Monroe, Louisiana (September 20, 2005) – In the wee hours of this morning, United Animal Nations received 134 dogs rescued from the hurricane-ravaged streets and homes of New Orleans at the temporary animal shelter it is operating in Monroe, Louisiana through its Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS).
The animals were transferred to the EARS temporary shelter from the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana, the main staging area for animals being rescued from New Orleans and other hard-hit coastal communities. More animals are expected to arrive at Monroe in the coming days.
Many of the animals are emaciated, flea infested or injured. Some have chemical burns from the contaminated flood waters. All of the dogs will receive veterinary care, daily exercise and a regimented diet to help them gain their strength.
The animals at the shelter are not presently available for adoption. UAN will attempt to track their owners through existing paperwork and identification, and will post the animals’ photographs and descriptive information on Petfinder.com’s Animal Emergency Response Network database.
“Hundreds of our EARS volunteers who are trained specifically to help animals victimized by disasters have responded to our call to assist at the shelter,” said UAN president and CEO Jennifer Fearing. “UAN is eager to help animals who have endured so much stress and suffering. Our primary goal is to get these animals healthy and reunite them with their owners, whose grief must certainly be exacerbated by the loss of their beloved pets.”
The American Red Cross Northeast Louisiana Chapter is generously providing housing, food and beverages for the EARS volunteers staffing the shelter, and a Monroe resident has donated the use of his property for the facility. The Pet Assistance Welfare Society of Northeast Louisiana and the Bayou Kennel Club also have provided much-needed volunteer support, supplies and equipment.
The EARS shelter has all of the volunteer assistance, food, supplies and medications it needs. However, there is a need for chain link dog kennels and/or chain link panels to build kennels. Anyone who can possibly assist with these needs is encouraged to call (916) 429-2457.
United Animal Nations has been coordinating with authorities and other humane organizations in both Louisiana and Mississippi to help animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina since the storm hit. UAN’s efforts have been far-flung across the devastated region including operation of emergency animal shelters in Monroe, Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi for owned animals evacuated before the storm and others rescued from hard-hit areas. UAN is also working with partners International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Code 3 Associates to conduct water and land rescues in New Orleans. To date, that team has rescued hundreds of animals from the flood-ravaged city.
Thanks to generous support from the public, UAN has also provided tens of thousands of dollars worth of supplies and equipment to the relief effort, including medicine, microchip identification and cages. UAN also is working on a dramatic expansion of its Animal Aid program, which provides financial grants to families affected by disaster who need assistance with veterinary medical care or boarding to keep their beloved family pets.
About UAN (United Animal Nations)
Founded in 1987, UAN is the nation’s leading provider of emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services and a key advocate for the critical needs of animals. UAN is appealing for donations to its disaster relief fund, which will provide immediate assistance to displaced animals and long-term individual and organizational grants to Hurricane Katrina victims. To donate, visit www.uan.org or phone (916) 429-2457.
News editors and producers: Please include United Animal Nations (UAN), www.uan.org, in any round-up stories and reference lists detailing aid organizations and charities helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. High resolution photos are available upon request.
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