BF Rapid Response

Rapid Response Volunteer Requirements

Annag — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:21:13 GMT

How To Become a Rapid Response Team Member

For more information, contact Jennifer Schrolucke at jennifersc@bestfriends.org.

The Best Friends Rapid Response team is organized so that we're in compliance with the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC), of which Best Friends is a member. Team members are deployed at the discretion of our Rapid Response Manager, Rich Crook, and our national volunteer coordinator in the event of a disaster.

For the first level of response readiness (also known as "Awareness") you would need to take four courses:

FEMA IS-100.A Introduction to the Incident Command System, I-100
FEMA IS-200.A ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
FEMA IS-700.A National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
FEMA IS-800.B National Response Framework, An Introduction

This coursework is available at http://training.fema.gov. When you have completed these, as well as any other relevant trainings, please email the links to your certificates or send scanned copies to Jennifer Schrolucke at jennifersc@bestfriends.org.

We also highly recommend the following vaccinations and additional trainings. When completed, please send copies of the documentation for your file:

Tetanus
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Rabies

First aid and CPR classes (available through the Red Cross or the American Heart Association)

We also need for you to complete the following paperwork:

If you are not already signed up, please become a Network Friend. Click Sign Up! Then login in and choose Edit Profile to update your record.
We need complete contact information, including snail mail address, on "My Volunteer Profile."
Then click the small orange word Volunteer and then Edit My Volunteer Info.
Provide two professional or personal references (no family members, please) with email addresses on the "My References" tab.
Completely fill out the Medical Info" section on the "Additional Info" tab
We also need your unisex t-shirt size on the "Additional Info" tab. Other than that, you may include as much or as little information as you wish.
Signed Volunteer Agreement (sent to you by Best Friends). You will be able to type in the date and your name (electronic signature) save it, and then return it to as an email attachment.

Needs (resources, situations) for Georgia/Tennessee flooding

jhayes — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:04:34 GMT

Severe flooding is currently occurring in the Georgia/Tennessee region. Here is a listing of resources and requests that have been received by Best Friends (which will also be posted in the forums of the Georgia, Tennessee and Atlanta GoLocals on the Network:

► 9/22/09: Help needed at East Ridge Animal Services

Hey all, POST TO ALL, NEED HELP NOW!

Cannot keep dogs at vet hospitals much longer!

Bad news, I had to cut into the fence this morning to get the cats out of the shelter. By noon the shelter will have about two feet of water in it. We need rescue to step up and help us get these dogs from Catoosa Veterinary Hospital and East Ridge Animals Hospital.

Websites up-dated: www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN360.html

Rescues can pull our "Guardian Angel" dogs as an adoption on we will pay for the spay/neuter most have has rabies and all have has DA2PP & Bordetella at the shelter.

I can be reached only by cell now: 423-421-3681. I am sending this email from City Hall and will not have access to a computer today!

Thanks,

Carl Zagona
East Ridge Animal Control Supervisor
1015 Yale St.
East Ridge , TN 37412
423-664-0271

Re: Needs (resources, situations) for Southern California wildfires

jhayes — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:46:35 GMT

Basset Rescue Network has issued the following plea since the fire, including a Fire Recovery Bath Day this Sunday, September 13:

-------------------------------------

RECOVERY EFFORT BEGINS!

Smoke and ash, wind and stress has died down considerably - donors wondering what our current needs are can see the following list of needed items to help us in getting the hounds back to their normal happy selves.

Saturday - Recovery - trash hauling, clearing, cleaning, feeding, set up for bath day 10 a.. - 7 p.m.

Sunday - September 13, 2009 will be a Fire Recovery Bath Day.

Feeding, scooping and normal routine - 8 a.m. start

Emergency water barrel set up - 8 a.m. start

Recovery work party 10 a.m. start

Bath Day - bath smoke, ash and grime from the hounds, ear cleaning, eye cleaning, nail trimming - 12:00 start time til completion

Pure Honey

Trash bags - 33 gallon Hefty or contractor bags

Paper Towels

Buddy Bath - lavender & mint shampoo

Desert Sky Blue Shampoo - http://www.ryanspetsupplies.com/

John Paul's Eucalyptus/Tea Tree Shampoo

Muzzles

Kirkland Cookies (Costco - its the ONLY cookie we feed)

Evangers canned chicken & rice

Canned Chicken

BNP Ointment - or antibiotic eye ointment of any kind

Saline solution 2% saline or less

Human bed pillows - need hundreds - had to throw out almost all exterior stuffed dog beds. Target, Walmart etc.

