Floods Prompt Call For Pet Evacuation Laws

[bullylove]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01...?section=justin

Floods prompt call for pet evacuation laws

By Tim Leslie

The RSPCA is calling on all levels of Government to take pets into account in future flood preparations, as it launches an appeal for donations to feed animals displaced by Queensland's devastating floods.

Spokesman Michael Beatty says while authorities are doing what they can to help animals in need, Australia should take its lead from the United States, where disaster laws regarding pets were introduced in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"I think down the track the whole situation in regard to domestic animals in particular will probably need to be reviewed," he said.

"We have to now look forward and perhaps view the situation in much the same way as the United States now does.

"They learnt a lot of lessons after Hurricane Katrina there, and now it's enacted in law that provision for pets must be made along with provisions for humans. In other words, there has to be evacuation centres for pets as well as humans, and/or the evacuation centres that are catering for humans also have to cater for pets."

Mr Beatty says while the RSPCA has been able to set up evacuation centres in Rockhampton and Bundaberg, people in smaller towns have been forced to leave their pets behind or in some cases put them down.

"Luckily in Rockhampton and Bundaberg they basically had enough time, so they could make provisions for their pets, or they were able to bring their pets with them," he said.

"Unfortunately in Condamine, and to a certain extent Theodore, the situation wasn't quite as encouraging. There were undoubtedly pets that did die in Condamine because they weren't able to take them out in helicopters at short notice.

"Some of those pets did get left behind in Condamine and you'd have to say presumed perished, and some of the owners took the only action they thought they could and they put the animals down before they left."

He says while it is important the rescue efforts focus on human lives, pets play an important role in helping overcome tragedy.

'Part of the family'

"I think people need to understand how important pets are to people, particularly in a crisis situation," he said.

"And particularly with older people or people who live alone, often that pet is either part of the family, or their entire family.

"And to lose their pet is akin to losing a member of the family, so we just have to understand how important pets are, and also the role that pets can play in helping people get over personal tragedy."

Livestock is at particular risk from the rising waters, with fences cutting off possible escape routes.

Mr Beatty says volunteers have been attempting to help stranded animals.

"We've been trying to get out to animals that have become trapped or stranded," he said.

"Obviously with livestock if they haven't been moved to high enough ground because of the fences and what have you, they can't get to higher ground, so you have to somehow get in and cut the fences and allow those animals to get through to higher ground," he said.

Mr Beatty says farmers hopefully learned the lessons from 2008 floods, but the magnitude of this disaster means losses are inevitable.

"Judging from the carcasses that have been observed floating down the Fitzroy River, there's a lot of livestock that did perish," he said.

"Whether or not it's on the same scale as 2008, you'd have to hope not. Certainly the message went out way before time.

"I think part of the problem with these floods were that they were a lot more severe than was originally anticipated, and perhaps some livestock owners thought 'well, that area didn't go under in 2008 so hopefully the stock will be OK here in 2011'."

But Mr Beatty says the RSPCA is heartened by how native animals have fared in the floods.

"The only slightly encouraging situation is that so far there don't appear to be that many casualties among the wildlife," he said.

"Obviously there are pockets of roos and the like stranded on different high spots throughout the floods. There's going to be a need to get some sort of food to them, especially if we can get to them once the waters start to slightly recede, and the same goes for livestock out there.

"[but] the only native animals that we're seeing in abundance displaced among the city areas because of the floods is obviously snakes and rodents."

People wishing to donate to the RSPCA's flood appeal can go to: www.rspcaqld.org.au.

[Inevitablue]

I think we are a long way from that.... the Brisbane evacuation area at the RNA ISN'T taking pets ;)

[poodlefan]

I think we are a long way from that.... the Brisbane evacuation area at the RNA ISN'T taking pets ;)

Why can't the showgrounds ones use pavillions and stables?? It simply isn't good enough. ;):

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

I think we are a long way from that.... the Brisbane evacuation area at the RNA ISN'T taking pets ;)

Why can't the showgrounds ones use pavillions and stables?? It simply isn't good enough. ;):

I agree 100%.

If I am told to evacuate and leave my girls behind, then I will also stay behind. I've thought long and hard...and they are depending on me for their survival. If they cannot be evacuated with me and if they cannot stay with me for the duration of the evacuation, then I would rather not leave at all. Why can't people who have containment for their pets take them to safety? I mean crates for dogs and cats, cages for pocket pets, and floats for horses and other livestock. Surely if the animals can be safely contained upon evacuation, they must be permitted to move with their human family.

I would take what's needed for them in lieu of supplies for myself other than a few changes of clothes and a toothbrush.

