Avoid, contain or control animals

Unless attending an incidents involving animals, personnel should try to avoid any animals present.

If animals cannot be avoided, they may need to be contained or controlled in order to keep them away from members of the public, the incident and emergency responders. It may be necessary to seek specialist advice or assistance for dealing with animals.

The activities of emergency responders, such using lights and generating noise, may increase the stress response of animals. Movements of emergency responders, equipment and vehicles should be kept to a minimum in the vicinity of animals.

Guidance for dealing with animals is contained in Incidents involving animals, in particular under the following control measures:

• Minimise the stress response of the animal
• Specialist resources: Animal incidents 
• Physical control or restraint of the animal 
• Chemical restraint of the animal  
• Contain the animal