Animal Evac New Zealand Trust |Kararehe Whakawatea

Protecting animals in disaster

A registered charitable trust under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957

3 August 2018

New course to save animals during disaster

When Steve Glassey left Wellington SPCA as CEO last year after leading the rescue of over 1,000 animals from the flooded township of Edgecumbe, he knew that the animals that suffered and drowned because of the disaster, deserved better. The animal rescue operation was the largest animal rescue in New Zealand history and highlighted significant deficiencies in emergency management and animal welfare systems.

Nearly two years on, he along with fellow emergency manager Theresa Parkin, co-founded Animal Evac New Zealand, the country’s first and only dedicated animal disaster management charity to ensure animals are not left behind in future disasters.

“Our mission is very clear. During an emergency, we will help civil defence and emergency services to ensure no animal is left behind during evacuations and provide temporary sheltering for these animals until we can reunite them with their owners. Outside of emergencies, we advocate for improved laws and capability in animal disaster management and encourage communities to ensure an animal inclusive approach is taken to emergency preparedness”.

Tomorrow, the Trust’s first of seven volunteer induction courses (known as the Animal Evac NZ Foundation Course) is being held in Porirua and is being officially opened by Green Party animal welfare spokesperson Gareth Hughes MP. The Trust and Mr Hughes are collaborating on identifying ways the government can create animal inclusive emergency management arrangements. For further information or to donate visit www.animalevac.nz

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