Postage

Allergy Free Laundry Soap

Simple Green

Please email on in if you are planning on attending!

On behalf of the hounds and their pals -

Thank you.

Dawn Smith

Basset Rescue Network at Daphneyland

http://www.barniatdaphneyland.org/

We are currently recovering from the Station Fire - email will be forwarded to the appropriate volunteer, please be patient. Please help us bath the hounds on 9/13/09!
Donations for emergency funding can be made at:
www.firstgiving.com/ActonFire_BassetRescueNetwork

In the event of an emergency - please call 661 269-2682

Re: Needs (resources, situations) for Southern California wildfires

jhayes — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:45:54 GMT

UPDATE: Per an updated e-mail communiation from founder Martine Colette, Wildlife Waystation has had had to evacute all of their animals due to the wildfires. However, she notes the following,

"Finding temporary homes for 400 animals and moving them to their new locations out of the raging fire’s path is a huge undertaking. If not for the myriad of animal loving friends and volunteers, our animals would never have made it to safety. God bless every one of them.

However, the costs of this emergency evacuation are astronomical. Additional staffing at the temporary facilities for the public’s safety and well-being of our animal friends, and getting food and medicine for our animals is adding up hour by hour.

We truly need your support now."

If you wish to help contribute financially to their organization, click here.

Wildfires Hit Southern California

jhayes — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:48:20 GMT

As the deadly wildfires are raging in Southern California, you may be wondering if the Best Friends Rapid Response team is making deployment plans.

You can rest assured that we're carefully monitoring the situation and will be in touch with emergency management personnel. We will deploy only if requested and needed. Please continue to monitor this site for updates.

Meanwhile, here's all the information you need about how you can prepare to help Best Friends in the event of a disaster situation.

To become a member of the Best Friends Rapid Response team, you must have very specific training, and disaster responses are strictly managed by authorities in charge of each situation.

Team members are only deployed at the discretion of our program director and our national coordinator, depending on what’s called for in each case.

The Best Friends Rapid Response team is organized in compliance with the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC), of which Best Friends is a member.

For the first level of response readiness (also known as “Awareness”) you need to complete five courses:

- FEMA IS-100 Introduction to the Incident Command System, I-100

- FEMA IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents

- FEMA IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction

- FEMA IS-800.B National Response Framework, An Introduction

- FEMA IS-10 Animals in Disaster, Module A: Awareness and Preparedness

This coursework is available at the FEMA website.

When you have completed these, as well as any other relevant trainings, please email the links to your certificates or send scanned copies to jennifersc@bestfriends.org.

We also highly recommend the following vaccinations and additional trainings. When completed, please send copies of the documentation for your file:

- Tetanus

- Hepatitis A

- Hepatitis B

- Rabies

- First aid and CPR classes (available through the Red Cross or the American Heart Association)

A full explanation of requirements for volunteers and the various qualification levels is available in the Resources area on this group, under the heading "Requirements for Volunteers."

We also require that you create a volunteer file as follows:

If you are not already a member, join the Best Friends Network. Log in, go into your member profile, select Volunteer Profile and then Edit My Volunteer Info to update your record.

- We need complete contact information on the “Contact Info” tab.

- Provide two references with email addresses on the “My References” tab.

- We also need your unisex T-shirt size and complete medical information on the “Additional Info” tab

Stay tuned to the Best Friends Rapid Response group for any additional updates.

For a list of current needs/resources for this situation, see the Rapid Response and California forums.

Questions? Please email Jen at jennifersc@bestfriends.org.

Photo by Andrea Booher, FEMA

Re: Needs (resources, situations) for Southern California wildfires

Frans_Hoffman — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:36:18 GMT

Earlier today (9/2/2009) Kinship Circle sent out an email detailing the needs of the various animal rescues in the fire zones.

