Sacramento, CA (June 18, 2006) – As powerful wildfires continue to threaten parts of Arizona, United Animal Nations (UAN) is encouraging residents with pets to take their animals with them if they evacuate.
Animals left behind during fires can get injured, fall ill, starve and hamper human evacuation and rescue efforts. Families who must evacuate are encouraged to:
“Animals left to fend for themselves during disasters suffer terribly, and evacuees can compound their own stress by worrying about the pets they left behind,” said UAN president Nicole Forsyth. “For both human and animal safety, it is vital that every family include their animals in their evacuation plans.”
Through its volunteer-driven Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), UAN provides free emergency sheltering and disaster relief services for animals in communities that become overwhelmed by natural disasters or other crises. Since 1987, UAN has responded to 70 disasters, including the Kinishba fire in Holbrook, Arizona in 2003 and the Rodeo fire Springerville, Arizona in 2002. With more than 2,600 EARS volunteers in the United States and Canada, UAN can provide the following services to communities in need:
Emergency management and animal control agencies in Arizona
can call UAN at (916) 429-2457 for assistance.
About UAN. Now celebrating its 20th year, United Animal Nations (UAN) is North America’s leading provider of emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services and a key advocate for the critical needs of animals.
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