Protect Your Pet in the Case of Natural Disaster

Protect your pet in a disaster. Don’t put them at risk. Make a disaster plan now.

Disasters can strike at any time and without warning. If disaster were to strike today, would you have a plan to save you and your animals?

With the fifth anniversary of the Christchurch Earthquake (22 February 2011) and the recent earthquake activity in the area World Animal Protection and local Animates stores, nationwide, are urging all New Zealand pet owners to plan for their pets in a disaster now; with a free online resource:protectyourpet.org.nz.

By visiting the website, New Zealand pet owners can download free Disaster Planning Packs, with simple and practical advice to help them plan for their pet - whether they have dogs, cats, small animals (rats, mice and guinea pigs), rabbits, fish, birds, horses or Assistance/Guide Dogs.

For more than 50 years World Animal Protection has been protecting animals from disasters. Whilst working with communities, individuals and governments around the world to help their animals, the organisation has seen many people put themselves at risk by refusing to evacuate without their animals, as they do not have a plan. Disaster plans for animals can save not only the lives of animals but also the lives of pet owners (and rescue teams alike).

“Pets are part of our family in New Zealand, just like animals are part of families and communities around the world. That’s why pets should be included in your family disaster plan. Only in the last week, we have been reminded that disasters can and do happen in New Zealand; and without warning. Making a plan now could therefore help stop delays or panicked decisions being made when a disaster strikes. By saving precious time in a disaster; your pet plan could end up saving the life of your entire family” says Nicola Beynon, Head of Campaigns, at World Animal Protection, New Zealand.

As a company Animates has personally felt the effects of a disaster with the 6.3 magnitude earthquake which caused severe damage in the Christchurch city centre in 2011. At the time, its support office was based in Christchurch along with Animates Tower Junction, Animates Papanui and Animates Moorhouse Avenue which unfortunately had to be closed due to extensive damage.

During this time Animates used a disaster plan to safely move animals who were in-store to other locations while raising over $25,000 to support local charities who were responding to animals in need during this time. Having experienced first-hand the importance of having a disaster plan in place, Animates is now striving to share this message to pet owners so that they too can be prepared.

Pet owners in New Zealand have a legal responsibility to keep their animals safe in a disaster. World Animal Protection and Animates stores nationwide are therefore urging every pet owner in the country to download the free disaster planning packs and make that plan today; before it could be too late.

The free online resource protectyourpet.org.nz has been developed by World Animal Protection in conjunction with the Ministry for Civil Defence & Emergency Management, Ministry for Primary Industries, Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New Zealand Veterinary Association and other agencies in the National Animal Welfare Emergency Management Advisory Group (NAWEM)*.

ENDS

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