SPAW takes part in animal welfare emergency training
Animal Welfare Emergency Management training took place in Auckland this month.
Gina Kemp from The Ministry for Primary Industries conducted the training, which saw participation from various welfare agencies and government representatives. The course was run with support from IFAW.
The training aimed to equip participants with the skills to assist in providing animal welfare during a Civil Defence Emergency. Emergencies can happen naturally or otherwise including any explosion, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, land movement, flood, storm, cyclone, plague or epidemic. Attendees gained certification in the Companion Animal Welfare Unit Standard 23695.
Topics included the human-animal bond and its implications for emergency personnel, relevant legislation such as the Animal Welfare Act 1999, Codes of Welfare, and more, establishing a temporary animal housing facility, care for animals at the facility, safe handling of companion animals, and procedures for the admission and release of animals, including dealing with affected owners during an emergency.
A fundamental aspect of disaster response involves ensuring people’s safety and securing appropriate shelter for animals until families can either return home or arrange alternative living arrangements for themselves and their pets.
Karen Schade, our founder and long serving advocate for animal welfare in the South Pacific, attended on behalf of SPAW and praised the course for imparting essential information that could be crucial for SPAW in assisting during emergencies in the South Pacific or New Zealand.
