Care of Animals Evacuated in a Disaster Gold Coast City Disaster Welfare Model 29 January 2009.

Care of Animals Evacuated in a Disaster

Gold Coast City Disaster Welfare Model

29 January 2009

Overview

• Animal Welfare not Animal Management• Abandoned animals • Gold Coast City Disaster Welfare Model• Guide dogs• Challenges for the future.

Animal Welfare not Animal Management

• Attitude shift for Government• Identifies the wider impact of disasters• Aids in easing the stress on evacuees• Reduces the secondary impact of animal abandonment.

Abandoned Animals

• Caused by not being prepared– Poor government policies i.e. no animals allowed at shelters– Owners not being prepared

• Owners perishing in disaster refusing to leave their pets behind• Creates both an animal welfare and

management issues• Hurricane Kattrina estimated 50,000

abandoned animals of which10,000 were rescued.

Gold Coast City Disaster Welfare Model

Facilities SupervisorGCCC

Functional arrangements

Shelter Management TeamAustralian Red Cross

St John Ambulance(Triage & First Aid)

Australian Red Cross(Registration & Personal

Support)

St Vincent De Paul & GCCC(Material Resources)

GCCC, AWL & RSPCA(Animal Welfare)

Salvation Army(Food & Catering)

LifelineCounselling

DCCLDMG & DDMG

Permanent arrangements are being sourced to undertake Childcare when required.

Emergency Shelter ManagerAdmin Assist

ES Operations OfficerES Logistics Officer

Australian Red Cross

Welfare Subcommittee

Recovery Committee

ADRA(Temporary Accomodation)

To Be Confirmed

Operations of Emergency Shelters / Evacuation Centres

Set up

Emergency ShelterManagement

Australian Red Cross

Reception Australian Red Cross, St John Ambulance & Animal Welfare Team

RegistrationAustralian Red Cross

Australian Red CrossPersonal Support

Triage St John Ambulance

First Aid St John Ambulance

Meals - PreparationSalvation Army

Meals - DinningSalvation Army

Material AidSt Vincent de Paul Society

Pets - RegistrationCouncil, RSPCA & AWL

Pets – Care OnsiteCouncil, RSPCA & AWL

Pets - Offsite Care (Fostering)RSPCA

Longer – Term Pet Care

Onsite Animal Care• Separate• Undercover• Well ventilated• Protected from the

elements eg: Tarps.

Onsite Animal Care• Dog / cat crates

• Water

• Food

• Visual Barriers or blankets to minimise animal stress.

Onsite Animal Care• Animals never left

unattended• Regular toilet

breaks• Exercised.

RSPCA - Foster Care Network

• Longer – term pet care• Temporary accommodation (no animal

policies)• Reduces stress to pets• Builds confidence with owners• Better tracking of pets• Provides a personal touch.

Guide Dogs

• Remain with their masters• Crates and blankets provided for dogs to rest when not working• Longer term care via the agencies that own the animals.

Challenges for the Future

• Continued planning and preparation• Public Education.

Encourage Responsible Pet Ownership

• Encourage pet owners to plan for the care of their animals during a disaster

• Emergency kits to include pets• Evacuation plan to include pets• Consider care of pets with family and

friends• Pet abandonment to be last resort and to

be done responsibly.

Emergency Kit for Pets

• Carrier or crate• Vaccination records• ID Tags and microchip• Photo of pet with family• Collar and leash• Food and water• Bowls• Medications• Litter pan• Comfort toys, beds, treats etc• Health Record• Cleaning Items• First aid kit.

Ms Michele RogersPh: 07 5581 5236PO Box 5042 Gold Coast MC Qld 9729 AustraliaEmail: disasterwelfare@goldcoast.qld.gov.auWeb: goldcoastcity.com.au

Questions ?