Leading the way in pet preparedness

Research into animal emergency management shows that furry friends – pets and livestock – influence people’s behaviour in natural hazard emergencies.

Dr Mel Taylor from Macquarie University leads the CRC research project Managing animals in disasters: improving preparedness, response, and resilience through individual and organisational collaboration, which has identified best practice approaches for the management of pets and livestock during emergencies.

The study is now in the utilisation phase, focusing on participation in a range of community events to promote research outcomes.

At the Sydney Dog Lovers Show at Olympic Park on 3 and 4 August, Dr Taylor worked on the New South Wales State Emergency Service stand to promote animal preparedness. A search dog in training, Zali, was also on the booth, alongside Sue Pritchard from the NSW SES and Leeane Raines, Emergency Management Officer from NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Dr Taylor explained that community events like this are particularly useful to engage people with preparedness as there is an ease when it comes to animals.

“People feel responsible for their animals. They understand the vulnerability of their animals in natural hazard emergencies and want to plan for them,” Dr Taylor.

Dr Taylor also attended the Horse Owner Emergency Preparedness Open Day on 14 July, supporting Infrastructure NSW and NSW SES with work related to the Hawkesbury-Nepean Floodplain strategy.

Dr Taylor with members of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Floodplain strategy team and NSW SES at the Horse Owner Emergency Preparedness Open Day 2019

Further afield in Tasmania, Dr Taylor participated in ‘Giddy-up Get Ready Huon!’ - a local event hosted by the Tasmania Fire Service on 31 August, in collaboration with local government, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment and Red Cross. The community’s recent experiences of bushfire involved the evacuation of the community and hundreds of animals. The event used lessons learned to provide essential advice on disaster emergency planning for pets and livestock through displays, presentations and demonstrations.

Dr Taylor explained that developing networks and connecting people across Australia have been essential to achieving wide uptake of the research.

"Networks are essential. While academics aren't the drivers, we can be the glue. At this point we are facilitating, connecting and supporting utilisation across many states to improve the management of animals in emergencies," said Dr Taylor.