September 14, 2011

A Community United: Aiding Flood Victims in Binghamton, New York

Guest blog by Lisa Rotter, First Responder with the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team.

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest impression. In my first year of responding with the ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response Team, I have been on all sorts of memorable deployments. Today I find myself in the quiet town of Binghamton, New York, responding to the devastating floods that submerged much of the surrounding counties.

Our job is simple—we are providing a safe, clean environment for pets while their families sort through the rubble of their waterlogged homes, trying to regain some semblance of normalcy. We are proud to provide them with this service as they feverishly work to bring their companions home.

Yet what strikes me most is not the families of our resident pets, but rather the members of the community who heeded the call for help. On our first day here, we put out a request through the local media for donations of cleaning products and pet supplies. Most of the surrounding stores were closed due to flooding, and many of the roads are impassable, making the delivery of outside supplies nearly impossible. We expected a community response, but nothing quite prepared us for the one we got.

The very next day a caravan of cars began pulling up to the emergency shelter. People began unloading trunks full of supplies and offering their time to wash bowls or clean cages. Some people quietly strode up to our donation pile and set down a single roll of paper towels. Others dropped off blankets and towels. We were simply overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity. These people had just lost their homes, their town was nearly destroyed, yet here they were—united.

One story that particularly stood out was of a 14-year-old girl. Despite her family’s home being uninhabitable, she found the time to go around the community to raise donations—and proudly handed us the $50 she’d collected.

This deployment is truly a shining example of people reaching out to one another in a time of need. Binghamton residents may live in a small town, but you’d be hard-pressed to find people with bigger hearts than theirs.

To learn more about ASPCA first responders, please visit our Raids and Investigations section.

September 7, 2011

ASPCA Provides Emergency Funds to New Jersey Horse Sanctuary

As soon as we heard that 32 horses were living without adequate food or shelter due to Tropical Storm Irene, our team stepped in to help. The ASPCA, in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States, just gave $5,000 in financial support to Rivers Edge Horse Rescue and Sanctuary in Newton, New Jersey.

In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, residual flooding of nearby marshes and streams of the Delaware River severely impacted the East Coast equine sanctuary. The barn and adjoining paddocks were left unusable, with much of the fencing washed away. The horses, who had to be moved through three feet of water to get to higher ground, were left without proper shelter.

“I would like to thank so many people for their help during this difficult time, especially HSUS and the ASPCA, for the financial assistance they have provided for our horses,” says Diane Romano-Potacki, founder of Rivers Edge Horse Rescue and Sanctuary.

For more information on keeping yourself and your pets safe in the event of an emergency, please read our list of Disaster Readiness tips.

September 1, 2011

ASPCA Provides Critical Water Rescue for Pets Stranded by Irene

After a state of emergency was declared in the area, the ASPCA deployed to Schoharie County, New York, to assist with the emergency rescue and sheltering of animals stranded by severe flooding. Small towns are engulfed by water, and roads and bridges have been closed across the county.

“We’re providing emergency water rescues for pets trapped inside flooded homes,” says Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. “People can’t get home; the damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene is just devastating.”

Rescued animals will be taken to the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley where they will be triaged and housed until they can be reunited with their families. PetSmart Charities has supplied much-needed provisions such as crates, blankets and bowls.

“We’re committed to helping families and pets impacted by Tropical Storm Irene,” says Rickey. “We’ll be here for as long as they need us.”

Schoharie County residents looking to rescue or shelter their pets or wishing to report lost pets should contact Animal Services at the Schoharie County Emergency Operations Center at (518) 231-2718.

Stay tuned to ASPCA.org for more on this breaking story.

August 31, 2011

Saving Lives: Is Your City’s Evacuation Center Pet-Friendly?

This past weekend NYC raised the bar on disaster relief—the city made sure all human evacuation centers accepted pets, too. And because of this vital protocol, lives were saved.