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/

9/2/09: Animals In California Fires – An Overview
Animal Acres Update
Wildlife Waystation
Pasadena Humane Society
Shambala Big Cat Sanctuary
Horses Ride Out Fire At Pierce College Equestrian Center
Fire Evacuation Sites That Accept Animals

==================================================================
1. Animal Acres Update
Animal Acres / 5200 Escondido Canyon Rd / Acton, CA 93510
661-269-5404 * info@animalacres.org * http://animalacres.org

LT: Pigs get a drink at the evac site. RT: Animals rest at their evacuation
center near Palmdale, Calif. Farm animals evacuated because of Station fire:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/08/animal-acres-acton-station-fire-evacuate.html

ON THE GROUND:
SITUATION CONTAINED. STANDBY VOLS NEEDED FOR RETURN TRANSPORT.
Frank Allen, Animal Acres' manager, tells Kinship Circle all animals are
safely evacuated to one site. Volunteers will be needed when time to
transport animals back to Animals Acres -- a task that may be more difficult
than the evacuation itself, since everyone is spread out.

Frank will not risk moving animals until the fires are 95% contained and out
of the area. As in any crisis situation, we ask for your patience and
flexibility...as circumstances can change in a heartbeat.

UPDATE FROM ANIMAL ACRES FOUNDER LORRI HOUSTON:
"We are safe and all animals have been relocated... The past two days,
volunteers have installed wire lines directly to the animal enclosures,
constructed additional pen areas, and moved cleaning, health care, and feed
supplies and equipment to the evacuation site -- as it now appears that the
sanctuary animals will not be able to return until September 15 or later.“

Animal Acres needs $$ for construction of shade shelters and automatic
waters, as animals will be at the evac site awhile in high temperatures.

SEND MONETARY DONATIONS TO:
http://www.animalacres.org/donate.html
Animal Acres / 5200 Escondido Canyon Rd / Acton, CA 93510

TO BE AN ANIMALS ACRES STANDBY VOLUNTEER:
KINSHIP CIRCLE is recruiting/managing standby volunteers for Animal Acres
SEND INFO BELOW TO: info@kinshipcircle.org

- FIRST & LAST NAME:
- PHONE NUMBERS:
- EMAIL ADDRESS:
- FULL ADDRESS:
SUBJECT LINE: Animal Acres Volunteer

=================================================================
2. Wildlife Waystation
Wildlife Waystation / 14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd / Sylmar, CA 91342
818-899-5201 * http://www.wildlifewaystation.org

White tiger waits to be evacuated. Credit: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times.
Wildlife Waystation evacuates exotic animals from Little Tujunga Canyon
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/09/animals-waystation-fires.html

ON THE GROUND:
Wildlife Waystation tells Kinship Circle they're doing fine -- except for a
continuing need for LARGE, STURDY CAGES for lions, tigers, bears. They also
need monetary donations to sustain animals during the evacuation and return
transport. Wildlife Waystation, in Little Tujunga Canyon, is a 160-acre home
to over 400 animals, including tigers, lions, bears, chimpanzees.

Contrary to alerts circulating the internet, Wildlife Waystation reports:
"All of our animals are safe. Although the fire is dangerously close, we are
fully staffed. Emergency crews have worked around the clock to preserve our
safety." Spokesperson Jerry Brown says they have personnel, trucks and
trailers to evacuate -- the most pressing needs now are funds and the
giant-sized transport crates needed to move the remaining big cats.

SEND MONETARY DONATIONS TO:
http://www.wildlifewaystation.org * 818-899-5201
Wildlife Waystation / 14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd / Sylmar, CA 91342

SUPPLIES TO:
CALL 818-899-5201
DO NOT DROP OFF, CALL FIRST to ensure clearance.
Some areas are designated no-go zones due to fires.

SUPPLY NEEDS:
* Large cages able to hold an approx. 400 pound lion or tiger
* CALL 818-899-5201

VOLUNTEER NEEDS:
No volunteers are needed at this time.

Wildlife Waystation founder Martine Colette tries to comfort 13 chimpanzees
loaded into cages for transport to a safe holding location at the L.A. Zoo.
Credit: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times

=================================================================
3. Pasadena Humane Society
361 S Raymond Ave. / Pasadena, CA 91105-2687
626-792-7151 * http://www.pasadenahumane.org/site/PageServer

ON THE GROUND:
Pasadena Humane Society is the primary local agency for companion animals.
"As of 9/1/09, we had already taken in more than 360 frightened and confused
animals from evacuated areas. Staff remains available round the clock to
accept these evacuees." They need monetary donations to feed, shelter and
care for animals affected by the Station fires.

