What do cows, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats, etc. have to do with disaster risk reduction? For one thing healthy animals are an integral part of a communities jobs and the economy, food security, physical security, health, and culture. With extreme weather events, climate change, and increasing vulnerability of communities to these conditions and other hazards, hundreds of thousands of animals can be affected. Disasters caused by drought, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, floods and epidemics can in turn have immediate and progressive impacts on the social, environmental, and economic health of both animals and communities. There is a great explanation on Why Animals Matter in a Disaster by World Society for the Protection of Animals.
Given the importance of animals in our daily lives, the Global Platform will include a side event on animal welfare and building resilience for livestock producer communities. See the full list of side events here: http://www.preventionweb.net/globalplatform/2013/programme/sideevent