Excluding animals from emergency planning can have deadly consequences for animals and people.
The B.C. government needs your input to create emergency management regulations that keep us all safe. Whether you’ve been directly impacted by an emergency or not, your knowledge and experience as an animal lover are vitally important.
Four years ago, over 23,000 British Columbians joined us as we asked the provincial government to include animals in modernized emergency management – and they listened! Now is our chance to help the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness create regulations that better protect people and animals in our province before, during and after an emergency.
Please add your recommendations below to help provincial and local governments to give animals a better chance in an emergency:
Here’s some guiding questions to help craft your response:
- Have you experienced an evacuation or other impact from an emergency? How did that affect the animals in your care?
- Are you, or the animals in your care, particularly vulnerable to an emergency? What could help reduce that vulnerability?
Examples might be animals that are difficult to transport, or identifying as a senior or a person with a disability. - How could provincial and local governments help you remove or reduce hazards before an emergency, or better prepare for an emergency?
Examples might be help getting insurance, providing information on the likelihood of an emergency in your community and how to prepare for it, and addressing conditions (like erosion, floodplains or steep slopes) that make your community more vulnerable to an emergency. - What would you and the animals in your care need during an emergency?
Examples might be help finding pet-friendly temporary accommodations or access to food, supplies and veterinary care. - How could provincial and local governments help restore the health, safety, well-being and resilience of you and the animals in your care after an emergency?
Examples might be help rebuilding pens or fencing or replacing food or supplies, or information and resources to help you ‘build back better’ to avoid future risks.
+More information on emergency management in British Columbia.