Sacramento, CA (May 15, 2006) – As rain continues to cause widespread flooding, road closures and evacuations in northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire and Maine, United Animal Nations (UAN) is encouraging residents in flood-prone areas to include pets in their disaster plans.
Animals left behind during floods can get injured, fall ill, starve, drown, 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 their caregivers often compound their stress because they are so worried about their pets,” said UAN President and CEO 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, saving thousands of animal lives. 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 New Hampshire,
Massachusetts and Maine 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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