The Victorian Government today launched a new Emergency Animal Welfare Plan to protect animals during natural disasters.
Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford launched the Plan with Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley and Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Charles Milne at the State Control Centre in Melbourne ahead of the upcoming fire season.
Mr Lapsley said with the wet conditions in recent months, Victoria was likely to expereince a more “traditional” fire season with the highest risk in the summer months and, in particular January and February.
Developed in line with Victoria’s emergency framework, the new updated plan outlines how the community and emergency services can work together to better manage animal welfare before, during and immediately after emergencies such as fires, floods and extreme weather events.
It covers all animals, including pets, livestock and wildlife, and sets out the particular roles and responsibilities for animal owners, farmers, breeders, businesses, the community, government organisations and Victoria’s emergency services to ensure the welfare of all animals during an emergency.
One of the key principles of the plan is while the responsibility for animal’s welfare remains with the person in charge of it, government agencies and other organisations can help during emergencies.
Dr Milne said farmers needed to have emergency response plans including assessing risks and any actions you can take to mitigate those risks, such as moving stock to paddocks with less fire fuel loads.
Ms Pulford said the plan recognised the importance of the bond between humans and animals, whether it be pets or livestock as a means of livelihood, in its planning to enhance public safety and reduce animal suffering in emergency situations.
“The Black Saturday Bushfire Royal Commission’s told us, in no uncertain terms, that people will risk their lives to save their animals,” Mr Pulford said.
“The welfare of animals is a massive driver of decision-making in a bushfire situation, so it is vital that you are prepared and have a plan for your animals – just as you would for your family,” Mr Lapsley said.
Dr Milne said human lives always took primacy and that included not letting people back into areas where there is risk to their lives.
“Having said that, we try our staff and the producers back to their livestock as soon as possible both to care for those animals that have been harmed during an event and of course to manage farm back on a daily basis,” he said.
