The Animal Welfare Branch of the Department of Primary Industry and Resources reminds pet owners to plan for the care of their pets during the cyclone season.

Advance planning will help keep your family and animals safe. Cyclones are stressful for pets as well as people. Animals react differently under stress. Even the most trustworthy pets may panic, hide, try to escape, or even bite or scratch.

Keep your pets safe during the cyclone season

For more information visit www.securent.nt.gov.au or contact Animal Welfare on 1300 720 386

Prepare an emergency pet pack with:• petfoodforaminimumofthreedays,with

bowlsandtreatsincansorwaterproofcontainers

• potablewaterinplasticbottles• acanopenerforcannedfood• petmedicationsandmedicalrecordsina

waterproofcontainer• sturdyleashesorcarrierssoyoucanmove

yourpetssafelyandtheycan’tescape• recentphotosofyourpetincasetheyget

lost• thenameanddetailsofyourveterinarian• petbedsandtoys,ifthereisroom.

If you decide to stay at home with your pets:• bepreparedfordisruptiontopower,water,

andcommunication• bringtheanimalsinsideandkeepthemin

asecureroomwheretheyaresafeandcomfortable

• encouragecalmpetbehaviourwithpraiseandattention—closetheblinds,putonaradio,anddistractpetswithgamesandfood

• ratherthantryingtosoothandcomfortobviouslyscaredpets,becheerfulandincontroltodemonstratethatnothingiswrong

• ensureyouhaveanadequatesupplyoffoodandwater

• ensureatoiletlittertrayornewspapersareprovided

• providebedding.

PETS & CYCLONES

PETS & CYCLONES

Going to a shelter with petsMostemergencysheltersdonotallowpets,butsomeundercovercarparksintheDarwinregionaredesignatedasplaceswhereresidentscanshelterintheircarswiththeirpets,providedtheyareproperlyrestrained.Carrybirds,rabbits,guineapigs,mice,snakes,lizards,etc.,incages,secureboxeswithairholes,orinpillowcasestiedtightly.

Thecarparkswerebuilttocodebuttheyarenotdesignedasemergencyshelters.Theydonothavesupportingstaff,arenotfullyenclosed,arewithoutamenities,anddonothavedebrisscreens.Vehiclesandpetsmaynotbeleftunattended.

FormoreinformationaboutemergencysheltersintheTerritoryvisitwww.securent.nt.gov.au

Leaving pets behindLeavepetsathomeonlywhenitisnotpossibletomovetheminadvance.Considerleavingpetswithfriends,kennels,andanimalsheltersoutsidethedangerzone.Ifyouhavetoleaveyourpetsathome:• donottiepetsup• confinethemtoseparateroomswithsmallor

nowindows• theroomshouldbedarkenedandthedoor

closed• ensurethereisadequatefoodandwater—

ideallyinseverallarge,heavybowls• provideatoiletlittertrayornewspapers• providebedding• leaveanoteontheinsideofthefrontdoor

statingwherethepetsare,howmanyareinthehouseandwhattypeofanimaltheyare

• tellyourfamily,friends,orneighboursaboutyourevacuationplansincaseyouareaway.

Horses and livestock, stay or relocate?Thedecisiontorelocatelivestockmustbemadeearly,asalateevacuationcouldincreasethechanceofinjuryordeath.Assessthelivestock’senvironmenttodetermineitssuitabilityduringthecycloneanduptothreedaysafter.

Therisksyoushouldconsiderintheeventofacycloneinclude:• thelocationandaccessibilityoftheproperty

(closetomainroads,accessroadnotpronetoflooding)

• theconditionandplacementofthestable,yardsandfences(fencesingoodrepair,potentialforflyingobjectsordebrisattheproperty)

• inaflood,assessyourabilitytomoveanimalstohighgroundwithadequatenaturalfeed.Additionalfeedmayberequiredforstockthat’sstranded

• theresourcesavailabletocombatacyclone(accesstolocalemergencyassistance,helpfromothers).

Staying with horses and livestockIfyouleaveyourlivestockinastable,ensureitiswellconstructed.Leavethehorseinasoundstructurewiththesurroundingareawellsecuredandlooseobjectsstoredortieddown.

Ifyouleaveyourlivestockinapaddock,thefencesneedtobeingoodrepairsoanimalsdon’ttaketheopportunitytoboltiftheyarefrightened.Ifleavinganimalsinapaddockorstable:• placealightrugandbellbootsonhorses• leaveanadequatesupplyofdrinkingwater• markgatesandwaterlocationsonamapof

yourpropertyincasesomeonehastomovestockforyou.

IdentificationRegardlessofyourplan,ensurethatpetsandanimalsareproperlyidentifiedwithanametagincludingcontactphonenumber,amicro-chip,orabrand.

Following a cycloneBecausesurroundingswillhavechangedfollowingadisaster,animalscanbedisoriented,frightenedoraggressive.Takecarewhenreleasingthem,anddosoinaconfinedareatoavoidtheirescape.