Wendy Slee

I am in – sending that bmail right now.

Thank you Wendy, for thinking of them. I have been not looking forward to hearing about the plight of all these poor animals since this started. I will arrange for some artwork to be donated to this cause. Thank you kind one, glad that you did this…

Thank you Wendy- I will donate to thi appeal also and I hope the many animal lovers at bubble will too. Blessings xxxx

there is a large convoy of trucks /vehicles..coming down from Ipswich Qld atm with food /equipment , people too volunteering their expert services . (()))

Animals not forgotten in Vic recovery effort
By ABC News Online’s Cassie White

Posted Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:37pm AEDT
Updated Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:55pm AEDT

The fires have taken a huge toll on pets and livestock as well as humans. (AAP: Julian Smith)

Map: Kinglake 3763
Aside from the tragic loss of human life and property, the plight of pets and wildlife caught up the Victorian blazes has upset many Australians.

Thousands of animals were abandoned and injured in the fires, and the RSPCA spokesman Ray Lord says the organisation is working overtime to help them.

A number of triages have been set up in firezones such as Kinglake, Whittlesea, Burwood and Beechworth for people to bring animals in need of care.

“The RSPCA became directly involved on Tuesday morning where we were able to set up a veterinary care triage at Kinglake for local residents and people with animals,” he said.

“That’s continued on and yesterday we were involved with a lot of wildlife, so it’s been real challenge over the last few days.

“The enormity of it has been absolutely amazing and the amount of wildlife is enormous and then of course we’ve got livestock.”

Mr Lord says it is difficult to put a figure on the number of animals that have been lost or killed so far.

“We’ve been working with the DPI in relation to livestock and there’s just thousands [of animals],” he said.

“In relations to wildlife, again there’s just literally thousands. We’ve got some wonderful wildlife carers…and the job they’ve done has really been outstanding.

“Our major concern is obviously the welfare of the animals, but to put a tally on it, that will come in time.”

He says it would have been extremely difficult for livestock to escape the fires.

“Basically a lot of those animals were trapped in the fires and that made it very difficult,” he said.

“A lot of the fences burned down and a lot of animals endeavoured to get out, but there were some reports that the fire travelled 20 kilometres in four minutes … and when a fire can travel 20 kilometres in four minutes, sadly it’s an absolute catastrophe.”

Good news

But among stories of loss and tragedy, Mr Lord says stories of hope are emerging as well.

“One of the most delightful stories we’ve had is of a dog wandering around which was brought back to the RSPCA,” he said.

“He was microchipped…but in this particular case the phone number on it was for a house which was gone.

“The register for it had an email and so we sent one with the anticipation that the owner could still be alive and hopefully be able to access email.

“Due to the outstanding support from the community, this particular person could access their emails in a community area and they were absolutely delighted that they could come and recover their dog. That was very special for them.”

After the fires

Mr Lord says after the fires have been extinguished, wildlife carers will continue to do their best for stranded animals whose habitats have been destroyed.

“Up until I think Tuesday the RSPCA and other agencies were restricted. It was emergency services personnel only and many of the fire-affected areas were cordoned off, because of police investigations that were being undertaken,” he said.

“Those areas were only opened up in the last 24 hours and it’s only since then that we’ve had our inspectors and inter-state inspectors … working in there.

Gold Coast RSPCA inspector Sommer Heath volunteered to travel to Victoria to help, and says there are a lot of pets that have been left behind.

“Everyone’s thinking about what’s happened to their animals and a lot of them just don’t know,” she said.

“So I guess with organisations such as the RSPCA and others down there that can do their best to try and help people reunite with their animals. That’s what we’re hoping to do.”

She says the fires have taken a heavy toll on wildlife and domestic pets.

“We really don’t know what we are heading into but I guess at the end of the day whatever support we can offer to our RSPCA Victorian counterparts we’re certainly going to do our best,” she said.

Mr Lord says there will be a major effort from teams of animal welfare agencies to ensure animals can be relocated to areas suitable for them to live in.

The organisation is also calling for more donations of food and money.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the outstanding contribution that people have made with donations of food and blankets to assist with the animals and that contribution is greatly recognised,” he said.

“We’ve have been asking people if they want to consider financial donations, they can make it for a specific purpose of how they’d like it to be allocated.

“We had a lot of companion animal food, but we also need a lot of hay for horses and livestock, because as you can imagine there’s just nothing for those animals to eat.”

Tags: disasters-and-accidents, fires, bushfire, human-interest, animals, australia, vic, beechworth-3747, burwood-3125, kinglake-3763, traralgon-3844, whittlesea

wow..amazing story and i am so so glad to see they are finally noticing the wildlife and animal situtation. at least the domestic pets have a place to eventually go to when this settles down.

Hi Wendy, I would like to add, that if people cannot afford to donate time or money, the donation of such things as blankets, towels, and more importantly, pillow case, are needed. Anything to bring comfort in such a time of distress. Thanks everyone..XX

On to it my friend… xx

Thanks Ginny for adding that incredible but very sad story. It truly puts it into perspective. I cannot begin to imagine how those poor creatures have fared over the first week when humans were the priority and no one was allowed into those regions. I pray for all those involved and send my heartfelt thanks and blessings to the caregivers that they may continue to help and put an end to the suffering that seems to be everywhere.
thanks to everyone else for reading and commenting and helping out…..
(big hugs)

Thank you for providing this information Wendy! Do we take articles and food to the RSPCA centres?