Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter
Send news

News tags

mental health  physical activity  earthquake  vacancies  families  public health  children  funding  poverty  health determinants  social  Community development  planning  employment  healthy cities  volunteers  newsletter  youth  volunteering  nutrition  employment opportunity  housing  alcohol and drugs  maori  community engagement  rebuilding  wellbeing  disabilities  Lectures  counselling  Training  earthquake recovery  sustainability  event  community gardens  Community  seminar  Awards  stress  Community Groups  mens health  research  arts  smokefree  culture  men  exercise  migrants  community event  education  environment  resilience  human rights  health  medical  business  sport  conferences  survey  mental wellbeing  Courses  obesity  elderly  support group  environmental health  healthy food  health promotion  violence  pacific health  resources  rebuild  women  race relations  meeting  gardens  workshop  services  leadership  forum  water  disabled  repair  transport  prevention  pacific  dance  fundraising  asian health  sexual health  inequality  cancer  support  disasters  development  mindfulness  dementia  presentation  collaboration  health in all policies  data analysis  recovery  smoking  law  drugs and alcohol  technology  safety  cycling  Sleep  policy  parenting  media  hearing  walking  land  neighbours  social justice  qualification  resilient cities  information  community connection  consultation  oral health  bullying  depression  youth empowerment  young people  activities  non-profit  charity  harm  NURSES  addiction  disease  Communication  alcohol  symposium  submission  anxiety  accessibility  Relationships  eating  economics  Advocacy  eLearning  falls  parking  energy  efficiency  heating  insulation  advice  Eating Disorders  abuse  waste  Matariki  webinar  diabetes  workplace  Film  Climate Change  solutions  urban  management  economy  plan  restoration  Report  Vulnerability  welfare  parks  learning  awareness  emergencies  legislation  injury prevention  reading  Meeting Room  conservation  language  refugees  recreation  built environment  data  venue  urban design  Food  older people  finances  suicide  heritage  gender  recycling  breastfeeding  public  identity  Nursing  submissions  Rainbow  biodiversity  campaign  promotion  Gut Health  diversity  therapy  older adults  sexuality  computing  pollution  School Holidays  Arts Therapy  providers  gambling  Maori health  Cervical cancer  screening  trauma  autism  Governance  treaty of waitangi  care  mentoring  pets  relaxation  Professional Development  pornography  exhibition  history  discrimination  vaping  equity  lockdown  grief  rural  hygiene  participation  tourism  summer  intervention  warning  podcast  science  petition  swimming  roadworks  traffic  wildlife  beaches  pools  immunisation  vaccination  brain  preparation  open day  market  evaluation  noise  music  property  testing  crafts  CALD  cultural diversity  camping  creativity  child health  tamariki  climate action  Pasifika  refugee  migrant  community events  road safety  library  Hornby  skills  placemaking  regenerative communities  journey  reflection  regional council  councillors  water management  emergency management  retirement  stress management  Christmas  family  festival  alcohol harm  waterways  planting  health protection  legionnaire's disease  hepatitis  heatwaves  river beds  water safety  fishing  gardening  workshops  stormwater  biosecurity  volunteer  plant and animal pest management  politics  faith  crime  drugs  pregnancy  native birds  Waimakariri  water quality  schools  early childhood  health professionals  heart disease  kura  school  ethical issues  rangatahi  Linwood  running  donations  whanau  financial pressures  online  health professional  flooding  conflict  peace  winter  agriculture 

Animal welfare lessons from ChCh quakes revealed

Wednesday, December 3, 2014   Posted in: Earthquake By: Administrator With tags: earthquake, emergencies

Unviersity of Canterbury media release: 1st December 2014

Cover image for the book, Animals in Emergencies: Learning from the Christchurch earthquakes.A new book that explores the impact of the Christchurch earthquakes on animals, and the lessons we can learn in animal welfare from the natural disaster, has been published by Canterbury University Press.

Animals in Emergencies: Learning from the Christchurch earthquakes, co-authored by Associate Professor Annie Potts and former veterinary nurse Donelle Gadenne, both researchers at Canterbury University’s New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies, provides a detailed historical record of what happened to many animals in the Christchurch earthquakes in September 2010 and February 2011.

The book includes stories of front-line rescuers, shelter workers and animal advocates who saved and sheltered animals during and after the earthquakes. This work involved a range of species, from cats, dogs, horses and parrots to rats, hedgehogs and turtles. The book also confronts issues relating to wildlife, zoo animals and farmed animals in emergency situations, including those who were affected by the earthquakes.

Animals in Emergencies focuses on animal welfare in emergencies and includes guidelines on how people can protect their animals. The book also provides an illustrated narrative history of how animals and people helped each other following the Christchurch earthquakes, and provides important information on ensuring safety and welfare of different species during natural disasters.

Annie Potts and Donelle Gadenne say they wanted to write the book as a tribute to those from Christchurch and other parts of New Zealand who saved and cared for thousands of the city's affected animals.

“When the first earthquake struck in September 2010, I was absolutely appalled at the reported high number of animal fatalities including 3000 chickens, eight cows, one dog, a lemur and 150 aquarium fish,” Professor Potts says.

“This struck me as preventable and inexcusable, and made me start thinking more about animal welfare and advocacy in disasters. And then, when the tragic February earthquake happened, I was very conscious of the human lives lost in such traumatic ways, but I also thought about how the city's animals would be adversely affected.

“Early on there were reports of concerned guardians of companion cats and dogs trying to break through cordons into the red zoned CBD to rescue the animals they'd had to leave behind or couldn't return to. Many stories of human and animal courage and survival, as well as bereavement and displacement, were emerging each day in the news.

“We share our city and our lives with all kinds of species who were also profoundly affected by the quakes and liquefaction, and so over a period of months I thought it would be both a fitting tribute to these animals and to those who rescued and cared for them, if some record of their experiences also existed and could hopefully improve emergency procedures involving animals in future catastrophes,” she says.

Professor Potts said she hopes the book will teach readers about the importance of preparing for the welfare and safety of all family members, including companion animals, should disaster strike.

“The thing about emergencies is that we cannot predict exactly when they will occur, so it's important to be prepared well in advance. One of our main aims with the book is to raise awareness and educate people about the awful impacts natural or human-made disasters can have on animals incarcerated in farms and laboratories,” she says.

Animals inEmergencies: Learning from the Christchurch earthquakes, by Annie Potts and Donelle Gadenne , Published by Canterbury University Press, November 2014, RRP $39.99, Paperback, 288 pp, ISBN: 978-1-927145-50-0.