Hey Woofa’s,

It’s been devastating watching the flooding unfold in New South Wales and Queensland right now.

People have already lost so much in the pandemic now they’re losing homes and businesses and it’s heart wrenching.

I heard somewhere that ‘in devastation you look for the good‘, well to say that communities have banded together to help each other is an understatement.

People are going above and beyond to come together to help each other at this time and it’s heartwarming.

Not only that they’re helping get pets, livestock and any animal that needs help, to safer grounds.

Others are opening up their businesses as safe havens for people who have lost everything!

Humanity has found it’s way back.

Watching the flooding got me thinking about what I would do in that situation, what would you grab if you knew you’d be losing everything soon.

First would be Billy, then this got me wondering about Plans for situations like this!

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR PETS  IN A FLOOD/FIRE EMERGENCY?

A PLAN –  you need a PLAN in place BEFORE something like this happens.

Especially if you live in an area that’s prone to flooding or fires.   Although, even if you don’t live in an area like this, it’s always good to have an emergency plan in place!

Your Plan should not only include what you should do for your family in an emergency, but it should include your pets.

No matter what the size of your pets, horses, cattle, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, chickens etc EVERYONE should be included in your PLAN to keep everyone safe.

Practice your plan more than once.

Let others know in your family, discuss possibilities with them, join community groups so you can all come together and plan together.

YOUR PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE –

• early re-location of all your pets to somewhere safe- where will they be safest?
• where are you going to actually take your pets – family, friends, centres available for animals etc.
• how you’re going to transport them safely there – do you need horse trailers, pet crates etc?
• are your pets easily identifiable – microchips, tags, photos?
• the way you’re going to transport them to safer grounds – are the roads you will travel safe?
• how will you keep up to date on what is occurring – winds change fires change course, floods rise quickly you need to stay aware of this!
• do you have enough food to keep your pets fed and watered for at least 7-14 days, included in your plan?  Feed tins, dishes, leads, collars, bedding etc?
• do you have medications for all family members including pets, as well as a first aid kit?
• this stuff needs to be easy to grab or have a checklist readily available.
• have a list of all family members, friends, community groups that this has previously been discussed with and practiced on hand and ready to call.

HOW TO PUT AN EMERGENCY PLAN IN PLACE?

There are a lot of emergency service places that can assist in putting an effective flood/fire emergency plan in place.

This information is thanks to a brochure I found on line called –