Remember Your Pets
It is up to you to plan ahead and to prepare for the safety and welfare of your pets, livestock or other farm animals well before a natural hazard affects your home or farm. By acting early, you will avoid unnecessary danger and anxiety. Although individual needs will vary, the following advice is intended to help you decide the best plan for your circumstances.
- Plan ahead
- Evacuating and taking your pet with you
- Evacuating and leaving your pets behind
- After the disaster
Plan ahead
Make a plan for your pets if you need to evacuate. Consider what you will do if you need to move your pets to a safe place before a potential disaster. This might be with relatives, friends or animal boarding facilities.
Consider whether you will move your pets and other animals to a safer place on days of high risk or wait until a warning is issued. This will depend on whether you intend to stay or leave.
Check Council’s Emergency Management and Disaster Dashboard for information about likely hazards, local emergency plans and what arrangements are in place regarding temporary animal shelters and yards in times of major emergencies or disasters.
Review Council’s information sheet Preparing for an Emergency with Pets (PDF, 788.2 KB), which also includes a list of items to include in a pet grab-and-go kit.
Regardless of your plan, ensure that pets and animals are properly identified (e.g., name tag, microchip or brand) and that stock registers are current and kept in a safe place.
Shelter options and animals
Place of Refuge
Where owners of domestic animals (such as dogs, cats and birds) have chosen to shelter with their pets, they will be instructed to use a designated facility identified and communicated by the Townsville Local Disaster Management Group (TLDMG) at the time of the event. It is important to note that pets (that are not assistance animals) are not permitted within the Public Cyclone Shelter.
Domestic animals which are accepted at the designated place of refuge (PoR) will remain the responsibility of the owner/keeper for the duration of their stay and they must therefore bring with them sufficient supplies including the following items (as a minimum):
- a cage, carrier, or other suitable fully enclosed enclosure that is of sturdy construction to contain the animal (a dog on a lead is not considered as a suitable containment measure)
- a collar and lead to restrain the animal while it is out of its enclosure
- an amount of water and food that is sufficient to sustain the animal for the duration of stay at the PoR (including bowl/s)
- supplies to remove animal waste (e.g. plastic bags, gloves, litter tray, urine pads, etc.)
- any medication required for the animal.
Evacuation Centres
If owners of domestic animals (such as dogs, cats and birds) become displaced and require emergency accommodation, they must make all reasonable attempts to house their animal at a suitable animal boarding/sheltering facility. Where such facilities are not available, they will be instructed to use a designated facility identified and communicated by the TLDMG at the time of the event.
Domestic animals which are accepted at the designated evacuation centre will remain the responsibility of the owner/keeper for the duration of their stay and must therefore bring with them sufficient supplies including the following items (as a minimum):
- a cage, carrier, or other suitable fully enclosed enclosure that is of sturdy construction to contain the animal (a dog on a lead is not considered as a suitable containment measure)
- a collar and lead to restrain the animal while it is out of its enclosure
- any speciality food required for the animal (only generic-branded animal food will be provisioned by the TLDMG)
- any medication required for the animal.
Consideration will be given to creating clear boundaries between pets and people areas within the centre. Pets will not be permitted to access food preparation, serving, dining, or sleeping areas within the centre.
List of contacts for your emergency plan
Collect contact details of people who may be able to help you with providing a safe place for your pet before, during and after a disaster in your emergency plan, including:
- Pet-friendly places like kennels, catteries and veterinarians.
- Friends and relatives who may be able to shelter your pet during and after the disaster.
The Animal Care and Adoption Centre where stray animals are impounded (0457 769 362).
On days of high risk
During flood, bushfire, severe storm, or cyclone seasons, consider the following:
- If moving animals to a safer place, do so early to avoid unnecessary risk to you and your animals. Remember that late evacuation can be very dangerous.
- You may need to bring pets in early if staying at home or on the farm, or planning to return when a warning is issued, as they have instincts about dangerous conditions and may run away if afraid.
If you are likely to be away from home or your farm while an emergency warning is current, you may need to put your emergency plan into action and take precautions referred to below before you leave.
Evacuating and taking your pet with you
Moving pets to a safer place
If your pets are likely to be at risk, every effort should be made to take them to a safer area in advance of the potential disaster event. Take your pets to relatives, friends or animal boarding facilities in safe areas.
Supplies
Take essential pet supplies with you, including:
- a leash (and, if possible, a muzzle) or a carry-cage, bag or box to restrain your pet
- sufficient non-perishable pet food for several days and feed/water bowls
- toilet litter or old newspapers
- essential medications and first aid kit
- your pet’s medical history and vet contact details.
Review Council’s information sheet Preparing for an Emergency with Pets (PDF, 788.2 KB), which also includes a list of items to include in a pet grab-and-go kit.
Evacuating and leaving your pets behind
If you are evacuating and absolutely unable to take your pets with you, consider the following:
- If possible, leave your pets indoors.
- If pets must be left outside, do not tie them up.
- Do not leave pets in vehicles.
- Provide adequate food and water in large heavy bowls that can't be tipped over. (A slow-dripping tap can supply a constant source of water). In hot conditions, provide more than one bowl of water in case of spillage.
- Make sure all pets are properly identified.
- Tell your neighbours where you can be contacted, where your pets are and what their needs are.
- Leave a note on the front door for Emergency Services indicating what pets they may encounter on the property (how many, where and how you can be contacted).
After the disaster
Because surroundings will have changed following a disaster, animals can be disoriented, frightened or aggressive. Take care when releasing them and do so in a confined area to avoid their escape.
For missing animals, check the Missing Pets and the Animal Care and Adoption Centre webpages. (A recent photograph of your pets will help identify them.)
