New training to help companion animals in disasters

29 July 2008

(Sydney, Australia) - Animal rescuers from across Queensland will gather in Brisbane over the next two days to attend an Animal Disaster Response workshop, the first of its kind to be dedicated specifically to providing emergency relief for companion & livestock animals affected by natural disasters in Australia.

IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) was specifically requested to run the training by the RSPCA as IFAW’s emergency relief teams are internationally recognised as one of the leaders in directing disaster operations.

When disaster strikes, IFAW teams are often the first on the ground carrying out search and rescue and vaccination and feeding programs. Helping animals in disasters improves the welfare of people affected. Rescuing, feeding and inoculating their pets and livestock helps people to get back on their feet, provides much needed food supply and helps to stop the spread of disease.

“Natural disasters often bring tremendous suffering to many hundreds and thousands of lives,” said Tania Duratovic, IFAW Asia Pacific’s Emergency Relief Responder. “Effective inoculation and humane handling of animals in a disaster is a scientifically proven method to prevent disease,” added Ms Duratovic. “For many human victims, their family animal or livestock maybe all they have left. Saving these animals is vitally important for people to get their livelihood back, to heal and to find comfort in the aftermath of the disaster.”

This two day workshop will cover all aspects of managing a disaster – from command and operations, to planning, logistics and finance. Representatives from all over Queensland are attending.

The training is being conducted by internationally renowned emergency response expert Dr. Dick Green. Dick has responded to over 100 disasters and was involved in efforts at hurricane Katrina, the recent earthquake in China, as well as the tsunami in SE Asia in 2005. Dick has trained hundreds of responders in disaster prevention and response and his teams have rescued thousands of animals from floods, tornadoes, fires, and hurricanes. Dick is currently the Emergency Response Manager for Disasters for IFAW, based in the United States, and has travelled to Australia especially to share his expertise and provide this essential training.

This training follows on from the annual National Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference which took place in Canberra last week, where IFAW ran a similar workshop for wildlife carers focusing on rescuing native wildlife from disasters.

For media-related inquiries, contact:
Kerry Glenn, IFAW Asia Pacific Communications Officer
Tel: +61 9288 4993
Mobile: 0437 414 329
Email: kglenn@ifaw.org