Animals suffer – As well as houses, the fires destroyed all pasture, fencing and yards in its

By Jade Lawton
WHILE authorities count the human cost of the weekend’s fires, and add up the number of homes lost, livestock and pets – and their owners – were also suffering.
Destroyed cattle yards and fences could take weeks or months to rebuild. Burnt-out paddocks meant food was scarce for cattle and horses, forcing some owners to sell immediately.
Cattle agent Glenn Barwick sold cattle on Sunday on behalf of a farmer in Labertouche.
With his yards, fences and feed all destroyed, he had no choice but to sell his stock and start again.
“The paddocks were burnt out; all that was left was his house,” Mr Barwick said.
“He took them to a neighbour’s house and ordered some transport. They had to let the truck in – there was no water or feed, the cattle had to go.”
Mr Barwick said on Monday that he had just had a call from a man in the fire-ravaged area of Dixons Creek, north of Yarra Glen, who wanted to sell his cattle as soon as possible, as all he had was his mobile phone and what he was wearing. He said the buying fraternity was being supportive, and the Pakenham VLE had offered help to those affected, providing temporary accommodation for cattle and horses.
But Mr Barwick said the fire would continue to have ramifications in coming weeks and months as farmers began to rebuild infrastructure and search for feed.
“The VLE has been great. They have offered their yards to hold cattle for people who have lost their own fencing and yards,” he said.
Smaller animals also suffered in the blaze.
At the West Gippsland Veterinary Clinic, veterinarian Joe Brady said so far four cats and a sheep had been treated for fire injuries.
“One of the cats had burns to its feet and face, and another just to its feet. The sheep has pneumonia from the smoke inhalation and burns to its udder and back end,” he said.
Dr Brady said the clinic had not been called to attend any injured horses or cattle, but he expected to receive more animals in the next few days as people returned to their homes and located their pets.