SEND MONETARY DONATIONS TO:
https://secure3.convio.net/phs/site/Donation2?1340.donation=form1&df_id=1340
361 S Raymond Ave. / Pasadena, CA 91105-2687

DROP OFF OR SHIP SUPPLIES TO:
361 S Raymond Ave. / Pasadena, CA 91105-2687

SUPPLY NEEDS:
* Wet and dry cat food
* Wet and dry dog food

VOLUNTEER NEEDS:
No volunteers are needed at this time.

=================================================================
4. Shambala Big Cat Sanctuary
Shambala Preserve / 6867 Soledad Canyon Rd. / Acton, CA 93510
661-268-0380 * http://www.shambala.org/

Michael Jackson's beloved tigers Thriller and Sabu living out their
lives at Shambala Preserve in Acton, Calif. http://www.shambala.org/

ON THE GROUND:
Shambala's resident lions, tigers and other animals are (hopefully) staying
put. LA Times Blogs says Chris Gallucci, Shambala's vice president of
operations, told colleagues at L.A. Now that the sanctuary staff "have
everything to fight fires on this property" and that they perform elaborate
fire drills every six weeks to ready themselves for an event like the
Station fire. The preserve has dozens of steel evacuation crates if 64 big
cats need to be moved. It also has a 22,000-gallon water tank, a lake and a
complete fire road around the 80-acre site, Gallucci said...

SEND MONETARY DONATIONS TO:
CLICK DONATE from this page: http://www.shambala.org/
The Roar Foundation / PO Box 189 / Acton, CA 93510

SUPPLIES TO:
No request for supplies at this time.

VOLUNTEER NEEDS:
No volunteers are needed at this time.

=================================================================
5. Horses Ride Out Fire At Pierce College Equestrian Ctr
Los Angeles Pierce College / 6201 Winnetka Ave / Woodland Hills, CA 91371
818-347-0551 * http://www.piercecollege.edu/

ON THE GROUND:
9/1/09 -- Horses are being accepted at Pierce College Equestrian Center, as
the Station Fire continues to force area evacuations. 88 horses have found
safe haven, while there are accommodations for up to 200. Large animals
including a cow, a boar, four lamas and two sheep have also taken shelter at
Pierce, however remaining space is reserved for horses.

EMERGENCY CENTER GUIDELINES:
* No stallions
* Bring horse, owner name and phone number
* Bring a water tub and medicines for your animal
* Bring feed if you can

=================================================================
6. Fire Evacuation Sites That Accept Animals

STATION FIRE: Los Angeles County animal shelter evacuates goats from an
Acton ranch along Soledad Canyon Road. Residents and animals were evacuated
from the area as fire advanced. Photo by David Crane/Daily News Staff

EVACUATION CENTERS FOR LARGE & SMALL ANIMALS:
SOURCE: http://cbs2.com/tv/Morris.Fire.Update.2.1146019.html

- La Canada High School, 4463 Oak Grove Drive, La Canada

- Loma Alta County Park at Lincoln and Loma Alta, Altadena

- Pasadena Humane Society, 361 S. Raymond, Pasadena
See listing #3 in this newsletter.

- Agoura Animal Shelter, 29525 Agoura Rd, Agoura, CA 91301
Small animals * 818-991-0071

- Lancaster Animal Shelter, 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
Small animals * 661-940-4191

- Sunland Park Evacuation Center, Verdugo Hills High School, 10625 Planview
Ave., Tujunga, CA / Small animals

- Los Angeles East Valley Animal Shelter, 13131 Sherman Way, North Hollywood
888-452-7381 * http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA767.html

- L.A. County Animal Care & Control, Baldwin Park, 4275 N. Elton St.
626-430-2378 * http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA671.html

- Glendale Humane Society, 401 N. Verdugo, Glendale
http://www.glendalehumane.org/
"Casitas Cat Hotel will provide boarding for cats affected by the fires.
Please contact them directly at 323-664-7115 or 818-468-7825 after hours.
Glendale Humane will monitor its message lines each hour throughout the
evening. Please leave a message: 818-242-1128."

- Pierce College, 39055 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills
Horses, donkeys and mules ONLY. See listing #5 in this newsletter.

- Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 2551 West Avenue H, Lancaster 93536
Large animals.

- Hansem Dam Equestrian Center
Large animals. Call 818-756-9323 for more information.

