Australia: Better planning for pets in future Queensland 'natural' disasters

Queensland's local councils and the Royal Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) say a new memorandum of understanding means they're better prepared to cope with pets during disasters in the future, as reported ABC. Greg Hallam, from the Local Government Association, says there will be education for pet owners to be prepared with crates, reminding that in the US when Hurricane Katrina hit, a number of people died because they refused to leave their pets behind when authorities tried to move them. "We need to be prepared ... have plans in place and assure people that their loved companion animals will be taken care of in some form," he says.