Volunteers specially trained in emergency sheltering using vacation time to help local humane society with massive influx of dogs
FORT WORTH, TX (July 10, 2009) – More than 50 volunteers with United Animal Nations (UAN) have traveled here from Florida, Louisiana and other parts of Texas to help care for nearly 500 dogs removed from a puppy mill in Montague County on Tuesday.
Volunteers with UAN’s Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) are helping the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT) care for the dogs at a temporary shelter set up in a 4,000-square-foot warehouse donated by Chesapeake Energy. EARS volunteers are specially trained to care for animals in emergency situations – such as natural disasters and criminal seizures. In the last 12 months alone, EARS volunteers have sheltered and cared for animals seized in 10 criminal seizure cases throughout the country.
  More than 30 EARS volunteers have traveled to Fort Worth, Texas to care for 500 dogs removed from neglectful conditions at a puppy mill. About 20 more EARS volunteers will arrive in the coming week.
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“Our EARS volunteers understand the importance of following protocols and properly gathering evidence in a criminal case,” said UAN President and CEO Nicole Forsyth. “And they receive training so they are prepared, physically and emotionally, to work with animals from neglectful situations.”
“The Humane Society of North Texas is extremely grateful for the trained volunteer help provided by United Animal Nations,” said Sandy Grambort, Humane Society of North Texas Equine and Livestock Program Coordinator. “With their help in these critical early stages, we know that these neglected animals are getting the quality care they deserve.”
EARS volunteers typically take time off of work to deploy to emergency responses. Thirty-four EARS volunteers have already deployed to the temporary shelter in Fort Worth and approximately twenty more will arrive in the coming week, some coming from as far as Alabama, Colorado and Oklahoma. EARS volunteer Mike Brodersen of Saginaw, Texas, helped set up dog crates in the temporary shelter and was there when the dogs arrived.
“We had four truckloads of dogs come in Tuesday, and we were here until midnight getting everyone settled in,” Brodersen said. “This is very near and dear to us, and I am happy that I was able to help.”
Broderson returned to his job with American Airlines today, but still found time to come to the shelter with members of his Shih Tzu rescue group to deliver a homemade barbecue lunch to his fellow volunteers. “We wanted to give them some local flavor, and a home-cooked meal,” he said.
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To support the Emergency Animal Rescue Service, make a contribution to UAN’s Disaster Relief Fund.
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Get more details about this situation on our Emergency Response Blog.
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Monetary contributions are also being accepted by the Humane Society of North Texas.
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