FOR ANIMAL EVAC INFORMATION IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY:
Mary Lukens, Angora Station: 818-706-5883

==================================================================
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Your tax-deductible donation lets us network reliably during animal
disasters. Thanks for keeping us in touch, so we can bring you breaking
news, ways to help, and volunteer deployments (when activated to do so).

*   DONATE SECURELY ONLINE: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/donation

*   DONATE BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER:
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KINSHIP CIRCLE is a 501c3 public charity. Donations are tax-deductible.

SUBSCRIBE NOW - FOR BREAKING NEWS & ACTION:
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Re: Field Ops Training : Noah's Wish Training

krnsable — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:54:43 GMT

Check the Noah's Wish website at www.Noahswish.org. I believe they have completed their 2009 training, but be sure to check back periodically to see when they post the locations & dates for their 2010 training. They conduct training all across the US and in Canada, so they may well offer training somewhere close enough to you that you'll be able to attend. When I went to the training in June, it was about a 5 hour drive for me, as that was the closest training to me this year. But the drive was well worth it!!! Each year they update the training topics, and include something different, so even if you've been through the training before, each time is a learning experience. I believe they were planning to conduct some hands on training with exotics in 2010 as part of their field training. Should be fun.

Karen

(Pittsburgh, PA)

Needs (resources, situations) for Southern California wildfires

jhayes — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:36:52 GMT

As of this posting, already almost 122,000 acres have burned in the current deadly Southern California wildfire. Here is a listing of resources and requests that have been received by Best Friends.

► Wildlife Waystation is in desperate need of bodies.Need flatbed trucks/trailers 16' to 30' for evacuation of exotic animals (LA) Pls. call 818-899-5201 if you can help. PLEASE CROSS POST FAR & WIDE.

Trucks and cages big enough to hold bears are needed. Please also see the following article about the Wildlife Waystation evacation, Wildlife Waystation being evacuated in LA Fires

Additional entries will be added as they are received.

Kanarraville, Utah Under Evacuation Due To New Harmony Fire

MartiL — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:54:46 GMT

Fire which began four weeks ago due to lightning strike has greatly expanded.

Yesterday afternoon the Best Friends Rapid Response team delivered supplies to Kanarraville at the request of UEARC (Utah Emergency Animal Rescue Coalition).

Up until two days ago the fire had only burned a couple thousand acres, but as of this morning it has grown to 30,000 acres and is predicted to double again in size.

New Harmony has issued a mandatory evacuation. The American Red cross is set up at 80 N Main in Kanarraville for the residents and 320 N Main for the animals. The animals are being cared for by local residents at the moment.

Posted by Marti Lombardi, Best Friends network volunteer. Picture provided by morguefile.com.

Field Ops Training: Northern California (DART)

Frans_Hoffman — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:28:50 GMT

Northern California CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) graduates have the opportunity to attend a free 17-hour Advanced CERT Training. Participants will learn how to set up and manage an emergency animal shelter during a disaster.

The training has two parts. The theory part brings together best practices from national organizations such as Noah's Wish, Best Friends, HSUS, SPCA etc. etc. and is taught by instructors with extensive disaster experience. The second part consists of two half-day drills where participants set up a pet friendly shelter. During the second drill we will join the American Red Cross that is conducting a human shelter set up drill.

This Lamorinda DART (Disaster Animal Response Team) training will take place in Moraga, Contra Costa County, which is in the San Francisco Bay Area and begins September 10th. For more information, please visit our web site at http://LamorindaDART.org.

Participants should expect to deploy frequently. Lamorinda DART is setting up MOU’s with Contra Costa County Animal Services for countywide emergency deployments and with Noah’s Wish, a national animal disaster sheltering organization. Graduates are eligible for membership in the Contra Costa County Pet Emergency Preparedness Team.

Lamorinda DART and PEP Team members recently returned from deployment through Noah's Wish to the Lockheed Fire (Santa Cruz Mountains) where they took care of 160 horses, alpacas, goats, geese, ducks etc. We build cohorts, teams of animal first responders who have experience working together during emergencies and disasters outside our normal area of operations.

Frans Hoffman, fhoffman@LamorindaDART.org

Louisville, KY Flood Prompts Evacuation of Animal Shelter:

MartiL — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:57:51 GMT

On Tuesday morning August 4, 2009, Louisville, Kentucky received six inches of rain in 75 minutes, and flooding occurred.

