[*Ker*]

I was browsing Facebook tonight and found this:

Unfortunately due to fast approaching fires in the Whittlesea area this afternoon, RSPCA Epping had to be evacuated for safety reasons. We have just received reports from Whittlesea Council and the CFA who are on site that RSPCA Epping has been spared from damage despite coming within approximately 300 metres of our buildings. The RSPCA has deployed a team of Inspectors, Vets and Animal Services staff to the area this evening to ensure the welfare of all of animals and provide whatever assistance necessary to the local community. If you are in a bushfire affected area, please remain vigilant to ensure you and your animals safety. Keep an eye on the CFA's website and facebook page http://www.facebook.com/cfavic for updates in your area.

From their Facebook Page

They evacuated and LEFT THE ANIMALS THERE??? WTF? This is why I will NEVER AGAIN donate to the RSPCA. They only care about animals when TV crews are following them.

[SoxyMama]

Well I'm assuming this was an unexpected evacuation and in which case they have to decide to save human life first. I would think they acted the best way they could under the circumstances. Sometimes in a bushfire, there isn't the time to 'think' about the best action. Sometimes you are ordered to act promptly and unexpectedly.

[fancie]

They evacuated and LEFT THE ANIMALS THERE??? WTF? This is why I will NEVER AGAIN donate to the RSPCA. They only care about animals when TV crews are following them.

I read this as they deployed a team to check on the welfare of animals out in the community (that may have been left behind by their owners), not at the RSPCA shelter.

[*Ker*]

Well I'm assuming this was an unexpected evacuation and in which case they have to decide to save human life first. I would think they acted the best way they could under the circumstances. Sometimes in a bushfire, there isn't the time to 'think' about the best action. Sometimes you are ordered to act promptly and unexpectedly.

There is an ongoing discussion on their FB wall. Some RSPCA spokesperson said "we have evacuation plans for fires and floods that include the animals"...so why wasn't it used today???

I read this as they deployed a team to check on the welfare of animals out in the community (that may have been left behind by their owners), not at the RSPCA shelter.

Nooo, they deployed a team (which took FIVE HOURS) to check the welfare of the animals AT THE SHELTER. That were left behind.

Those poor animals will be terrified!

[YellowKittyGlenn]

I understand your frustration but it wasn't the choice to leave without them, Police , CFA & council order staff and volunteers out and did not allow them to try and evacuate the animals.It's distressing looking from the outside in but would have been more distressing for staff to leave them behind through no choice.

[*Ker*]

My point is, at first warning, doors should have been closed and animals in vans, ready to go. Apparently they do not have a large number of animals there. Then, then evacuation was ordered, it should have been "humans into the vans, go WITH THE ANIMALS".

Their motto is "all creatures great and small"...is that only when there's not a natural disaster?

[protart roflcopt...]

Did they have first warnings? Did they have vans?

[*Ker*]

Yes, they had warning. Hours earlier. RSPCA staff said that. They have vans, they have animal control vans and they have animal ambulances.

[YellowKittyGlenn]

There was such little warning no one thought it would go that direction, I live 10 minutes from the fire and all I can hear are the helicopters and emergency services racing by my house, the fire is huge there is not much they could have done they got told 3 minutes before being order to leave to be on stand by and no animals to be evacuated. Again was not their choice that was taken from them by the Police, CFA & Council. If you want to blame someone blame the people that ordered for the animals not to be evacuated not the staff that had no choice.

[Lokum]

Did they have first warnings? Did they have vans?

People lost houses with no warnings. It was a very fast fire (s), which caught lots of people by surprise. If they were ordered to evacuate immediately, that's what they had to do.

I'd be 'Really Angry' if, when ordered to evacuate immediately, they put CFA lives at risk, or caused risk or harm to others because they spent time trying to load animals into vehicles. Leave immediately means that. Some people didn't get to evacuate - they got 'it is now too late to leave,' with nothing before that.

This is a silly post, unless you were there.