Largest Single Gift to Louisiana SPCA for Rebuilding Efforts
SACRAMENTO (October 19, 2005) – United Animal Nations (UAN) issued several grants related to groups involved with Hurricane Katrina animal disaster relief today, including $75,000 to the Louisiana SPCA (LA/SPCA) to help with its animal shelter rebuilding efforts. The grant to LA/SPCA is the largest grant UAN has ever issued in its nearly 20-year history.
The LA/SPCA’s animal shelter was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. After leading efforts that led to the rescue of nearly 8,000 animals trapped in New Orleans, LA/SPCA turned its attention to setting up a new animal control division and shelter at a warehouse in the town of Algiers, Louisiana. The 40,000 square foot warehouse is requiring extensive renovation to accommodate animals and staff.
“We empathize with what the Louisiana SPCA staff – all of whom lost their own homes – have been through, and how they have soldiered on despite their own personal losses,” said UAN president and CEO Jennifer Fearing. “We are pleased that the generous support of our members allows UAN to provide this grant to help the LA/SPCA rebuild the shelter and resume their important work of behalf of the city’s homeless animal population.”
UAN designated its grant in memory of the animals from the Causeway Animal Hospital, who tragically perished while the LA/SPCA’s humane officers were evacuating them.
The LA/SPCA grant is in addition to $100,000 that UAN announced in September as a contribution to a fund established by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The Humane Society of the United States to reconstruct animal shelters and restore the capacity of animal protection efforts in the Gulf region. UAN was the first to commit additional money to the fund and is directing its contribution to shelters whose rebuilding plans include spay/neuter facilities.
UAN also awarded $2,500 grants to the Pet Animal Welfare Society of Northeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Animal Rescue League – organizations that helped UAN run two temporary animal shelters housing animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina. UAN awarded a grant for $10,000 to the Massachusetts Animal Coalition, to help cover costs associated with medical care for 39 dogs transferred to their custody from UAN’s temporary shelter in Monroe, Louisiana.
Through its volunteer-based Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), UAN has been heavily involved in the animal relief efforts in the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina hit on August 29. Nearly 300 trained EARS volunteers have deployed to assist with the operation of four emergency animal shelters in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. UAN also provided support for animal recovery operations in St. Bernard Parish in Chalmette, Louisiana, rescuing more than 600 animals and transferring them to other shelters.
Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations is recognized as 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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