Abstract

The role that animals play in disaster response, recovery and experience is often overlooked in policy and academia due to the emphasis on preserving human life in disasters. Yet this is a false division, since animals significantly shape disaster response, evacuation, logistics, cultural practices, and recovery among others, and are themselves at risk from a range of healthcare and health impacts of disasters. This session will explore the role of animals in disasters and the implications for policy and research.

After the presentations by Mihai and Donelle we would like to have a discussion and exchange about the audiences experiences of the role of animals in disasters, so if possible, please consider the following questions before or while attending:

- How has your research or personal experience (if you are comfortable sharing) on or around disasters or hazards involved animals? - What form did this take and how did it influence the disaster or your upstanding or experience of it? - If appropriate, what lessons do you think we can or should learn from this?