It’s important to prepare your pets before a natural disaster, read more here about preparing your Pet Emergency Plan and Pet Emergency Kit.
You can learn more here about preparing for severe wet weather with helpful tips on how to protect your pets, prevent boredom and who to call in cases of emergencies.
Listen to your local Council and Authorities for when it is safe to return to your home.
It’s best to assess the extent of the damage to your property before heading home with animals as you may need to remove potential hazards and rubbish, clean your property and fix damaged property like fencing.
Ensure your pets have access to clean, dry and undamaged areas where they can be safe and secure when you return home.
Animals returning to properties must have appropriate shelter from the elements.
Ensure any contaminated food sources are removed, there may be deceased animals and other rubbish found in debris that can be harmful if eaten.
During and after flooding, water can be contaminated and spread disease. Your pet will need access to clean, fresh water throughout a natural disaster and once you’ve returned home.
Check with your Council that your water sources aren’t contaminated before returning home. Read how to disinfect animal areas after flooding.
Animals affected by natural disasters may be traumatised and spooked easily. If possible, only return your animals home after repairs and rubbish have been removed from your property.
The clean-up period can be noisy in your area with pressure washers and other machinery like generators in full swing.
Monitor the health and safety of your pets once you return home and reach out to your vet immediately if you have any pet health concerns.
During and after floods, your livestock can be exposed to trauma and injury.
Livestock can also suffer from foot disease from prolonged wet weather. Read more about risks to your horses, cattle and sheep here and how to prevent it.
Your livestock can also catch infectious diseases such as blackleg and lepto infections as well as botulism which is a progressive paralysis.
If you have sheep, prolonged wetness of wool can lead to skin infections.
Read more about these issues and how you can minimise risks to your animals.
As the Communications & Media Manager for RSPCA Qld, Emma's passionate about making a real difference and believes every animal has a story to share. She has over nine years experience working in animal welfare and is the voice for the RSPCA on digital, print and broadcast channels.
