Animals in disasters: the need for protection and coordination across Europe

This overview report examines the response of the European Union (EU), its Member States and the non-governmental organisations to animals affected by war in Ukraine in 2022. The objectives of this report are to open a discussion about what could be done by the EU and its Member States in order to improve the protection of animals in the event of disasters, and ultimately how these actors can support the inclusion of animal welfare in a coordinated emergency response mechanism.

The report concludes that while achieving a protection for all species in disasters remains a longer-term goal, the immediate solution lies in the legal inclusion of animals into the disaster law in the EU with the aim of including animal welfare actors into the development of disaster management plans and into a coordinated disaster response mechanism in the EU. With implementation of the suggestions made in this report, Europe can be better prepared for disasters, and reduce the burden on involved actors in the wake of a disaster.