Animal rescue charity Animal Evac NZ is increasingly concerned that people aren’t leaving homes affected by flooding because they want to stay with their animals.

Animal Evac NZ Board Chair Tony Sutorius says people need to know that there are shelters set up in Auckland where animals can go with their owners.

“The Civil Defence shelters in Kelston, Albany and Manurewa all allow people to bring animals right now,” he says. “So people don’t need to stay in flooded homes for their pets.

“Some agencies also have crates and carry-cages that people can borrow to move their animals safely.”

Mr Sutorius says it’s much better for people to take their pets and other animals with them in an emergency.

“This can not only save the animals’ lives, but it means people don’t go back into a dangerous area looking for them,” he says.

“Animals are incredibly important to their families, and having them safe by their sides is very reassuring when people are displaced.”

Animal Evac NZ volunteers are at the Mangere Community Hub on Mascot Road, providing advice to people on keeping their animals safe. They have set up a WhatsApp group for people to ask advice about animal welfare if they can’t get to the Hub, and are also working with iwi groups on door-to-door checks in the community.

Yesterday Animal Evac talked to a number of people who aren’t leaving their homes because they don’t want to leave their pets. Others have left their animals behind because they didn’t know they could take them.

“I’ve heard about one amazing man who not only got his own dogs out of his flooded home, he then went next door and rescued two dogs who were inches from drowning on the end of their chains,” Mr Sutorius says.

“Apparently they were panicking and he got bitten by one of them, but he still got them out.

“We’re concerned that there are both people and animals at risk in Auckland homes because they don’t know there are places they can go with their pets.”

Animal Evac New Zealand is a charitable trust, established in 2018 to provide skilled animal disaster management during emergencies.

Editors notes

There is more information about Animal Evac New Zealand here: https://www.animalevac.nz/.

MPI webpage on helping animals in emergencies: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/animals/animal-welfare/animal-welfare-emergency-management/preparing-animals-for-emergencies/.

Civil Defence Centres:

• West: Leonards Road School, 15 Saint Leonards Road, Kelston
• North: Massey University Albany Campus, Sir Neil Walters Lecture Theatre, Massey University East Precinct, Albany Expressway SH17
• South: Mana Tukutuku, 32 Riverton Drive, Randwick Park

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