Emergency shelter in Natchez, Mississippi will accommodate evacuated pets
Natchez, MS (May 10, 2011) – Today volunteers with California-based United Animal Nations (UAN) set up a temporary emergency shelter for animals being evacuated in and around Natchez, Mississippi in advance of anticipated flooding from the Mississippi River.
Distinguished by their red shirts, UAN volunteers are specially trained to care for and shelter animals after they have been displaced by natural disasters or rescued from cruelty and neglect situations. Eight UAN volunteers have traveled to Natchez from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas and Washington, DC to help the animal flood victims, and more will arrive later this week.
Residents who are evacuating can bring their pets to the temporary shelter at 507 North Wall Street in Natchez starting Wednesday, May 11 at 8 a.m.
“Our EARS volunteers are trained in emergency sheltering, and they are ready, willing and able to come to Mississippi at a moment’s notice to help the animals in harm’s way and to provide peace of mind to their families,” said UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies, who came to Natchez from California to lead the volunteer team and manage the temporary shelter.
Residents should never leave pets behind when they evacuate during a natural disaster, Matthies advised. Pets left behind during floods can drown, get injured, fall ill, starve, die, and hamper human evacuation and rescue efforts.
With more than 3,000 trained volunteers, UAN can deploy when communities become overburdened by a crisis involving large numbers of animals. In its 24-year history, UAN has responded to more than 120 natural disasters and other crises, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005; a tornado in Greensburg, Kansas in 2007; and flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2008.
UAN is deploying volunteers to Natchez at the request of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and The Humane Society of the United States.
Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations (UAN) focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and into care through a variety of programs, including emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services, financial assistance for urgent veterinary care and humane education. Learn more at www.uan.org
MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Raymond, United Animal Nations, (916) 429-2457, ext 314.
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