If an emergency happened today, do you have a plan in place to save yourself, your family, and your animals? Learn how to prepare to ensure the welfare of your animals during a disaster, such as an earthquake or flood.

Protecting animals in emergencies

Your animals are your responsibility. You need to include them in your emergency planning and preparation. Prepare an emergency plan that covers the major disasters that could affect animals in your family, farm, or workplace.

Discuss your plan, record it, and practice it with your family and co-workers. Keep your plan somewhere it can be easily seen. In your household, this could be on the fridge or by the front door. In a farm or animal facility, this could be kept in a dairy shed, stable, or shearing shed.

Use our checklists for different types of animals and emergencies

We recommend you download copies of these checklists and include them as part of your emergency kit.

Planning for pets  [PDF, 279 KB]

Planning for livestock and horses [PDF, 315 KB]

Planning for an assistance or guide dog [PDF, 191 KB]

Planning for lifestyle block animals [PDF, 331 KB] 

Checklists for specific emergencies such as fires, earthquakes, or floods are also available.

Animals affected by fire [PDF, 171 KB]

Animals affected by earthquake [PDF, 181 KB]

Animals affected by flood [PDF, 175 KB]

Animals affected by a snowstorm [PDF, 183 KB]

Animals affected by a heat wave [PDF, 184 KB]

Animals affected by a volcanic eruption [PDF, 178 KB]

Animals affected by dry or drought conditions [PDF, 188 KB]

MPI emergency preparation guides for your animals

Animals in emergencies – Lifestyle blocks [PDF, 508 KB]

Animals in emergencies – Horses [PDF, 449 KB]

Animals in emergencies – Pets [PDF, 537 KB]

Animals in emergencies – Livestock  [PDF, 640 KB]

You can also order free emergency plans online and have them sent to you.

Order brochures from our animal welfare catalogue 

Other resources for animals in emergencies

Plan for your pets and other animals – Get Ready 

Wallet card: My animals are home alone [PDF, 156 KB]

Prepare a first aid kit for animals

It's good to have a suitable first aid kit handy in case animals are injured during an emergency. Your household first aid kit may contain supplies that can be used for animals. Use our first aid kit for animals checklist to make sure you have everything you need.

Download the first aid kit for animals checklist [PDF, 283 KB]

Who to contact

If you have questions about animals in emergencies:

• phone 0800 00 83 33
• email [email protected]