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Emergency vehicle with the lettering Katastrophenhilfe on the door
Bundesverband GDT e.V.

Disaster Relief (Germany)

There when it matters: help for animals in Germany – during floods, fires, epidemics and major incidents.

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Networked for the emergency

In the event of major operations, the animal rescue services organised within the association support one another. This allows disaster operations and far-reaching interregional situations to be handled professionally together.

National
Disaster relief in Germany

Since 2022 the association has formed, together with the Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V., a nationwide operational cooperation for rescuing animals in distress – prepared for disaster situations such as floods, fires or epidemics. The pet register FINDEFIX is closely integrated into the cooperation.

Interregional alerting
Pooling of responders, vehicles, boats and equipment from across the entire association area – alertable via a central deployment component for authorities and crisis teams.
Support for crisis teams
Intake, first aid, transport and care of small and large animals; during prolonged situations, ensuring the care of animals left behind in the affected area.
Joint exercises
Regular disaster-response exercises of the association units – including flood scenarios with command, triage and treatment stations.
Specialised equipment
Rescue transport boats, large-animal and equipment trailers, thermal-imaging drones and command vehicles of the association services stand ready for disaster response.
Awarded
Ahrtal Flood Relief 2021
Months-long deployment of the association services in the disaster area – honoured with the special award "Flood Relief" of the German Animal Welfare Prize.
Aerial view of a flooded landscape with a motorway interchange during a flood
Deployment alert
+49 (0) 160 518 77 15

For authorities and incident commanders during major incidents and disasters.

15
Rescue services from Germany and Austria
24/7
Alertable via the central deployment component
2022
Start of the cooperation with the Deutscher Tierschutzbund
1
Disaster-response convoy "Animal Rescue" with its own command section

Equipment for disaster response

The association services maintain specialised vehicles and technology that are pooled across regions in the event of a disaster.

Animal rescue disaster-relief transport boat on its trailer
Rescue transport boats
Water rescue and evacuation during flood situations.
Animal rescue large-animal trailer being cleaned
Large-animal & equipment trailers
Transport of large animals, materials and equipment.
Thermal-imaging drone
Thermal-imaging drones
Searching for missing animals from the air – even at night.
Animal rescue command vehicle with extended radio mast
Command vehicles
Command and coordination within the command section.

How a disaster operation unfolds

1
Alerting
Local forces, authorities or crisis teams alert the association's deployment component with the corresponding needs – where already apparent.
2
Mobilisation
Forces, vehicles, boats and equipment of the association services are pooled across regions and deploy to the affected area.
3
Operation
Rescue, triage, first aid and transport of animals – closely and directly coordinated with the local crisis team. 
4
Aftercare
During prolonged situations: 
care and support of the animals in the affected area until they are handed back to their owners or placed in alternative accommodation.

Logo of Animal Disaster Response Germany (ADRG)
International

Disaster relief abroad

During disaster situations abroad, the ADRG – Animal Disaster Response Germany is deployed as the association's international unit.

To relief abroad →
Further tasks of the Bundesverband
Training →