Research leader

Dr Mel Taylor Research Leader

Research team

Dr Kirrilly Thompson
Dr Kirrilly Thompson Research Team
Penny Burns
Dr Penny Burns Research Team
Greg Eustace
Greg Eustace Research Team

End User representatives

Peter Cinque
Peter Cinque End-User
Andrew Stark
Andrew Stark End-User
Suellen Flint
Suellen Flint End-User
Michael Hodder End-User
Sandra Barber
Sandra Barber End-User
Simon Goodwin End-User
Michelle Coombe End-User
Phil Canham End-User
Andrew Richards
Andrew Richards End-User

Student researchers

Rachel Westcott
Dr Rachel Westcott Student Reseacher

During a disaster responsibility for animals lies with the owner. However, owners are often ill-prepared for themselves and their animals, which can lead to people risking their lives by failing to evacuate or evacuating too late, which endangers both human and animal lives. This recognition that animals need to be considered and integrated into emergency management and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery poses additional challenges for traditional responding. Extra preparation, knowledge and skills are required to ensure the safety of animals, their owners, and responders.

In this context, animal emergency management has emerged as a relatively new area, with a more complex and often less experienced set of stakeholders requiring integration and coordination.

Most research in the area has emerged from the United States following extensive and widely-reported animal-related challenges associated with Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Although animal owners in the US and Australia will share many of the same characteristics and behaviours, the emergency management arrangements and typical scale of disasters are quite different, making translation of US research to Australia difficult.

The National Strategy for Disaster Resilience states that communities should be empowered to take shared responsibility for disaster resilience. Animals provide an avenue to connect communities, and to enable community members to work together in disaster preparedness and planning.

This study addressed the lack of Australian research by identifying challenges for end-users and studying the disaster experiences of animal owners and responders. Subsequent publications have led to an extended knowledge base, and identification of best practice approaches.

Case studies were undertaken on the 2015 Sampson Flat bushfire in South Australia, as well as with the Tasmania Fire Service and its Bushfire Ready Neighbourhoods program. The team collaborated with a newly-formed community-led group in the NSW Blue Mountains called Blue Mountains Animal Ready Community (Blue ARC). The research explored a ‘community-to- community’ approach to enhancing awareness, preparedness and planning for animals in emergencies.

Key findings show that over 60% of respondents expected the emergency services would provide information or advice regarding what they could do with their animals in an emergency situation. This expectation was higher than other groups, such as veterinarians or the RSPCA. A generally low level of planning was reflected in the experiences of those who had evacuated during the 2013 fires. Although most respondents reported taking animals with them when they evacuated, some reported leaving a person behind to look after the animals, and others had to choose which animals to leave.

This research will inform the production of a community guide to establishing an animal ready community; a resource that could be used by other communities to promote emergency preparedness and planning through a focus on animals. This will include helpful advice for the steps involved, the networks and collaborations required, how to identify the needs of local animal owners, and suggestions for community activities.

Read the final report here.

