UAN(May 4, 2010) – As floods batter Tennessee and residents of
UAN will offer a workshop on Saturday, June 12 to prepare people to volunteer with its Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS). Through EARS, UAN provides free temporary sheltering for animals displaced by natural disasters or rescued from mass cruelty situations in the United States and Canada. EARS volunteers care for, feed and comfort animals until they can be reunited with their families, placed with rescue groups or adopted into new homes — all at no cost to the community.
Diann Wellman, a veteran disaster responder from Hartford City, Indiana, will lead the workshop.
“EARS volunteers are specially trained in emergency sheltering, and we are prepared to assist a community at a moment’s notice when a large influx of animals in crisis overtaxes existing resources,” said Wellman, who has responded to flooding in Fargo, North Dakota and Cedar Rapids, Iowa; tornadoes in Greensburg, Kansas; and several cruelty cases. “Helping dogs, cats and others animals victimized by floods, tornadoes and human cruelty has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done.”
Current news reports of flooding in Tennessee and tornadoes in Mississippi show that disaster can strike anywhere, anytime, and communities must be prepared, Wellman added.
WHEN: Saturday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Humane Society of Indianapolis; 7929 North Michigan Road; Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
COST: $60 per person in advance. The registration fee includes a volunteer t-shirt, official photo ID badge, certificate of completion and educational materials.
REGISTER: Visit www.uan.org. Advance registration is required. Attendees must be at least 18 years old.The workshop is being hosted by the Humane Society of Indianapolis.
With nearly 3,000 active EARS volunteers in the United States and Canada, UAN can respond when communities become overburdened by a crisis involving a large number of animals. In 2009, EARS volunteers provided temporary sheltering for 4,500 animals in 17 emergency situations, including severe flooding in Fargo, North Dakota; the largest dogfighting bust in U.S. history in St. Louis, Missouri; and a criminal seizure of 84 starved and neglected horses in Cannon County, Tennessee.
Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations (UAN) focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. Learn more at www.uan.org.
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