Many buildings were impacted, including the animal shelter. Related news articles:

Flood Prompts Evacuation of Animal Shelter

Flooding kills animals in shelter

Kentucky Guard Sends Swift Water Teams To Louisville

Several animals drown as shelter floods, 600 others moved to fairgrounds

Drenched Louisville Residents Dry Out After Floods

How You Can Help:

The Best Friends Rapid Response team is not planning a response to this disaster. However, if you are close by or have resources they could use, the Metro Animal Services is in need of donated items and cash.

Items can be brought to the shelter at 3705 Manslick Rd. or to any Feeders Supply Location (large items should be brought to the shelter). Please note, donations are no longer being accepted at the fairgrounds!

Posted by Marti Lombardi, Best Friends network volunteer. Picture provided by Jeanine Sloan.

Re: Field Ops Training : Noah's Wish Training

jjkrzysiak — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:07:08 GMT

HI MY HUSBAND AND I JUST JOINED DISASTER RESPONSE AND WOULD LOVE TO TAKE THE TRAINING. WE LIVE IN LAKE HAVASU AZ IN THE WINTER . WE ARE NOW IN COL AND WELL BE VOLUNTEERING AT DOG DOWN IN SEPT. WHEN AND WHERE IS THE NEXT TRAINING THANK YOU JEAN . jjkrzysiak@netscape.com

Re: Field Ops Training : Noah's Wish Training

JillC — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:12:27 GMT

Hi,

I'm certified with EARS and would love to attend the Noah's Wish training. I saw back in 2005 that there was a training in Seattle, will there be another training in Seattle or Portland in the near future?

Thank you,

Jill

RE: RE: Noah's Wish Training

dcdawn — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:14:53 GMT

this is referring to the SoCal training...Yes...early next year..I went this year and it was a blast.

RE: RE: Noah's Wish Training

dcdawn — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:13:40 GMT

Yes...early next year..I went this year and it was a blast....

Re: Field Ops Training : Noah's Wish Training

krnsable — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:39:54 GMT

I attended the Noah's Wish training in Virginia at the end of June. What an awesome bunch of truely dedicated folks.!!! The training was great.!! I got some hands on experience with animals, including horses and poultry, got recertified in Pet First Aid & CPR, and also got training in doing decontamination .The "roughing it" aspect of the weekend gave you a taste of what it would be like to deploy to a disaster. On the Monday after the training we took part in a Disaster Drill with the State of Virginia, and set up an emergency animal shelter at the county fairgrounds. It was a very worthwhile experience, and I would strongly recommend this training.

Karen

Pittsburgh, PA

Resources

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:06:59 GMT

Documents

Rapid Response Operating Guidelines Section 3 - ALERT Levels and Procedures.doc

Animal Care

Animal Care: Las Vegas Meeting Notes

Best Friends Rapid Response Field Manual

City, State Shelter/Rescue/Hotel Listings For Crisis Management

Gulf Coast Animal Resources.xls

Communications & Technology (CommTek)

Data Tracking

DataTrackingFinal[1].pdf

Interagency Cooperation

Logistics/ supplies

DeliverableDraftLogisticsFinal.doc

Search And Rescue

Volunteers/Hospitality

Links

Mustangs Rescued from Nebraska Ranch on to Greener Pastures

martil — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:26:46 GMT

All 211 Animals Placed in New Homes, Involved Parties Thrilled with Outcome

Update May 14, 2009

Cheyenne, WY – Just three weeks after more than 220 neglected horses and burros were seized from a Morrill County ranch, all of the animals have found new homes through Habitat for Horses, a Texas-based equine protection organization.

On April 22nd, 211 horses and burros were seized from Three Strikes Ranch, a private mustang facility just outside Alliance, Nebraska. An additional 74 animals were confirmed dead. Necropsy results on a number of these animals revealed significant fat and muscle atrophy, which is consistent with starvation. Jason Meduna, the ranch’s owner, was arrested on one count of felony animal cruelty, but additional charges are expected.

Following the seizure, the animals were moved to the Bridgeport Rodeo Grounds in Nebraska and later, the remaining mares were relocated to Cheyenne, WY. At the same time, the geldings and studs were sent to Black Beauty Ranch, a sanctuary in Texas. On Thursday, the last of these mares was loaded on a trailer to her new home, bringing an end to the three week rescue operation, the largest of its kind in Nebraska history.

