Memorandum submitted by Rebecca Nicholls
(FL 46)
GLOUCESTERSHIRE FLOODS
I read with interest your article in Hardwicke
Matters regarding organisations that were directly affected by
the recent flooding. We provided voluntary services for Teckels
Animal Shelter during the floods, please find attached a press
release that I issued on their behalf to call for an animal crisis
action plan to be put in place in the county.
It seemed that there was no one taking responsibility
of animal welfare in the county. Teckels put in place a mutual
aid agreement, to re-distribute supplies to other sanctuaries
in need. Some of the donations were distributed to Skates Hill
Kennel in Stroud, AAS Vets, Quedgeley and BJ Kennels in Staverton
(whose animals had to be evacuated).
In future Teckels would like to work with the
local authorities to create a forum to deal with animal crisis
management and have an action plan in place—with a list
of trained volunteers and animal professionals available in such
emergencies. Not only would this reduce stress for animals and
their owners, it could free-up the emergency services.
As a PR practitioner and animal lover, if such
a plan was put in place, I have already volunteered to act as
a media co-coordinator, as I did so during the floods.
Rebecca Nicholls
August 2007
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