United Animal Nations provides critical sheltering support for massive rescue mission
June 7, 2011 – United Animal Nations (UAN), a California-based nonprofit organization, has deployed volunteers from across the United States to operate a temporary shelter in Alachua County, Florida for nearly 700 cats seized this morning from Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary in High Springs by Alachua County Animal Services.
  This kitten was among the nearly 700 cats rescued from neglectful conditions in Florida on June 7.  |
Distinguished by their red shirts, UAN volunteers are specially trained to care for and shelter large numbers of animals after they have been rescued from cruelty and neglect. UAN volunteers provide manpower, free of charge, that enables local animal control and law enforcement agencies to respond to large-scale animal cruelty cases.
“UAN’s volunteer team is recognized nationally for its ability to give neglected animals loving human contact, often for the first time in their lives,” said UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies, who traveled from California to manage the temporary shelter. “UAN’s free emergency sheltering services support local agencies that otherwise might not be able to respond to such large animal cruelty cases due to lack of resources and staff.”
Nine UAN volunteers have already traveled from as far as Texas, Oregon and Connecticut to care for the rescued animals at the temporary shelter, and five more will arrive later this week. UAN has more than 3,000 active volunteers in the United States and Canada, including 180 in Florida, and provides its services free of charge.
When responders arrived on the scene, they found approximately 697 cats and 1 rooster housed mainly in unsanitary wire pens throughout the eight-acre property. A veterinarian on the scene determined that many of the cats were underweight and suffering from medical ailments such as upper respiratory infections and parasite infestation.
This rescue was set in motion by Alachua County Animal Control, which received tips about allegedly cruel conditions and neglected animals in need of veterinary care and reached out to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for assistance. The HSUS called in UAN to provide animal care and sheltering support. The Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida will assist with medical treatment on the scene and throughout the rescue process, the ASPCA’s (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) forensic services team is gathering and documenting evidence, and PetSmart Charities® donated food and other much-needed supplies to the rescue efforts through its Emergency Relief Waggin’ program.
All of the cats are being safely removed and transported to the emergency shelter, where they will be examined by a team of veterinarians and receive any necessary immediate medical care. UAN and HSUS staff and volunteers will provide daily care for the animals until they are placed with rescue groups for adoption.
* To support UAN’s work to provide temporary sheltering for animals rescued from large-scale cruelty situations, donate to our Emergency Relief Fund.
* Learn more about animal hoarding, a psychological condition in which people collect more animals than they can provide proper food, shelter, sanitation and veterinary care for.
* Read more about this response and see photos on our Emergency Response Journal.
MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Raymond, (916) 429-2457 or araymond@uan.org
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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