All 221 horses were placed with rescue organizations and adopters in more than 15 states. Katie Smith, a Wisconsin-based horse trainer, adopted two mares. Smith, a competitor in the Midwest Mustang Trainer’s Challenge, drove more than 14 hours to pickup her new charges, now named Snickers and Kimico. Asked about their adoption, Smith says “I went through all of the photos on the website, looking for horses with a ‘soft eye’. I couldn’t be happier with my choices! I was surprised to find that Snickers is halter broken. Kimico is still very scared, but is getting more curious every day. I’m amazed by her progress given what she has been through. Once they’re healthy and have had their foals, I’ll train them both for trail riding. Since hearing about this, I have been so angry and sad that these horses were allowed to deteriorate to this point – now I’m just beyond grateful for their rescue.”

Jerry Finch of Habitat for Horses has been managing the rescue since April 18th. While relieved to return to his home in Texas, he is overjoyed with the outcome. “We started out three weeks ago with what seemed an insurmountable task – find placement for over 200 horses, nearly all unhandled mustangs. Today, every single one of these horses is in a safe, qualified facility and will never know the agony of starvation again. This extraordinary success would not have been possible without the efforts of partner organizations, volunteers and the local community.” Asked about what led up to the events at Three Strikes Ranch, Finch states, “These horses were not starved because of the economy or lack of domestic slaughtering: Meduna never sought help, continued to recklessly breed, and remains adamant that he did nothing wrong. We’re constantly bombarded with stories about the ‘Unwanted Horse Crisis’, including unsubstantiated reports of thousands of abandoned animals. What we’ve seen here is this is not a crisis. With better controls on breeding and a little bit of time and effort, we can find safe placement for every unwanted horse. Unfortunately, too many people want the easy way out, which ultimately means their animals will endure tremendous suffering.”

A dedicated website was established which now includes photographs and updates of the adopted horses. For more information, please visit: http://nebraska200.horsereunions.com/. Donations can be made online at http://www.habitatforhorses.org or mailed to: Habitat for Horses, P.O. Box 213, Hitchcock, TX 77563.

About Habitat for Horses:
Habitat for Horses (HfH) is the largest non-profit equine protection agency in North America, committed to the prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of neglected and abused horses. The organization has taken a leadership role in horse protection issues and has been instrumental in developing and promoting legislation to eliminate the slaughter of American horses. To learn more, visit www.habitatforhorses.org

Original Story:

The Best Friends Rapid Response team was asked to volunteer at the Cheyenne, Wyoming stockyards. If you are on the ready list, you should have already been contacted. If you have not received an email, contact Ellen at elleng@bestfriends.org to check your readiness status. Here is the background information.

Alliance, NE – More than 70 neglected horses and burros found at a Morrill County ranch have found new homes through Habitat for Horses, a Texas-based equine protection organization. Placement efforts are continuing for the more than 50 mares (females), who will be moved to the Cheyenne Stockyards in Wyoming. The males, both geldings and stallions, will be moved to Black Beauty Ranch, a Texas-based sanctuary.

On April 22nd, 211 horses and burros were seized from Three Strikes Ranch, a private mustang facility just outside Alliance, Nebraska. An additional 74 animals were confirmed dead. Necropsy results on a number of these animals revealed significant fat and muscle atrophy, which is consistent with starvation. Jason Meduna, the ranch’s owner, was arrested on one count of felony animal cruelty, but additional charges are expected.

Since the seizure, the animals have been gaining weight and strength at their temporary home at the Bridgeport Rodeo Grounds. Horses are being placed with private adopters as well as rescue organizations throughout the United States. James Webber, a Box Butte County rancher, has been volunteering every day since the rescue began. Webber proudly talks of the four horses he adopted, “#3815 was the colt I led from the hills. I believe his mother was the last horse to die on the ranch. I found him standing over the body, and the mare had dug a halo all the way around where she died.”

More than 20 animals have been reunited with their owners, including Dr. Richard Porter of Nebraska-based KV Vet Supply. In an email statement, Porter said “I'm thankful for all those who responded so quickly to the rescue effort. I estimate my horse is at least 150 to 200 pounds underweight and will take several months to gain that weight back. It's going to be a long road for all these animals. With 74 dead animals it’s a tragic situation really. We're fortunate to have the opportunity to help save as many animals as we can." Porter’s organization donated and shipped much needed supplies to assist in the recovery efforts.