Rosalie Yandoli lives in a small bungalow one block away from Rockaway Beach. On Friday afternoon, NYPD officers came to her door, informing her that evacuation was mandatory.

“I told them I wasn’t going anywhere without my cat, Brandy,” says Rosalie. “It’s just me and her in this world. We’ve been together for 14 years, and I was staying put.”

The officers immediately reassured Rosalie that all evacuation centers were pet-friendly; Brandy could come, too. She quickly packed a bag, and with Brandy in tow was escorted to the John Adams Evacuation Center.

“I was scared. I didn’t know what to expect,” Rosalie admits. “But when I arrived I was immediately welcomed. They had everything Brandy needed and they even gave her a private room because of her advanced age—it was more than I could have hoped for.”

Rosalie’s apartment was completely destroyed by Hurricane Irene. “There’s nothing left—my bungalow was completely flooded…we never would have made it out if we had stayed.”
 
The ASPCA sincerely thanks the City of New York for making this life-saving protocol mandatory, and we strongly urge other states follow its example.

Take Action
Contact your local government officials and ask for a list of pet-friendly evacuation shelters in your area. If there are none, kindly ask them to consider the needs of both pets and people during a disaster.

August 29, 2011

ASPCA Provides Transport for Displaced Pets

Nearly 100 animals are on the move. ASPCA responders are currently en route to Long Island animal shelter Bobbi and the Strays, and they’ve got some precious cargo.

In anticipation of Hurricane Irene, animals being sheltered at Bobbi and the Strays were evacuated from its Long Island shelter to its adoption center in Queens. Today they were ready to go back home. The ASPCA assisted with the transport.

“While the storm has passed, our priority still remains to assist with any animal care and sheltering needs,” says Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. “We were happy to help Bobbi and the Strays transport these animals back to their main shelter site.”

Over the weekend, the ASPCA assisted with emergency sheltering and relief for displaced pets throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

“Our responders visited evacuation centers to assist with setup, evaluate the status of pets being housed, and deliver emergency pet supplies,” explains Rickey. “While we expected the storm to be worse than it was, our team was prepared to provide support where needed.”

August 28, 2011

ASPCA Reminds Tri-State Area Pet Parents to Remain Cautious

While the worst of Hurricane Irene seems to have passed through the tri-state area, the ASPCA reminds all area pet parents to use caution before allowing their pets to go outside. While the current weather conditions may appear safe, the severe wind and rain that impacted the tri-state area overnight led to downed power lines, fallen trees, and displaced sewer grates and manhole covers—dangers that can cause serious injury or even death to both people and animals. Please think of your pets’ safety, as well as your own, before venturing outside.

For all the latest on Hurricane Irene and the ASPCA’s response, please stay tuned to ASPCA.org.

August 27, 2011

Note from ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres: ASPCA Prepared as Hurricane Irene Closes In

I wish I could personally thank each of you for everything you have done so far to help animals affected by Hurricane Irene.  To each of you who has welcomed an animal evacuee into your home, who has dropped off pet supplies at an evacuation center, who has spread the word directly or through Facebook or Twitter about protecting pets during the storm, who has volunteered, or who has simply kept the East Coast in your thoughts and prayers during this scary time, I thank you. 

While the ASPCA is a national organization, we are headquartered in New York City.  Many of our employees have had to evacuate their own homes, but still insist on working on our disaster response efforts.  We have staff, volunteers and disaster relief experts from around the country working all night in several locations in New York and ready to deploy to the hardest hit areas as soon as Irene arrives. 

Throughout Saturday, ASPCA responders visited evacuation centers across New York City to ensure those centers were equipped to care for pets accompanying their human evacuees.
We are coordinating the disaster response efforts for animals with federal, state, and local officials as well as with other animal interest organizations. 