Year Type Citation
2017 Journal Article Westcott, R., Ronan, K., Bambrick, H. & Taylor, M. "Don’t Just Do Something .. Stand There!" Emergency Responders’ Peri-Incident Perceptions of Animal Owners in Bushfire. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 4, (2017).
2016 Journal Article Trigg, J., Thompson, K., Smith, B. P. & Bennett, P. A moveable beast: subjective influence of human-animal relationships on risk perception and risk behaviour during bushfire threat. The Qualitative Report 21, 1881-1903 (2016).
2016 Journal Article Trigg, J., Thompson, K., Smith, B. P. & Bennett, P. An animal just like me: the importance of preserving the identities of companion-animal owners in disaster contexts. Social and Personality Psychology Compass 10, 26-40 (2016).
2015 Report Taylor, M., Eustace, G. & McCarthy, M. Animal Emergency Management in Australia. (2015).
2018 Journal Article Taylor, M. & McCarthy, M. Animal emergency management in South Australia: a case study of the Sampson Flat bushfire. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 33, (2018).
2017 Journal Article Thompson, K., Trigg, J. & Smith, B. P. Animal ownership among vulnerable populations in regional South Australia: implications for natural disaster preparedness and resilience. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice 23, 59-63 (2017).
2018 Journal Article O'Dwyer, D. Lisel & Thompson, K. Attachment, bushfire preparedness, planning, and response among animal guardians: A South Australian case study. PLOS (2018). at <http://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/bushfire-preparedness-planning-and-response-among-animal-guardians-a-south-australian-case-study/>
2017 Conference Paper Taylor, M., McCarthy, M. & Bigelow, J. Building an ARC in the mountains: a community-led initiative to build an animal-ready community (ARC) in the NSW Blue Mountains to provide a template for similar activities. AFAC17 (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2017).
2018 Journal Article O'Dwyer, L. & Thompson, K. Bushfire Preparedness, Planning, and Response among Animal Guardians: A South Australian Case Study. PLOS Current Disasters (2018). doi:10.6084
2016 Journal Article Every, D., Due, C., Thompson, K. & Ryan, J. Conflicting perspectives on nonhuman animal rescues in natural disasters. Society & Animals 24, 358-382 (2016).
2017 Journal Article Trigg, J., Smith, B. P., Bennett, P. & Thompson, K. Developing a scale to understand willingness to sacrifice personal safety for companion animals: The Pet-Owner Risk Propensity Scale (PORPS). International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 21, 205-212 (2017).
2015 Journal Article Trigg, J., Smith, B. P. & Thompson, K. Does emotional closeness to pets motivate their inclusion in bushfire survival plans? Implications for emergency communicators. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 30, (2015).
2018 Journal Article Taylor, M., McCarthy, M. & Bigelow, J. Emergency preparedness and planning for animals: a case study in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 33, (2018).
2015 Conference Paper Taylor, M. et al. Experiences of responders in supporting animals and their owners in disasters Conference Paper 2014. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and AFAC Wellington Conference 2014 (2015).
2015 Journal Article Thompson, K. For pet's sake, save yourself! Motivating emergency and disaster preparedness through relations of animal guardianship. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 30, (2015).
2015 Journal Article Thompson, K., Leighton, M. & Riley, C. Helping hands, hurting hooves: towards a multidisciplinary paradigm of large animal rescue. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 30, (2015).
2019 Report Taylor, M. Managing animals in disasters (MAiD) - improving preparedness, response and resilience through individual and organisational collaboration: Final Report 2017. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2019).
2016 Report Taylor, M. Managing Animals in Disasters - improving preparedness, response and resilience through organisational collaboration: Annual project report 2015-2016. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2016).
2015 Report Taylor, M. Managing animals in disasters: Annual project report 2014-2015. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2015).
2015 Report Taylor, M. Managing Animals in Disasters: Improving Preparedness, Response and Resilience Annual Report 2014. (2015).
2015 Journal Article Westcott, R. People and their animals in emergencies: snapshots from past emergency events. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 30, (2015).
2017 Journal Article Thompson, K., Haigh, L. & Smith, B. P. Planned and ultimate actions of horse owners facing a bushfire threat: Implications for natural disaster preparedness and survivability. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (2017). doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.11.013
