Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Companion animals have often been treated as an afterthought, or ignored, by those involved in planning for and responding to disasters. This omission in planning for the needs of companion animals has been predicated upon a failure to recognise the emotional bond between many people and their companion animals. This has resulted in significant costs for humans and animals in many disasters. This article serves to raise issues regarding the responsibilities of human service organisations (HSOs) for animal-inclusive disaster risk reduction (DRR).METHOD: This article develops a conceptual base for the consideration of the inclusion of animals in disaster planning and response within human services organisations. By first establishing the legitimacy of the human–animal bond and the requirement for human services organisations to develop their disaster planning, an exploration of the literature explores the rationale for the inclusion of companion animals within DRR.FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS: A clearly demonstrated relationship between DRR and the presence of companion animals is evidenced within the literature. Delays in evacuation due to the lack of facilities for companion animals, the loss and grief experienced by those forced to abandon their animals, and the particular vulnerabilities of those living in isolation or in homeless situations attest to the importance of animal-inclusive planning. Those living with animals may be more inclined to commit to DRR if the needs of their animals are included in planning. A mandate for organisational and professional responsibility for the inclusion of companion animals is established.CONCLUSION: For effective DRR, human services organisations have a professional and ethical imperative to include companion animals in their disaster planning and response.
Highlights
The relationship between people and companion animals in the disaster contextAOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND SOCIAL WORK 28(4), 100–108. In the past, there has been a clear philosophical and practical demarcation between services geared towards the needs of humans and those addressing the needs of animals
Companion animals have often been treated as an afterthought, or ignored, by those involved in planning for and responding to disasters
The limited literature that exists indicates that human services have tended to exclude animals from consideration (Ryan, 2011; Walker, Aimers, & Perry, 2015), and that there has been little specific training for social workers about the significance of animals in people’s lives (Risley-Curtiss, 2010)
Summary
AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND SOCIAL WORK 28(4), 100–108. In the past, there has been a clear philosophical and practical demarcation between services geared towards the needs of humans and those addressing the needs of animals. Human service organisations (HSOs), the term we are using to inclusively describe organisations employing both social workers and other related disciplines) have historically seen the needs of animals as tangential to the work which they do (Ryan, 2011) and, as a result, have often overlooked the central role that animals play in many people’s lives. An understanding has developed that the welfare of companion animals is something which must be taken into account when planning for, and responding to, disasters (Appleby & Stokes, 2008) This recognition stems from increasing public concern for the wellbeing of companion animals and recognition that there are significant social costs in failing to plan for the wellbeing of animals during disasters (Glassey, 2010), and that adequate planning for the needs of companion animals can significantly lessen the human and economic impact of disasters (Austing, 2013). We will consider what HSOs can do at an organisational level to plan for, and respond to, disasters in an animal-inclusive manner
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