New Provincial Plan will Improve Safety for Pets during Evacuations
Following the 2016 wildfire in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, a number of recommendations were made to improve emergency planning in Alberta. One of these recommendations focussed on how to safely evacuate companion animals.
Numerous groups, including Provincial Emergency Social Services (now part of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency), the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, AUMA, and animal welfare organizations are developing an operational plan, known as the Companion Animal Disaster Response Capability (CADRC). This plan will guide municipalities on how to provide emergency care to animals during an evacuation.
The CADRC covers logistical issues, such as:
- support to local authorities in organizing the evacuation, temporary care and reunification of companion animals;
- support to first responders, bylaw, and peace officers in conducting the rescue and recovery of companion animals from evacuated residences; and
- the establishment of regional and provincial CADRC animal care facilities.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs recently endorsed the CADRC. To operationalize this plan, local authorities will be required to perform a number of actions, such as identifying a companion animal lead in their emergency management plans and integrate planning for companion animals into their evacuation plans.
As part of developing the CADRC, several resources have been identified to support local authorities as they carry out these activities. These resources include a roster of animal welfare organizations that can be called on to assist during an emergency and a software tool to assist in registering and tracking individual animals as they are checked into an animal care facility. The plan can be viewed here. Any questions regarding the CADRC can be forwarded to advocacy [at] auma.ca (advocacy[at]auma[dot]ca)
