National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan Order 2015

75 Animal welfare

(1)

All animal owners, or persons in charge of animals, should develop their own plans to care for their animals during emergencies.

(2)

At the national and CDEM Group levels, the Ministry for Primary Industries is the agency responsible for—

(a)

co-ordinating the provision of the animal welfare services sub-function (including animal rescue, animal shelter, food, water, husbandry, and veterinary care and other essentials) for all animals, including companion animals, production animals, animals in research, testing, and teaching facilities, zoo and circus animals, and wildlife; and

(b)

co-ordinating the planning for animal welfare in emergencies; and

(c)

maintaining the Government’s reporting and advisory capability on animal welfare in an emergency.

(3)

To provide those services, support from the following agencies at both the national and CDEM Group levels may be required:

(a)

Federated Farmers of New Zealand, to provide direct support and co-ordination services to commercial livestock owners to assist in mitigating animal suffering as a result of an emergency; and

(b)

the New Zealand Companion Animal Council, to provide support services to companion animal owners to assist in mitigating animal suffering as a result of an emergency and returning animals to their owners; and

(c)

the New Zealand Veterinary Association,—

(i)

to provide advice on where veterinary treatment can be obtained; and

(ii)

to provide assistance in alleviating animal suffering through the co-ordination of the provision of advice, feeding, relocation, or sheltering of animals during and after an emergency; and

(iii)

to co-ordinate the provision of trained veterinary personnel to assist in affected areas; and

(iv)

to ensure rapid communication of relevant information to veterinary members and branches, especially to and from affected areas; and

(d)

the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to provide direct support and co-ordination services to companion animal owners to assist in mitigating animal suffering as a result of an emergency; and

(e)

territorial authorities, through animal control or animal services, to provide direct support and co-ordination services to companion animal owners to assist with the care, relocation, and housing of companion animals, and other animals, in response to an emergency; and

(f)

World Animal Protection, which may provide support in the event of a national emergency, if formally requested, in the form of an animal emergency management response (which could take the form of veterinary support, help with setting up and running temporary animal shelters, and provision of animal food).

(4)

Additional agencies listed in The Guide may be required at the national and CDEM Group level to provide animal welfare services.

(5)

The Ministry for Primary Industries will advise local authorities on the disposal of dead animals.

(6)

Medical officers of health and health protection officers will advise local authorities on the public health issues that may result from the death and disposal of animals.