RESPONDING TO ANIMAL WELFARE DURING NATURAL DISASTERS

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RESPONDING TO ANIMAL WELFARE DURING NATURAL
DISASTERS
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TIMES GONE BY

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• INSPECTORATE
• 16 Inspectors state wide
• 5 Ambulance officers
• Complaints section
• Quality control officer
• 8 volunteer Inspectors
• 12 volunteer Ambulance officers

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Only charity with powers to prosecute under the
Animal Care Protection Act 2001
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Investigated 12 180 complaints in 2008/09
financial year
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Rescued 7395 animals in the last year
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Animal Rescue

• Disaster Management Act 2003
• Operational guidelines for local disaster
  management groups
• Local Government Disaster management groups
• Qld State Rescue Policy 2000

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RESCUE CAPABILITIES

• 150,000 purpose built rescue vehicle
• Fleet of 15 4WD
• 5 animal ambulances
• 5 rescue boats
• 3 large mobile domestic animal vehicles
• 4 horse floats
• 1 Cherry picker
• 2 mobile yards

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TRAINING FRAMEWORK

• Ethos of personal safety
• Competency maintenance
• External and internal trainers
• Animal First Aid
• Navigation
• machine operation
• Flood boat operation
• Vertical rescue
• Confined space training

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CENTRAL QUEENSLAND FLOODS
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RESPONSE

• The RSPCA sent a team of 4 Inspectors from Qld
• 2 Inspectors from NSW RSPCA
• 3 vehicles
• 1 rescue vehicles

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ANIMALS RESCUED

• 4 x Horses,
• 7 x Poultry (Chickens),
• 6 x Turkeys,
• 20 x Dairy Cows,
• 14 x Goats,
• 2 x Husky Dogs,

• 4 x Cross Breed Dogs,
• 1 x Wallaby,
• 1 x Echidna
• 1 x Feral Cow (Euthanized)
• 2 x DSH Cats and
• 2 x Childrens Pythons

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QUALITY ASSURANCE
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PREPAREDNESS

• Our response is proactive and educational
• Moved in front of the flood water
• Letter drops with animal welfare information
• Assistance in moving domestic animals
• Assistance to hobby farmers

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OTHER CAPABILITIES

• Expert advice and assistance in setting up
  emergency animal shelters
• Activation of special 1800 number for reporting
  of lost or injured animals during a disaster
• Animal welfare computer system (Shelter Mate)
  used for specific disaster recording. System
  proven in America during recent fire emergencies.

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THE FUTURE

• FINALISE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between
  Local Government and Non-Government Signatories
  for the Coordination of support during events and
  disasters
• Advocate for changes to the Emergency Management
  Qld Operational Planning guide which currently
  only has one line on emergency response for pets
• Advocate for changes to the states Roles and
  Responsibilities paper which currently does not
  mention animal welfare or rescue.

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Mobile Forensic Veterinary Unit
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Helping Animals
Changing Lives
Enlightening People
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