on the incident type (eg. flystrike, foot rot).

Prevention / Mitigation / Risk Reduction Activities

• Communicate emergency wildlife welfare arrangements to relevant stakeholders.

Response Activities

• Provide advice to response agencies regarding the impact of an emergency on flora and fauna.
• Develop information for the public and media relating to the management of wildlife impacted by the emergency, for release through the Incident Controller.

Relief Activities

• Ensure the treatment and care of wildlife is conducted in accordance with relevant legislation and codes of practice (the Wildlife Act 1975 and the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Wildlife during Rehabilitation incorporated under POCT).
• Provide advice on requirements for the humane destruction of injured wildlife.

Recovery Activities

• Provide advice on wildlife carcass disposal needs to local government, where required or appropriate.
• Provide advice to land management agencies and the community on flora and fauna rehabilitation.
• Manage initiative projects relevant to flora and fauna rehabilitation on crown land.

Prevention / Mitigation / Risk Reduction Activities

• Develop or maintain and communicate protocols that describe restrictions and standards to be used by wildlife volunteers (training needs, personal protective equipment (PPE), communications, fatigue management and other OHS requirements).

Relief Activities

• Provide a coordinated response for the rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife affected by fire.
• Manage the activities of approved wildlife volunteers.

Relief Activities

• Provide a coordinated response to dealing with wildlife impacted by marine pollution, including oil or chemical spills, under the Wildlife Response Plan for Marine Pollution Emergencies.

Prevention / Mitigation / Risk Reduction Activities

• Develop and facilitate programs in conjunction with DPI to reduce the incidence of cetacean entanglements.

Response Activities

• Provide a coordinated response to cetacean strandings, for either living or deceased animals, under the Victorian Cetacean Emergency Plan.
• Provide a coordinated response to cetacean entanglements under the Victorian Cetacean Emergency Plan.

Relief Activities

• Oversee carcass management on the foreshore of crown lands managed directly by DSE.

Response

• Support Agency for response to wildlife affected by disease.

• Ensure emergency relief and recovery components of Municipal Emergency Management Plans detail local arrangements and providers for relevant animal welfare services including consideration of the following:
• DPI (companion animals and livestock) and DSE (wildlife) contacts for animal assessment activities,
• carcass transport providers and disposal sites,
• options for the management of displaced animals, including those presenting at emergency relief centres,
• potential sites for donated fodder distribution,
• alternative emergency water sources for animals, and
• systems for the management of offers of assistance or donations made to local government.
• Communicate municipal animal welfare contacts and arrangements to relevant stakeholders.
• Reference animal welfare information in publications and websites to assist broader community awareness, education and understanding.

Response

• Liaise with relevant animal welfare agencies and organisations to enable effective and timely delivery of council’s animal welfare services. This will typically be done at the Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre (MECC).
• Develop information for the public and media relating to the management of animals impacted by the emergency (domestic, livestock and wildlife) for release through the Incident Controller.

Relief

• Provide assistance with urgent animal welfare needs, including emergency shelter, catering or fodder and veterinary needs for companion animals and livestock.
• Manage donated goods and services offered to the municipality.
• Emergency confinement of deplaced animals within the local government area.
• Referral of animal welfare needs to responsible animal welfare agencies and organisations.
• Coordination of clean up activities, including disposal of dead animals (companion, livestock, wildlife and feral).
• Provide a municipal point of contact for other agencies and organisations (e.g. CFA, DPI, RSPCA, AVA), in relation to animal welfare needs or issues.
• Make provisions for animals presenting at emergency relief centres. Consideration should be given to:
• Companion animal admission, identification and record keeping,
• Secure and functional housing or holding facilities and their proximity to evacuation sites,
• Feed and water requirements,
• Access to veterinary treatment for injuries, illness and humane destruction,
• Identifying and contacting owners,
• Animals requiring specialist attention (such as horses and wildlife),
• Referral of animals with special needs, or that are unable to be supported by the relief centre, to appropriate shelters or containment facilities.
• Staff health and safety.

• Lead the annual review of the RSPCA Emergency Response Plan and associated documents.

Relief

• Undertake animal welfare assessment activities in accordance with established emergency management structures.
• Report animal welfare needs in accordance with established emergency reporting systems and processes.
• Manage the distribution of donations made to RSPCA to established distribution centres (eg. fodder depots). (Donations made to Burwood to be communicated to the RSPCA State Liaison Officer who will identify sites in need).
• Provide advice to pet owners on issues relating to animal welfare.
• Respond, where appropriate, to requests for animal welfare resources, in accordance with the State’s emergency resource supplementation process. (Requests for RSPCA resources should be directed through the State Emergency Animal Welfare Unit and State RSPCA Liaison Officer).

Recovery

• Provide advice to pet owners on issues relating to animal welfare.

• Ensure animal welfare is represented in state response plans.

Response

• Ensure arrangements are in place at traffic management points that allow effective and timely deliver of animal welfare services.
• Ensure animal welfare and other rural issues identified through rapid impact assessment activities being referred to DPI or DSE.

• Ensure animal welfare arrangements are represented in state level incident response plans.
• Work with DPI and DSE in the development and delivery of appropriate animal welfare messages in community education programs.

Response

• As a control agency, ensure approved animal welfare messages are provided to the community and media.
• Ensure animal welfare and other rural issues identified through rapid impact assessment activities are referred to DPI or DSE

• Provide assistance in wildlife rescue, recovery and relief activities in line with conditions and standards outlined in relevant plans and protocols.
• Where appropriately authorised, provide treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife affected by emergencies, with the intent to release to the wild once recovered.