To coincide with the upcoming International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on Oct. 9, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is encouraging animal owners to include horses, livestock, and pets in their disaster management plans.

AVA’s National President Ben Gardiner, BVSc, CMAVA, said that if disaster hits, people should be prepared not only for their own safety but for their animal’s welfare as well.

“Those of us who own animals have a legal responsibility to take care of them, and that doesn’t change in an emergency,” he said. “Being prepared is the key—make sure your household emergency plan includes all your animals. Just as natural disasters can be extremely traumatic for people, the same can be true for our livestock and pets. Preparing ahead of time and acting quickly can be the best way to keep yourself, your family and your animals out of harm’s way.”

Like other regions of the world, Australia routinely experiences a wide range of natural disasters each year including bushfires, cyclones, severe storms, heat waves, earthquakes, landslides, and floods