Emergency Animal Rescue Service volunteer Diann Wellman recognized for helping animal disaster victims

SACRAMENTO, CA (August 15, 2008) – United Animal Nations (UAN) today named Diann Wellman of Hartford City, Indiana the recipient of its prestigious Heart and Soul Award, presented annually to an individual who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to UAN’s programs and a strong personal devotion to animals.

Wellman is a volunteer Regional Director with UAN’s Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), which operates temporary shelters for animals displaced by natural disasters and other crises. This summer, Wellman spent three weeks leading a team of EARS volunteers at a temporary shelter for animal flood victims in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, leaving only because she had to attend her son’s wedding in Alaska. She is also training hundreds of new EARS volunteers at 11 workshops in the United States and Canada in 2008.

“Diann is instrumental to UAN’s ability to care for animals uprooted by disasters,” said UAN Director of Programs Karen Brown. “She works long, tireless hours and without fail will ensure that the animals and other volunteers are taken care of before she will allow herself respite. To consistently maintain this attitude despite the sacrifice required is remarkable and rare – we are privileged to have her as our volunteer.”

As an EARS Regional Director, Wellman monitors disasters that may affect animals in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin; networks with emergency management and animal control agencies throughout the region; and works with local authorities to operate temporary shelters for displaced animals as needed.

“After seeing how the animals left behind during Hurricane Katrina suffered, I became compelled to educate people about disaster planning and preparedness,” Wellman said. “I don’t believe people think about the issue until  a disaster or emergency actually happens, and by then it is usually too late.”

Shortly after returning home from her deployment to Cedar Rapids  in July, Wellman became the shelter manager at the Marion-Grant County Humane Society, where she is working to improve conditions for the animals and place them in new homes before the decaying shelter closes and relocates to a new facility in September.

Wellman is also a professional pet sitter, a member of the Indiana Horse Council, and a foster parent and former board member for Kentuckiana Pug Rescue. She helps plan educational programs for the annual Hoosier Horse Fair and Expo in Indianapolis, the largest, all volunteer-run expo in North America.

Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations 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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