Animal welfare in natural disasters
Who to contact about animals during natural disasters:
- For sick or injured animals or livestock, contact your local vet.
- For lost and found pets, contact your local council.
- To find the owners of lost livestock, contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) online, by phone or in person.
Severe weather patterns, including floods, cyclones and bushfires, can have serious impacts on Queensland homes and properties.
After human safety, the welfare of your animals should be your most important consideration in the event of a natural disaster.
All owners and carers have a duty of care to provide appropriate food, water, shelter and treatment for their animals.
There are many actions that you can take before a natural disaster to help ensure the welfare of your animals. There are also simple steps to follow when addressing the needs of animals during, and after, a natural disaster.
Get Ready Queensland's Livestock severe weather emergency plan (PDF, 2.2MB) contains tips on preparing your property and livestock for all types of severe weather events.
The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is flexible during natural disasters, so cattle owners and producers have a number of options for dealing with displaced cattle.
This guide will help you protect the safety and welfare of your animals before, during and after a natural disaster in Queensland.