Pet industry manufacturers, retailers and animal welfare organizations continue to support animal rescue and relief efforts in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita:
• 1-800-HELP-4-PETS (Los Angeles) is offering lifetime pet identification services to evacuated pets.
• The American Animal Hospital Association (Denver) and The Humane Society of the United States (Washington) created the Katrina Pet Wellness Program to pay for basic veterinary checkups for displaced pets.
• The American Kennel Club (New York) and its affiliate, AKC Companion Animal Recovery, worked with the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs (Lake Mary) to airlift more than 100 dogs from a temporary shelter in Baton Rouge, La., to St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center (Madison, N.J.). AKC will financially support the dogs during their stay in New Jersey.
• Atomic Pet (Bridgeport, Conn.) donated more than 300 glowing pet collars to the Helen Woodward Animal Care Center (Santa Fe, Calif.), which is working with the St. Francis Animal Sanctuary of Louisiana to save displaced animals.
• H.H. Backer Associates Inc. (Chicago) donated $10,000 to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and $5,000 to the American Red Cross to help the victims—two-legged and four-legged—of Hurricane Katrina. The donations represent proceeds from on-site registration fees collected at the 39th Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show.
• Dad’s Pet Care (Meadville, Pa.) partnered with the North Shore Animal League America to airlift 93 animals from temporary shelters in the Gulf Coast to Port Washington, N.Y., before Hurricane Rita hit.
• Doskocil Manufacturing/Petmate Pet Products (Arlington, Texas) 24 pallets of crates, litter pans and food and water bowls to the pet shelter in Gonzales, La., the main evacuation location for pets rescued from New Orleans as well as a temporary home for pets belonging to Superdome evacuees.
• The Humane Society of Missouri, in cooperation with HSUS, airlifted nearly 150 animals from overcrowded Gulf Coast shelters to St. Louis.
• HSUS and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (New York) each donated $2.5 million to rebuild shelters damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. At press time, the groups were seeking up to $15 million from corporations, the government and other sources.
• Masterfoods USA (Hackettstown, N.J.) donated 200 tons of pet food to various rescue organizations in the region, and targeted temporary shelters in Lafayette and Gonzales, La., for monetary and product donations.
• Natura Pet Products Inc. (Santa Clara, Calif.) is providing food to Gulf Coast pets relocated to a shelter near its headquarters.
• About 40 members of NexPet (New York) members raised $10,000 for the Louisiana SPCA—whose employees played an instrumental part in Hurricane Katrina rescue efforts even though their New Orleans shelter was destroyed in the storm.
• Old Mother Hubbard (Chelmsford, Mass.) partnered with Dodge City Farm Supply Inc. (Denham Springs, La.) to distribute more than 24 tons of pet food and treats to Louisiana shelters. The company also coordinated employee donations to the American Red Cross.
• Palace Pet Products (Milwaukee) shipped more than 700 pet beds to Noah’s Wish (Placerville, Calif.) to help displaced pets.
• Members of Pet Sitters International (King, N.C.) raised more than $20,000 for animal-related organizations aiding victims of Hurricane Katrina, including the United Animal Nation's Emergency Animal Rescue Service, the American Red Cross' animal rescue effort and Noah's Wish. In addition, pet sitters at PSI’s annual conference signed a petition asking President George W. Bush and state officials to support the creation evacuation centers that allow pets in order to reduce loss of human and animal life during emergencies.
• Petco stores in Kenner and Harvey, La., installed kiosks with wireless Internet connections to allow customers to look for lost pets via the Animal Emergency Response Network at Petfinder.com.
• PetXtras (Bradley Beach, N.J.) raised more than $600 for Noah’s Wish and the Monmouth County SPCA (New Jersey) to help displaced pets. The company also donated collars and leashes to animal rescue organizations involved in rescue efforts.
• With help from community members, Planet Dog (Portland, Maine) filled a 14-foot truck and a 24-foot truck with 6 tons of food, water and supplies for needy pets in the Gulf Coast. The company also collected approximately $3,500 for Noah’s Wish. Its charitable arm donated $1,000.
• Revival Animal Health Inc. (Orange City, Iowa) donated products to various relief organizations, and sent e-mail blasts with relief information to customers.
• Sergeant’s Pet Care Products Inc. (Omaha, Neb.) shipped cases of flea/tick products and medicated shampoos to the Houston SPCA and Calcasieu Parish Animal Services (Lake Charles, La.).
• The SPCA of Central Florida (Orlando) partnered with Darden Restaurants to rescue displaced pets and transport them to central Florida to be reunited with their owners.
• Triple Crown Dog Academy (Hutto, Texas) housed 25 rescued dogs until their owners were located. The academy also housed several animals evacuated during Hurricane Rita.
• Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency (Brea, Calif.), in cooperation with the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (Schaumburg, Ill.), Fort Dodge Animal Health (Overland Park, Kan.), Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. (Topeka, Kan.), Merial Ltd. (Duluth, Ga.) and The Hartz Mountain Corp. (Secaucus, N.J.), sponsored “welcome home” packages for 100 families with pets affected by Hurricane Katrina. Packages include a two-year VPI veterinary care policy, twice-a-year wellness exams, a two-year supply of dog or cat food, lifetime supplies of heartworm and flea/tick preventive medications, and toys, bowls and collars.
• Virbac Corp. (Fort Worth, Texas) donated $25,000 to the Houston Humane Society, the Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine (Baton Rouge ) and other nonprofit animal welfare organizations involved in rescue and relief efforts.