mita Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 (edited) Here's the city of San Francisco's Disaster Preparedness for Pets. It includes hints of what to do if pets have to be left behind. Though the list I originally saw was even longer... & covered different types of pets. http://www.sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=1068 So much depends on the circumstances. Total population of a very small Q'ld town was evacuated by helicopters in the previous awful flood. A police officer was able to safely stay to keep an eye on things. He organised with the people that he'd feed & water the pets left behind in the houses. People 'went' a lot happier under those circumstances. Within the week, they could return. Edited February 1, 2013 by mita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pollywaffle Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I would love to think I was capable of making the ultimate sacrifice and saving my two, or putting my life in danger by staying with them..but in reality, who knows..I hear the will to self-survive is very strong so...hopefully I'm never put in that predicament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlaznHotAussies Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Plan A would be nicking off early with all the animals in tow (actually, I'm hoping that I'd never live in a high bushfire or flood area) at the slightest sniff of trouble. Plan B would be nicking off with myself & photos I have a husband and no matter how much I love my animals he comes first - I wouldn't want either one of us lost from trying to rescue animals. Not even my horses. It wouldn't be fair on my family either (parents & siblings). Scary stuff though - I don't know for sure how I'd be in the actual situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 With no little dependants, I would stay with my dog(s) if I didn't evacuate early and couldn't. In all honestly, I would evacuate early though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 (edited) First plan would be to get out early with all the animals. I have kids, so those would have to take priority if (god forbid!) we had to evacuate without the animals. All my dogs are crate trained, though the biggest crate won't really fit in the car, even folded, especially not with other stuff in an evacuation, so everyone would have to squish (would be a very squishy average sized car with 4 people and 3 dogs as well as folded crates and essentials!). Hopefully we never have to find out. Edited February 1, 2013 by Kavik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebie Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 time to get roof rack :) Or better idea have 2nd set of contaiment pens/crates at a location (friends/relatives etc) where you could go collect from once evacuated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 What we need is a bigger car for a start :laugh: I've been dreaming about my ideal 'dog car' for a while now :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Just a quicky i did see on the QLD floods a man being rescued via the helicopter in the cage/winch and they brought his little terrier (looked like an aussie)up with him. I know its not always feasible with large dogs but i honestly wanted to hug the pilot and rescuers for letting him carry his little dog up with him. I think I saw footage of this after they'd landed. There were 2 helicopter crewman who carried 2 small dogs under their arms (one looked like an aussie-terrier) to 2 elderly men. While the TV reporter was talking to one man (with a mini-foxy on his knee), the other was continually stroking his little terrier. Also an AGL helicopter rescued an elderly man near Maryborough. The winchman brought up his 17 yr old little dog, too.... in a backpack. The thing that astounded me about that footage was that neither dog had a collar or lead on. Surely in any disaster the first thing to do is secure your pets in case someone else has to help evacuate them. What happens if the dog takes fright with all the strange happenings? Ideally every dog should have a trailer bay or dog crate available in case they need to evacuated and at the very least a collar with tags and a decent lead. Part of being a responsible pet owner is to ensure that you have the transport available to evacuate them if you live in a danger area. If this means buying a bigger vehicle or trailer so be it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 My dogs are my "children"... they come too or I'm staying with them. I couldn't live with myself if I scarpered to save my own skin and they were left to drown, burn, or starve to death. If you have enough warning, get out early and take them with you. That's the only option I could live with. T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Showpony Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Just playing devil's advocate, but if you refuse to leave when ordered the emergency services can force you to leave. If you somehow avoid that, you'll still possibly be putting other people at risk when they try to get to you - even if it's a jetskier going through floodwaters, they're putting themselves in danger to help. ShowPony, when there's a fire in the Grose I don't know what to do - I have family both sides so no matter which way the wind blows there's a risk! The northern side have fewer escape options but much more experience. The southern side involves kids and they're closer to the bush. And that valley is so wild and amazing! Hi, All you can do is check the RFS website or even give them a call, watch the weather and the wind.....if it's looking dicey and your not comfortable staying, leave with the kids and dogs....atleast your aware there are fires there.....half the people in my area didn't have a clue there was a fire.... even though it had beed reported on the radio and TV news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 (edited) Amazing how pet people can improvise. From the Herald-Sun, how a Bundaberg couple swam out to a higher house... in the middle of the night: Gaylene and Terry Adams, 53 and 49, never expected their home at 14 Hinkler Ave to be swamped as the last flood had only come up ankle deep on the lower level. Mrs Holden said they had been hearing reports that the water would peak at 8.5m. But it went higher, eventually peaking at 9.5m. About 2.30am on Monday, the pair swam to a higher house next door. "They swam out in the middle of the night - with water up to their necks and their six cats and a dog - into the next door neighbour's," Mrs Holden said. They put the cats in a plastic box with a lid on and the dog swam beside them. They weren't leaving their animals." Edited February 1, 2013 by mita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 When we had fires in the nearby National Park and could see the glow from home, my van was ready to go, dog crates, water, food and box of home essentials ie insurances, cd photos etc. even had a spare crate for Duck. If I had seen a flame, I was out of here. Don't think there's much chance of flooding here in the Mallee but fire is a constant risk. This is the first year since I've been here that there's been no fires locally. (Hope I haven't mossed myself lol). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 (edited) One good resource (in NSW anyway) is the RFS 'fires near me' phone app. RFS and SES also have Facebook feeds. And there is also one called NSW Emergency coverage that is good. Edited February 1, 2013 by espinay2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I've got Ïncident alerts""on the PC. You sign up and they send you an email of any incidents within 150kms. Good early heads up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trisven13 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I would go. I have kids and my responsibility to be there as their mum is more important than my animals. It would break my heart to leave them but my kids are young and need me. Our family has a number of different bushfire plans and what happens in them is based on how much time we have. In one where we have loads of time they all make it out. In the one where we don't have loads of time not everyone can get out. The plans had our whole family in tears whilst we were discussing it BUT its important that we have made a decision before panic sets in on what happens. If I've only got 10 minutes I CAN'T possibly get everyone out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 (edited) As mentioned, the lack of preparedness by some individuals who live in disaster prone areas never ceases to amaze me. You can talk and educate until you're blue in the face up our way but most people don't have a plan for themselves let alone their pets. With me being away at the moment Mr TSD has the written fire plan out and prepares everything the night before a potentially bad day. Crates laid out for the cats (which they happily sleep in), leads laid out for the dogs, full tank of petrol in the car. A suitcase of irreplaceable items is stored at another location. There are several plans from getting out early to escaping from the house if it goes up. Leaving the animals behind is not in the plan. It takes effort and facing scary "what ifs" to sit down and discuss/write a plan (as Tris has posted) which many people seem unwilling to do. ETA: Currently dogs and cats can fit comfortably in one car and I have roof racks/pod for tent and emergency camping gear if time to pack up. We would head to KCC Park if safe or a military base. In the future I would consider a trailer if I had more dogs. Edited February 1, 2013 by The Spotted Devil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karrine Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I would stay - no question. But then do not have children - more than that though - i think I would try and find a way to escape with them rather than sitting in the house waiting for the inevitable. If I thought there was even the slightest chance beforehand I would leave as early as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Okay he is a question for those that have said they would stay no matter what ,what about family members or life partners that may be outside watching & in the worse case scenario watching you all burn to death (worse case) How ould you those people deal knowing the dogs where more important ?/ I am someone that would save my dogs at all costs but i also understand that may not be an option & i would have to decide what in life means more & the consequences Easy answer for me...I have no family, only my dogs, take them or stay. easy for me too.. i really only have my dogs.. my brother would have been long evacuated as that is part of my plan. and he would cope very well in a care facility: regular meals arriving like clockwork, people to chat to . the only but in this is that he would be lost without his dogs.. H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 My dogs are my "children"... they come too or I'm staying with them. I couldn't live with myself if I scarpered to save my own skin and they were left to drown, burn, or starve to death. If you have enough warning, get out early and take them with you. That's the only option I could live with. T. That is exactly how I feel. My kids are grown men now and don't need me anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I don't think I could ever ever ever live with myself if I up and left my dogs to die a horrible death. The psychological trauma something like that would inflict would be not worth it to me. I would find a way to stay with them or take them with me. No way in hell would I just walk out the door, I could not live with myself for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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