The Town of Kwinana has an Animal Welfare Plan to assist the community during an emergency. Council Rangers work closely with the RSPCA, local vets and animal shelters to ensure all pets and animals are safe and well cared for during a crisis.
Emergency planning for pets and livestock
At a time of emergency, ensuring your pets and livestock are safe and secure is of great importance to most animal owners. Planning and preparation is essential so that you and your family are able to move quickly and easily.
Identification of your animals
As part of your preparation, it is extremely important to ensure that your animals wear identification or that their cage is clearly marked with your contact details. Dogs and cats should always wear collars with an identification tag, livestock is to be branded or earmarked and birds should have leg bands.
Microchipping animals is an increasingly popular way of ensuring your pet can be easily identified should it become separated from you. A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected into the fatty tissues of the animal. The chip contains your personal contact details and information that can be easily retrieved by the use of a scanner. Please consult your local veterinarian regarding this service.
Prepare emergency supplies
Animal food, water, bowls, toys, beds, blankets and other items should all be kept as part of your emergency kit. If your animals require special medication, be sure to keep an extra supply handy. It is also recommended that you keep an animal first-aid book in your emergency kit. Animal carriers and leashes should be easily accessible and horse floats and other vehicle animal carriers should be available at short notice.
Mend fences
Fences should be checked and repaired immediately, before your pets are in a situation where they'll be desperate to escape danger. A small hole that they ignore now could seem like a path to freedom during an emergency. Unfortunately escaped pets are generally panicking and they may run straight into the path of a vehicle.
If your pet is kept in an outside run, make sure it is in a location where falling debris (trees, roof tiles, power lines, chimney bricks etc) will not be of danger to your animal.
Identifty sources of help now
Veterinary and animal specialist contact details should be kept with your emergency kit so that if your animal is injured, lost or even just needs a home for the night, you have details on hand. It is also worth asking friends and family whether their house can be a place of refuge for your animals is ever needed.
Livestock in fire and flood emergencies
Flood. Endeavour to move livestock away from the affected area. If this is not possible, try to move livestock to higher ground and ensure there is access to food.
Fire. Livestock is considered a high priority by fire brigades, however owners should endeavour to relocate animals if safe and possible. If left near the fire, move them to an area where firebreaks are in good condition and there is little fuel loading such as grass, bushes and structures. A barren, fenced area with adequate water and reticulation is most preferable.
Attempting to rescue animals
Sadly each year lives are lost when people try to rescue their pet in an emergency. If you are not at home when an emergency occurs and are concerned about the safety of your pet, contact the Rangers on 9439 0200 or 0411 078 264. If/when possible they will check on your animals.
To avoid endangering yourself and others trying to rescue you, never ignore advice at road blocks. Talk to the authorities as there is a possibility that they may be able to assist you in getting home to check on your pet.