[Curlybert]

I agree too. All those devastated people forced out of their homes and leaving pets behind - among all the devastation it would at least it be some comfort to know their pets were safe.

[merijigs]

5.30pm ABC tv News 24 just said that pets ARE welcome at the Ipswich evacuation centre.

[Monah]

I think we are a long way from that.... the Brisbane evacuation area at the RNA ISN'T taking pets ;)

Unbelievable where are they meant to go? Most of the state is under water, and the parts that are not, are not open to any traffic. I could take animals, but no one can get in here or out. :D It's the same upand down the coast and out west.

I would not leave mine either. If poss. I'd find a patch of safe ground and camp in my car. I've planned and thought about it a lot as we have had cyclones and floods.

LM, Id do the same, remember you can come here too.

I dont understand the wildlife comments, what about wombats, echidnas, frogs, roos etc.

how have they done quite well in the floods? ;)

[Inevitablue]

5.30pm ABC tv News 24 just said that pets ARE welcome at the Ipswich evacuation centre.

with all the road closures I doubt people will have the choice of what evacuation place they have to attend.....its riduculous! the Brisbane evacuation center is where they have the Ekka...plenty of stables to put animals

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

I think we are a long way from that.... the Brisbane evacuation area at the RNA ISN'T taking pets

Unbelievable :D where are they meant to go? Most of the state is under water, and the parts that are not, are not open to any traffic. I could take animals, but no one can get in here or out. It's the same upand down the coast and out west.

I would not leave mine either. If poss. I'd find a patch of safe ground and camp in my car. I've planned and thought about it a lot as we have had cyclones and floods.

LM, Id do the same, remember you can come here too.

I dont understand the wildlife comments, what about wombats, echidnas, frogs, roos etc.

how have they done quite well in the floods? ;)

Only if the road is still open... ;) Otherwise I'd camp in the car on higher ground - assuming there is higher ground to get to.

I'd take dogs in if they could get to me. I have enough room for my giant crate and two or three smaller crates to be set up in my living room and spare room. But of course if I had to then evacuate, where would I put all those dogs?

Yep, I didn't really understand the references to wildlife...where are the animals meant to have gone? They do drown...and I'm sure thousands of head of livestock AND native animals have drowned.

[Shazzapug]

Such a feeling of helplessness (is that a word) down here in Vic....but it was the same for the evacuating families in the fires....they were all not taking animals. I had friends that had decided to leave with their goats in a trailer, all they could do was drive around with no where to go. It is sad that it has taken such a large number of lost livestock and pets to prompt this evacuation law to consider the lives of our companions enough to warrant a change.

[whiskedaway]

Maybe the wildlife aren't affected as much because koalas can get up trees and kangaroos can easily jump over fences to higher ground (there were always stacks of kangaroos that got over the fences in the paddocks near my parent's place). Not sure about wombats, etc, but you don't see quite as many of them.

[Monah]

that's true whisked, but, the area covered by water is massive, and anything up a tree would very soon starve. in these floods there is often nowhere to go at all. ;)

steve has posted a link to some photos that show something of it.

Edited January 11, 2011 by Monah

[Sayly]

According to OzShow those turning up at the RNA with pets are being accepted.

[Sydoo]

I think we are a long way from that.... the Brisbane evacuation area at the RNA ISN'T taking pets ;)

Why can't the showgrounds ones use pavillions and stables?? It simply isn't good enough. :

Very disappointed when I heard this today. I think it will result in fewer early self-evacuations, which will inevitably cause more problems if the situation worsens.

[Inevitablue]

Good, hopefully common sense prevailed.

Channel 9 mentioned about 30min ago that they were not accepting pets, and the reporter was a little lost for words

[kazads]

The whole thing is terrible and such a shame - I can tell you that I would never leave behind my pack.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

According to OzShow those turning up at the RNA with pets are being accepted.

So why did Lord Mayor Campbell Newman stipulate this evening that pets are not being accepted there? ;)

[Sayly]

According to OzShow those turning up at the RNA with pets are being accepted.

So why did Lord Mayor Campbell Newman stipulate this evening that pets are not being accepted there? ;)

No idea. As I said, I only heard it on ozshow. Hopefully it's true.

[WoofnHoof]

I've heard on FB they are now accepting pets at the RNA - as they bloody should.

It's a hell of a lot more efficient to accomodate pets in an emergency situation than it is to argue with people and physically subdue them when the floodwaters are rising. A lot of people will leave sooner if they can take their pets too so overall less work for emergency services.

[ellies mum]

The whole thing is terrible and such a shame - I can tell you that I would never leave behind my pack.

me either...