Hawke's Bay

As the daylight broke and the real damage of Cyclone Gabrielle started to become clear, the fear for missing and displaced pets, animals and livestock began ...

As part of it’s response to the cyclone, the SPCA has dispatched staff to assess the impacted areas and has sent support from Wellington to Hawke’s Bay. The SPCA Ceo said, “We understand that many people are deeply concerned about their pets and other animals affected by the cyclone, and we are doing everything we can to provide assistance and support. “Seeing images and footage of animals in distress and escaping flood waters, is absolutely heartbreaking and we are so grateful to members of the public who were able to step in and take animals to safety where possible and knowing people and animals have lost their lives during this is so very tragic,” Clezy said. NZ Farming has begun compiling a database of offers to help with accommodation, stock feed and grazing and is working in coordination with the Hawke’s Bay Rural Support Trust. However many of our SPCA staff are being impacted themselves and many are without phone contact in several areas, they are working to assess the situation and provide help where possible. In the more severely hit areas of Hawke’s Bay, lots of people are missing their animals and the equestrian community has been using Facebook pages like the NZ Equestrian Scene to help locate their missing horses. Hawke’s Bay farmers have been hit hard, however due to communication systems being down NZ farming has been unable to assess the full damage to farms and livestock. MPI has been made aware of horses and other animals in Hawke’s Bay that is missing or needing assistance. Many more are still missing their horses or are unable to get to them, The New Zealand Equestrian Scene has been trying to coordinate an equine base or depot. With people still trapped in their properties and unable to sech for their own horses, the community has come together to make sure everyone is helping where they can and keeping an eye out for wandering horses. A great many animals have been swept up in the wild weather of Cyclone Gabriell and are now stranded, missing or dead. As the daylight broke and the real damage of Cyclone Gabrielle started to become clear, the fear for missing and displaced pets, animals and livestock began to rise.