RESPONDING TO ANIMAL WELFARE DURING NATURAL DISASTERS

TIMES GONE BY

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

Only charity with powers to prosecute under the Animal Care & Protection Act 2001

Investigated complaints in 2008/09 financial year

Rescued 7395 animals in the last year

 Disaster Management Act 2003  Operational guidelines for local disaster management groups  Local Government Disaster management groups  Qld State Rescue Policy 2000 “Animal Rescue”

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

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

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND FLOODS

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

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 Children’s Pythons

QUALITY ASSURANCE

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

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.

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.

Mobile Forensic Veterinary Unit

Enlightening People Changing Lives Helping Animals