A North Otago initiative designed to consider animal welfare needs during a Civil Defence emergency is likely to be the first of its type in New Zealand, organiser and Civil Defence volunteer Anne Irwin says.
The Waitaki District Council emergency services department is setting up a Disaster Animal Response Team (Dart) as part of its revised Civil Defence emergency management strategy.
While an animal response team was seen as an integral part of emergency response in countries such as the United States, Ms Irwin believed it was the first time a local body had taken such an initiative in New Zealand.
Ms Irwin, who has spearheaded the initiative, said because the Civil Defence emergency strategies were already being reviewed it was seen as timely to introduce the initiative so it could be integrated with overall emergency management.
Ms Irwin said human needs would still take priority over animal needs in an emergency.
However, it was evident when the needs of animals - companion animals and livestock - were attended to it relieved the suffering of their human carers as well as the animals.
And many times, in an emergency, people were reluctant to move to safety if they could not be reassured about the safety of their animals, Ms Irwin said.
She had written on behalf of the council to vets, boarding kennels and catteries, pet shops and pet food suppliers, as well as animal welfare agencies throughout the district to ask them to help form a response team.
Ms Irwin said the team would be developed using American guidelines which would be adapted to "best fit" New Zealand conditions.
The letter said the Waitaki District Council and Civil Defence acknowledged that an added burden and emotional harm was placed on people who might have lost a beloved family pet - in addition to loss of life or property - and that this could slow the recovery from disaster.
"Many companion animals are unlikely to survive and/or may suffer when deprived of their human carers."
"The Waitaki District Council also acknowledges that devastating financial and ongoing damage can occur to livestock-based industry, farms or breeders during a state of emergency as well as long-term effects on the owners of these animals and the animals themselves."
Ms Irwin said much was learned during events such as Hurricane Katrina and the Boxing Day tsunami about the physical and psychological needs of both humans and animals during times of extreme stress and trauma.
Recent crises in the North Island - the late snowfalls and the police emergency in Central Hawke's Bay - had also highlighted animal welfare concerns.
"We just never know in what guise a major incident will occur," Ms Irwin said.
North Otago SPCA manager Dave Barnard said the move was a positive one.
"It is something that's been a long time coming.
"It should have been put in place years ago."
Mr Barnard said the logistics would have to be well thought through.
It would have to be possible to erect temporary shelters, for instance, he said.
"It's not just about cats and dogs."
Many people had horses and goats and there were birds and poultry to be considered, he said.
Ms Irwin said there was much they needed to learn about establishing such a relief operation.
She stressed that at the same time as asking professional people to assist with the team the council was also asking people to prepare their own emergency plans and to give themselves, their families and businesses priority.
Ms Irwin said if anyone would like to become a Civil Defence volunteer or offer their assistance or expertise to the Dart project, they should contact Waitaki District Council Emergency Services manager Chris Raine, telephone (03) 433-0300.