Victorian bushfire update

PetRescue is providing assistance to rescue groups, providing specific items that they need to help families affected by the Victoria fires.

Understandably, many of the people who are now in relief centres, want to keep their pets with them during this traumatic time and one of the first requests to us was for pet crates. Jet Pets immediately came to our aid and kindly donated and delivered enough crates to allow people to keep their pets with them in their temporary accommodation – with larger crates being taken by the vets on scene to house some of the animals they have previously been keeping tents!

We’d like to send a huge thank you to Jet Pets on behalf of all the owners who can now keep their pets safe.

One of our Rescue groups allowed into the area has begun the task of door knocking to those people who are still in their homes to ask what assistance they may need for their animals.  This is allowing them to offer help on an individual basis and is making a big difference to these people and their ability to cope with the situation.

Some stories from today;

One home they visited, a women's autistic child repeatedly went outside to call the two family dogs.  She asked the group to take the bodies of the dogs so she could begin to explain to her boy that they had died.

A family who couldn’t find their cats before they were forced to leave their house, believed both their cats had perished, but when they went back to the site of their house they thought they heard faint meows.  Encouraged they left a donated crate with food and water.  Returning the next day they found not one but both cats, hiding in the crate.

An older lady alone in her home simply asked for help to bury her pet duck.

We are now receiving reports of cats who have managed to survive by hiding themselves down holes and under water tanks during the fires, starting to re-appear looking for their human families. These cats are frightened and often difficult to reunite with their owners.  Rescue groups have bought cat traps into the area to begin the task of finding and reuniting pets with their owners, or beginning the process of rehabilitation and rehoming.

During the summer months RSPCA shelters are already overrun with cats and kittens so Rescue Groups will be offering shelter, vet care, rehabilitation and long term foster care to these animals or in fact any animals already in the shelters to make room for the fire affected pets. 

Presently, Victorian legislation does not allow for the transfer of animals between rescue organisations and has strict holding periods, but when there is devastation on such a huge scale these rules must be suspendered to allow pets to be cared for and rehomed.

Although a bushfire disaster brings unimaginable suffering it is heart warming to know that with the hundreds of offers of foster care and Victorian Rescue Groups already extensive network of carers, there is no need for any pet to die due to lack of resources.

If we all pull together we can ensure that these and other pets are saved and given a second chance. Stay tuned for more updates!

Cheers,
The PetRescue Team

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