The ASPCA’s Field Investigations & Response Team is called on to assist the animal victims of disasters and cruelty around the country.  For example, in 2010, this group engaged in 27 full-scale deployments and more than 120 investigations and consultations to help animals in danger.  Despite this breadth of experience, a historic hurricane in New York City will present challenges not seen in other disasters.

Rest assured that the ASPCA is prepared to act fast to aid the animals affected by Irene the best we can.  We have a rescue boat and several massive tractor trailers full of supplies ready and waiting to go to the hardest hit areas.  None of us knows what Irene’s aftermath will bring, but I can assure you that we will do everything we can to save the lives of animals endangered by this storm.

August 27, 2011

Hurricane Irene: Day One on the Ground in NYC

The storm has arrived in New York City. As the evacuation centers continue to fill with families, the ASPCA is focusing on providing care for their pets. "We expect the full impact of the storm to hit early tomorrow morning and have spent the day preparing and planning our response to any situation that may arise," says Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response.

Our responders have been deployed to evacuation centers in all five boroughs of New York City. We’ve also created a hotline that evacuation centers can call to receive additional pet supplies and support.

"Our thoughts are with all of the families bracing for the impact of Hurricane Irene, and with those who are now faced with her aftermath," says Rickey. Stay tuned to ASPCA.org for more on this story.

August 27, 2011

Hurricane Irene: Breaking News for the Tri-State Region

As Hurricane Irene continues its projected course towards New York City, the ASPCA is helping pet parents prepare for the worst-case scenario.

• All evacuation centers in New York and New Jersey are required to accept animals. Please don’t leave your pets behind!
• Not sure if you’re in an evacuation zone? Visit this map to see if your home falls in a location currently required to evacuate.
• All New York City taxis are required to transport pets. The city’s public transit system shut down at noon on Saturday, and the mayor reports that it is unlikely to resume service for several days.
• If you haven’t already, please stock up on food, water, batteries, first aid kits and other emergency supplies to keep yourself and your pets safe during a storm or prolonged power outage.
• Stay indoors! Irene is a slow-moving storm and will likely result in unpredictable surges and high-speed winds. Keep your pets with you at all times.

ASPCA responders are currently on site at emergency facilities across the five boroughs, and are ready to offer support and relief to the city’s pets and their families. For all the latest on Hurricane Irene and the ASPCA’s response, please stay tuned to ASPCA.org.

August 26, 2011

ASPCA, Pet Parents Prepare for Hurricane Irene

As Hurricane Irene threatens a large swath of land along the Eastern Seaboard, the ASPCA is deploying emergency responders to help rescue and shelter animals displaced by the storm. Members of our Field Investigations and Response Team are working closely with the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the OEM’s Animal Planning Task Force to assist with the city’s disaster relief efforts.

The ASPCA encourages pet parents to develop an emergency plan in advance of the storm, and include potential evacuation in that plan. “Disasters threaten the safety of people and animals alike, and it’s often too late to create a plan for your pets when you’re in the middle of a crisis,” says Tim Rickey, Senior Director of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team. For families who must leave their homes, evacuation centers and emergency shelters in New York City will be pet friendly, and people are encouraged to evacuate with their pets. Please call 311 to find an evacuation center. All NYC taxis are required to take animals.

UPDATE: Download a PDF of the NYC Hurricane Evacuation Map.

The ASPCA offers the following tips:

• Bring pets indoors at the first sign of the storm. Animals can become disoriented and wander away from home during a disaster.
• Arrange a safe haven for yourself and your pets in the event of evacuation. Do not leave pets behind.
• Store an emergency kit—with items such as pet food, bottled water, medical records, a blanket, a flashlight and leashes—as close to an exit as possible.
• Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification.
• Affix a rescue alert sticker to your front door or window to let rescuers know that there are pets inside your home.
• Choose a designated caregiver to take care of your pet in the event you are unable to do so.

For more information on how to keep yourself and your pet safe in the event of an emergency, please read our complete list of Disaster Readiness tips. Stay tuned to ASPCA.org for the latest on this developing story.