Last month animal lovers in the Blue Mountains community gathered at the Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre to learn how to best protect pets, farm animals and wildlife in bushfires.
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World Animal Protection delivered the 90 minute workshop to 53 eager attendees, in collaboration with Blue Mountains City Council and local experts in veterinary care and animal emergency management.
World Animal Protection Australia executive director Simone Clarke said animals were often the forgotten victims in bushfires.
"World Animal Protection helps locals plan ahead to protect their pets and help injured or displaced wildlife during an emergency," she said.
"It was uplifting to see so many keen animal protectors at our workshop who are now empowered to protect their pets and farm animals, and help wildlife, before, during and after bushfires."
"We look forward to continuing to work with the Blue Mountains City Council to help prepare the community to protect animals and, after the workshop's success, we hope it will become an annual initiative," she said.
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Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said in the recent bushfires the community witnessed a devastating impact on wildlife.
"It was encouraging to see so many locals wanting to learn the steps to take if they came across injured wildlife, how to support animals in the local habitat, and how to keep pets and farm animals safe if their home comes under threat," he said.
The line up of speakers included representatives from World Animal Protection, Blue Mountains City Council, Macquarie University, Blue ARC: Animal Ready Community, Greater Sydney Local Land Services, as well as Veterinarian, Dr Robert Johnson.
Speakers addressed the audience to discuss how emergency responders, agencies and the community can best work together in a disaster, where to learn more and how to get further involved in protecting animals.
The workshop was made possible by funds donated to World Animal Protection as part of their international Bushfire Recovery Appeal to support the recovery and rehabilitation of animals impacted by the devastating bushfires in Australia.
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