Name: Out of the Ark: Rethinking Animal Welfare in Disasters
Start: 2026-05-12T15:20:00-0600
End: 2026-05-12T15:25:00-0600

2026 CRHNet Symposium

Out of the Ark: Rethinking Animal Welfare in Disasters

Tuesday May 12, 2026 3:20pm - 3:25pm MDT

PIC 120 - Split Conference Hall

Researchers: Dr. Aaida Mamuji, James Wheeler-Hebert and Cheryl Rogers

Despite animal welfare being tied to human safety, livelihoods, and recovery, animals are often overlooked in disaster planning and response efforts in Canada. And, while the wellbeing of many animals is dependent on human action and inaction, there is currently no formal structure or approach to addressing animal needs in disaster management in Canada, with only sparse mention for the inclusion of animals in disaster management frameworks and legislation. Drawing from interviews (2025) with over twenty representatives of non-governmental organizations, charities, and humane societies that address the needs of animals experiencing disasters across Canada, this presentation provides a snapshot of gains and gaps in animal disaster management overtime, as well as provides perspectives on possible paths forward.

While recognizing great variance across provinces and territories, our findings reveal that the infrastructure and organization of animal emergency response have advanced considerably over the past three decades, with notable momentum in the last ten years. In many jurisdictions, the absence of essential resources - such as trained staff, formal plans, and memorandums of understanding - undermines overall preparedness. Systemic challenges also remain, such as limited political buy-in, overlapping agency mandates, coordination challenges, and efforts that rely on a few key individuals, which adversely affects program longevity. Recommendations for improvement include efforts to bolster training, addressing root causes, and to provide resources to support relationship-building, after-action reviews, and policy change.
By mapping current practices across the country, this research not only captures where we are now, but also identifies opportunities for building a more cohesive, sustainable, and nationally supported system of animal disaster response in Canada.

Speakers

James Wheeler-Hebert

Master's student, Research Assistant, York University

Former history student, studying Disaster & Emergency Management at York University. Working on a project with Professor Aaida Mamuji to identify gaps and improve coordination for the handling of pets and livestock during an emergency.

Tuesday May 12, 2026 3:20pm - 3:25pm MDT
PIC 120 - Split Conference Hall NAIT Producitivity and Innovation Centre

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2026 CRHNet Symposium

James Wheeler-Hebert

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James Wheeler-Hebert

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