As Lismore residents tell triumphant and sad stories of narrow escapes from their homes in fast rising floodwaters, there is also a dark side to many of them.

What about the pets, fur babies and animals?

Across Lismore, the list of animals left behind in flooded homes is long. 

There are stories of the pets left behind, with no time to get them to safety - and of pets or livestock last seen swimming in floodwaters. 

For some, they were not allowed to take an animal into a rescue boat because it was not in a pet carrier – or they had more than one pet and were only allowed to bring one with them. 

Centralised service needed

With SES and emergency services resources focused on rescuing people, not animals, Lismore local Jo Gosper knew there needed to be a centralised point where people could list animals lost or found.

As one of the administrators of the Facebook page Lismore Lost & Found Pets - FLOOD GROUPS, Jo has created specific post threads for people who are affected and those who can help.

Jo said there are three separate colour coordinated post threads for those who have lost or found animals and for those who simply want to help.

“People who have been evacuated were worried about their cats, dogs, fish, goats and other animals,” Jo said. 

This is Bob, he was lost from Fernside, out towards Bentley.

How to help or get help

“On the page, they have listed animals as lost or found - and some people are offering assistance to find, or look after the animals, until their owners can be found.

“The problem has been matching up the pictures of animals as lost with the people who have found them.”

Jo asks people who list animals and their pictures to remove the posts once the animals have been found.

Also for anyone who finds an animal to make direct contact with the person who posted the animals as missing. 

You can list your pets or any animals you have found via the following link to Lismore Lost & Found Pets - FLOOD GROUPS. 

If you have any cat or dog carriers you can lend to others who wish to volunteer to look for animals, you can also do it via he page.

There’s also a Facebook group for lost and found livestock: Livestock & Items Lost & Found - Northern Rivers Floods 2022

Puddah is a 15 year old male cat. Was taken to Goonellabar but has gone missing. Please contact if you have any information.

Animal Rights and Rescue (AARG)



In Lismore, the local Animal Rights and Rescue Group (AARG) is also still operating. 

Maddy, from AARG said they have already reunited lots of lost animals with their owners - after scanning their microchips to identify them.

“I went into flood water on Hunter Street yesterday pulled out a cat and chickens – I found it from paw prints on mud and the owner was ecstatic to be reunited with it,” she said.

Thankfully the AARG centre on Three Chain Road was situated high enough that all the animals already there escaped harm in the flood.

But according to Maddy, resources are stretched and they are looking for help.

 “AARG is offering help where possible as many of our volunteers are stranded and we are also looking for people to help clean up our Union Street op shop,” she said.

Maddy said ARRG volunteers are in the process of building more pens to hold animals, but they are not ready yet.

At the Southern Cross University Evacuation Centre, there are two complexes where evacuees are housing their animals at the moment.

Coordination needed in future

 “We are currently trying to work with emergency services and Council but it’s hard as everyone is stretched and we can see there’s a big need to have a more coordinated service for animal rescue in future emergencies,” she said.

“At the moment, rescued animals are all over the place. Over the next days and weeks we’ll need more emergency housing for pets of people in evacuation centre now."

"There is a shortage of cat litter and animal food also.

Foster carers needed

“We always need more foster carers and people can contact AARG on (02) 6622 1881 and register as a carer, so it’s easy for us to track where the animals have gone to. "