Heartwarming photographs of dogs and their owners have been shared online, after men, women, children and their pets were evacuated on a navy vessel from Mallacoota on Friday.
The pictures show just what a huge comfort pets can be in times of tragedy and fear, after devastating bushfires left more than 4,000 locals and holidaymakers stranded in the coastal town.
Shared on Facebook by a woman called Kristine, she wrote: ‘We evacuated on the HMAS Choules on Friday. The ship kindly set up the vehicle bay for pets and their owners throughout the 30 hours.
‘Here are pictures – it’s amazing how pets bring out our humanity.’
Heartwarming photographs of dogs and their owners have been shared online, after men, women, children and their pets were evacuated on a navy vessel from Mallacoota on Friday
The pictures show just what a huge comfort pets can be in times of tragedy, after devastating bushfires left more than 4,000 locals and holidaymakers stranded in the coastal town
In one image, one man had his head in his hands at the ‘off leash pen’ – all while clutching his dog in his lap
The photographs show families with their dogs on board the vessel in the vehicle bay.
Some of the men and women on board said the ‘crew were amazing with their care and dedication towards the animals and keeping families together (which included their pets)’.
Many of the owners are seen hugging and laying with their pets, while others can be seen to be clearly drawing solace from their dogs in times of difficulty.
One man even had his head in his hands at the ‘off leash pen’ – all while clutching his dog in his lap.
Others could be seen reading books with their dogs during the long 20-hour trip on board the vessel.
Many of the owners stayed with their dogs during the 20-hour trip in the vehicle bay for pets and owners
Some of the men and women on board said the ‘crew were amazing with their care and dedication towards the animals and keeping families together (which included their pets)’
This image shows the setup in the vehicle bay on board the HMAS Choules, where many owners stayed with their pets
People on Facebook were quick to respond to the images, saying they are ‘extraordinary’, ‘fantastic’ and ‘truly amazing’.
‘What an amazing way to document an unprecedented situation. Thank you so much for sharing!’ one person posted.
Another added: ‘Great pictures. In a stressful time dogs make unbelievable companions’.
Some 21,000 people have shared the images, with hundreds saying how clear it was that pets can be ‘a huge comfort’ during hard times.
People on Facebook were quick to respond to the images, saying they are ‘extraordinary’, ‘fantastic’ and ‘truly amazing’
‘What an amazing way to document an unprecedented situation. Thank you so much for sharing!’ one person posted beneath the images
A man is seen with his pit bull terriers on board the HMAS Choules
A mass evacuation took place in Mallacoota on Friday, where more than 4,000 locals and holidaymakers were stranded following the devastating bushfires on New Year’s Eve.
The first evacuees boarded the Navy ship, the MV Sycamore, from the fire ravaged coastal town at 8.40am on Friday, before around 1,000 others boarded a second vessel, the HMAS Choules, at 4pm.
The voyage to Western Port in southern Victoria took around 20 hours, with Army staff serving around 3,500 meals while people were on board.
The evacuation came after thousands of people spent four days in limbo after being told it was too dangerous to leave the seaside town following the bushfires last Tuesday.
Others left Mallacoota by helicopter on Sunday.
The first evacuees boarded the Navy ship, the MV Sycamore, from the fire ravaged coastal town at 8.40am on Friday, before around 1,000 others boarded the HMAS Choules at 4pm
One commenter posted beneath the images: ‘Great pictures. In a stressful time dogs make unbelievable companions’
One of the 21,000 people to share the images online wrote: ‘Great pictures. In a stressful time dogs make unbelievable companions’
One man could be seen comforting his dog on board the navy vessel
The sky in Mallacoota as fires approached on New Years Eve turned an apocalyptic red colour. People were forced to flee to the beach
A smoke haze covered the coastal town as hundreds of people boarded boats headed for military ships as part of the evacuation on Friday
A woman carries her small pink suitcase on to a military boat as she prepares to leave Mallacoota on Friday morning
All emergency bushfire warnings in Victoria have been downgraded after rainfall provided some respite, but conditions are expected to deteriorate again on Friday.
There have been 25 deaths this bushfire season and more than 1,600 homes have been lost, with almost six million hectares across Australia having been burnt, which is about the size of the Republic of Ireland.
Two people remain unaccounted for in New South Wales, where there have already been 20 fatalities, and Victoria and South Australia have reported two and three deaths respectively.
There are still 15 ‘Watch and act warnings’ in Victoria and emergency supplies are being flown into the state’s 18 cut-off communities.