The Humane Society of the United States is in Mississippi Helping Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Equestrian News Release
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Humane Society of the United States Disaster Animal Response Team (DART), in conjunction with the Mississippi Board of Animal Health, is in Mississippi assisting with a pet-friendly shelter that has been established at the Coliseum in Jackson, which currently houses more than 80 animals. For the Jackson, Miss. area only, a phone number has been established to call to report missing or found pets. The number is 1-800-252-0923.
This morning, seven HSUS DART and HSUS coordinated response teams headed south to the Hattiesburg area to conduct damage assessments and provide help as they find animals in need. The HSUS National DART team includes more than 35 trained responders, including members from the Okaloosa (FL) DART, Sumter County (FL) DART, Humane Society of Missouri, Day's End Farm Horse Rescue (MD), and others. Team capabilities include field expertise in search and rescue, first aid and sheltering of companion animals, horses, livestock and wildlife.
The HSUS will be deploying staff to Louisiana once we gain access from the government agencies to enter the state. The HSUS has a team staged and ready to go in once the go-ahead is given.
The HSUS team in Houston is supporting the Houston SPCA's efforts to arrange sheltering for pets of people staying in area shelters. Volunteers are helping transport animals from evacuees arriving at the Astrodome and taking them to a temporary shelter, which will be fully operational by Friday. Earlier this week, The HSUS supported the evacuation of animals from the Louisiana SPCA to shelters throughout Texas for adoption.
The HSUS has been planning for Hurricane Katrina since last week, coordinating with other organizations through state agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
The costs associated with The HSUS' rescue efforts are expected to exceed the organization's previous major disaster responses, which include aiding the animal victims of last year's tsunami, and responding to the series of hurricanes that hit Florida last year. The HSUS is accepting donations to support its disaster response efforts by calling 1-800-HUMANE-1, and on its web site -- http://www.hsus.org/ -- or by sending checks to HSUS Disaster Relief Fund, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than 9 million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at http://www.hsus.org/.
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