ASPCA Awards $12,000 to Help Animal Victims of Indiana Floods

NEW YORK, June 20, 2008—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced it will award a $12,000 grant to the Morgan County Animal Shelter in Martinsville, Ind., following the recent and devastating floods in the state.

“This grant will assist with the care and medical treatment of more than 250 dogs and cats from the surrounding community whose owners have been displaced as a result of flooding in the area,” said ASPCA President & CEO, Ed Sayres. “It is important to us, as a national animal welfare organization, to be able to support efforts on a local level, especially in times of disaster and need. It is heartwarming that so many local shelters and humane societies are stepping up to the plate, and we are honored to support their efforts.”

According to the ASPCA’s Disaster Readiness Manager Tiffany Mahaffey, the Morgan County Animal shelter has transferred all of its adoptable animals to other parts of the country, via PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin’, in order to house the community’s animals within the community.  With the help of the ASPCA and C-Specialties, an Indiana-based animal supply company, the Morgan County Animal Shelter has been able to provide low-cost vaccines and medications to the local animals in its care.

“In addition to helping animals whose owners have been displaced,” Mahaffey said, “the ASPCA grant will help the Morgan County Animal Shelter continue to supply pet food to local Red Cross and FEMA shelters for those people who evacuated and were able to take their animals with them.”

Earlier this month, Morgan County received exceptional amounts of rain, which resulted in devastating flash floods.  On June 8, National Guard troops were dispatched to Morgan County to help residents evacuate.  The extensive flood damage led President Bush to declare Morgan County a federal disaster area.

Other states in the Midwest, including Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, have also been ravaged by extensive flooding, severe rain, and in some areas, tornadoes. “The ASPCA is in the process of determining how it can support other shelters as well, including the Iowa City Humane Society, and will be assisting them through the disbursement of grants,” Mahaffey said. “The ASPCA has also been donating other pet supplies, as needed, to both the Iowa City Humane Society and the Morgan County Animal Shelter.”

For more information about the ASPCA’s disaster readiness programs, please visit http://www.aspca.org/disaster