Kāpiti council staff rescue puppy, horses, sheep from floodwaters

Kāpiti Coast District Council staff rescued a caged puppy and moved horses and sheep out of the way of floodwaters this week and say it’s a timely reminder for people to plan ahead for care of their animals when big weather events are forecast.

Neighbours alerted the council call centre to the plight of the puppy, which had been left outside in a cage while the owner was not at home.

Emergency operations duty controller James Jefferson said when council animal management staff arrived, they found the puppy still in the cage, perching on the base which was floating on water overflowing from the Waikanae River. Staff had to wade through fast flowing knee-deep water to rescue the pup, which was at real risk of drowning in the cage, he said.

A staff member took it home where his partner dried, warmed and fed it before it was eventually returned to its worried owner.

Puppy’s plight in rising floodwaters. See larger image

The council’s animal management staff were also called out to move horses and sheep in flooded paddocks.

Mr Jefferson said staff were pleased at the happy outcome for these animals but said it was a good reminder to people to think about what heavy rain forecasts could mean for their pets and livestock.

“We’d like to think that people are keeping an eye on the weather forecasts, especially orange or red watches and warnings.

“Heavy rain forecast in the Tararua ranges inevitably means flooding for our district. Anyone who keeps animals next to rivers and streams, or in areas where there is high groundwater, wetlands, or a history of flooding or ponding need to have a plan in place to move their animals before things get dicey.

“If you are going to be away from home, talk to your neighbours or other horse owners or farmers, and ask them to keep an eye out. You need to be prepared to move the animals if particularly heavy rain is forecast, as it has been all this past week,” he said.

Parts of the Kāpiti Coast experienced almost 30mm of rainfall between 8–10am on Monday. The monthly average for August in Paraparaumu is 71mm. A MetService spokesperson said 3-4mm an hour was usually considered to be ‘heavy’ rain. At its heaviest, about 310mm fell in the Tararuas on Sunday-Monday, much of which finds its way to the coast via our rivers and streams.

On Monday, the Waikanae River peaked at 200,424 litres/second (normal flow is below 2,000 litres/second).

It was great to see the sun today, but animal and property owners needed to be aware of a MetService severe weather watch for the Tararuas for Thursday from 11am-11pm.

“This could still impact vulnerable parts of the district over the next couple of days, especially as floodwaters may not yet have receded and could continue to build, so we’re urging people to continue to keep a careful watch on their animals,” Mr Jefferson said.