2015 Conference Paper Rumsewicz, M. Research proceedings from the 2015 Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC & AFAC conference. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC & AFAC annual conference 2015 (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2015).
2017 Conference Paper Rumsewicz, M. Research proceedings from the 2017 Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and AFAC Conference. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC & AFAC annual conference 2017 (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2017).
2015 Journal Article Smith, B. P., Taylor, M. & Thompson, K. Risk perception, preparedness and response of livestock producers to bushfires: a South Australian case study. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 30, (2015).
2015 Journal Article Taylor, M. et al. The challenges of managing animals and their owners in disasters: perspectives of Australian response organisations and stakeholders. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 30, (2015).
2015 Conference Paper Taylor, M., McCarthy, M. & Eustace, G. The integration of informal volunteers into animal emergency management: experiences from the 2015 South Australian bushfires - non peer reviewed extended abstract. Adelaide Conference 2015 (2015).
2015 Journal Article Taylor, M., Lynch, E., Burns, P. & Eustace, G. The preparedness and evacuation behaviour of pet owners in emergencies and natural disasters. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 30, (2015).
2015 Journal Article Smith, B. P., Thompson, K. & Taylor, M. What’s the Big Deal? Responder Experiences of Large Animal Rescue in Australia. PLOS Currents Disasters (2015). doi:10.1371/currents.dis.71d34082943fa239dbfbf9597232c8a5
Date Titlesort descending Download Key Topics
16 Dec 2019 Animal ready community bushfire preparedness File 0 bytes (0 bytes) animals, preparedness
07 Jul 2017 Communicating and warning: getting the message across more effectively PDF icon 4.79 MB (4.79 MB) communication, flood, warnings
15 Jul 2019 Community preparedness, warnings and response to 2017 NSW fires File 0 bytes (0 bytes) communication, communities, warnings
30 Jun 2017 Community taking lead in emergency planning for their animals PDF icon 645.15 KB (645.15 KB) animals, communication, communities
13 Aug 2021 Driving change: the evolution of communications and warnings in emergency preparedness, response and recovery communication, communities, warnings
25 Nov 2020 Emergency planning for animals animals, communities, planning
15 Dec 2017 Fire Australia Issue Four 2017 PDF icon 5.67 MB (5.67 MB) emergency management, multi-hazard, risk management
18 Mar 2021 Fire Australia Issue One 2021 PDF icon 5.2 MB (5.2 MB) animals, communities, severe weather
13 Aug 2021 Hon A/Prof Mel Taylor interview: managing animals in disasters File 0 bytes (0 bytes) animals, decision making, preparedness
23 Sep 2020 Keeping Your Animals Safe in an Emergency (Blue Mountains) PDF icon 1.48 MB (1.48 MB) animals, communication, risk management
23 Sep 2020 Keeping Your Animals Safe in an Emergency (Hawkesbury-Nepean region) PDF icon 2.77 MB (2.77 MB) animals, communication, risk management
24 Jul 2014 MAiD newsletter 1 - July 2014 PDF icon 387.93 KB (387.93 KB) animals
18 Apr 2017 Managing Animals in Disaster PDF icon 2.04 MB (2.04 MB) animals, communication, risk management
24 Sep 2019 Managing Animals in Disaster (MAiD) PDF icon 10.73 MB (10.73 MB) resilience, response
27 Mar 2014 Managing animals in disasters PDF icon 1.74 MB (1.74 MB) animals, communities, resilience
08 Sep 2014 Managing animals in disasters (MAiD) PDF icon 2.02 MB (2.02 MB) animals, emergency management
27 Oct 2014 Managing animals in disasters (MAiD): Experiences of emergency services personnel animals, emergency management
25 Nov 2015 Managing Animals in Disasters - project overview video File 0 bytes (0 bytes) animals, communication, risk management
10 Apr 2015 Managing Animals in Disasters 2015 NSW RAF Presentation PDF icon 2.09 MB (2.09 MB) animals, emergency management, response
27 Oct 2014 Out of sight, out of mind: Increasing the disaster resilience of homeless people animals, risk management
13 Aug 2021 Preparedness 2: Managing animals in disasters File 0 bytes (0 bytes) animals, decision making, preparedness
27 Aug 2019 Promoting community resilience through connection to animals PDF icon 4.79 MB (4.79 MB) communities
13 Aug 2021 The evolution of communications and warnings in emergency preparedness, response and recovery File 0 bytes (0 bytes) communication, communities, warnings
11 Sep 2015 The integration of informal volunteers into animal emergency management PDF icon 2.23 MB (2.23 MB) animals, risk management
13 Aug 2021 Trailer, Preparedness 2: Managing animals in disasters File 0 bytes (0 bytes) animals, decision making, preparedness
21 Oct 2015 Turning warnings into action PDF icon 236.32 KB (236.32 KB) communication, tsunami, warnings
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