Finch, who has been on site since April 18th, will travel with the mares to Cheyenne. While pleased with their efforts thus far, he remains focused on finishing the mission. Finch is particularly concerned about the mounting costs with the upcoming move, stating, “We could not have done this without the support and efforts of the local community, volunteers and partner organizations, but our work is far from done. We still must find suitable placement for nearly 50 mares, many pregnant. The need for financial support has never been greater.”

How You Can Help:

A dedicated website has been setup which includes photographs of the available animals, as well as forms and contact numbers. For more information, please visit: http://nebraska200.horsereunions.com/. Donations can be made online at http://www.habitatforhorses.org or mailed to: Habitat for Horses, P.O. Box 213, Hitchcock, TX 77563.

About Habitat for Horses:
Habitat for Horses (HfH) is the largest non-profit equine protection agency in North America, committed to the prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of neglected and abused horses. The organization has taken a leadership role in horse protection issues and has been instrumental in developing and promoting legislation to eliminate the slaughter of American horses. To learn more, visit www.habitatforhorses.org

Posted by Marti Lombardi, Best Friends network volunteer. Pictures provided by Habitat for Horses.

“Sit and Stay” – Animals Affected by the North Dakota Flooding

martil — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:24:48 GMT

Many pets now housed in emergency shelters

As seen in the Associated Press article, “Chased from their homes by the menacing Red River, Davis and Delbert took a break from their cramped quarters inside a makeshift shelter to enjoy a walk in the brisk air.

They had reason to feel a little frisky: They're Labrador Retrievers.”

The story continues here.

At this time, we do not need Best Friends Rapid Response volunteers for deployment. A handful of swift water rescue certified personnel were placed on standby. In the event that emergency operations agencies in the area contact Best Friends for help, we will work with local authorities to determine what is needed and if and how Best Friends can provide assistance. We do not expect to need any volunteers at this time.

Please continue to watch our Rapid Response community for additional news. Any updates will be posted there.

Prepare in advance:
Meanwhile, here's all the information you need about how you can prepare to help Best Friends in the event of a disaster situation.

To become a member of the Best Friends Rapid Response team, you must have very specific training, and disaster responses are strictly managed by authorities in charge of each situation.

Team members are only deployed at the discretion of our program director and our national coordinator, depending on what’s called for in each case.

The Best Friends Rapid Response team is organized in compliance with the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC), of which Best Friends is a member.

A full explanation of requirements for volunteers and the various qualification levels is available on the Resources tab on this community, located in the folder called "Requirements for Volunteers."

Questions? Please email Ellen at elleng@bestfriends.org.

► Do not ever evacuate without your companion animals. Here is information for pet guardians from FEMA.

Posted by Marti Lombardi, Best Friends Network volunteer.
Photo credit morguefile.com.

AVMA, AVMF, and Red Cross Enter Agreement

jhayes — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:24:16 GMT

Now to coordinate animal rescue efforts and programs

Press release from the American Veterinary Medical Association

(SCHAUMBURG, Ill.) March 25, 2009—The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) have signed a partnership agreement with the American Red Cross to help protect animals and pets during emergencies.

“The American Red Cross is proud to continue our partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Association,” explains Mary DeWitt-Dia, senior associate at the Red Cross. “Through our continued collaboration and coordination we will be able to help our communities better prepare for and respond to the needs of families and animals before, during and after disaster.”

The three groups have had a statement of understanding since 1998, but last month they penned a more formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that lays out the groundwork for increased cooperation between the national organizations. The AVMF is the charitable branch of the AVMA that funds disaster response and emergency preparedness training and accepts charitable contributions on behalf of these efforts.

“This partnership with the Red Cross will help American Veterinary Medical Foundation bring substantive help to pets and animals not only on the national level but at the local level. It gives us a hands-on network of people who will work around our goal of helping pets in times of a disaster,” explains Michael Cathey, head of the AVMF. “This is an exciting new chapter in the AVMF’s outreach efforts.”

The AVMF will help fund programs developed under this cooperative arrangement through AVMF grants. The AVMA will serve as a technical adviser to the Red Cross on all animal and veterinary related aspects of disaster-response efforts.

It’s estimated that during a major natural disaster, like a hurricane or forest fire, approximately 100,000 animals, pets and livestock are separated from their owners and/or lost. Many times pet owners are forced to leave their pets behind during a disaster because they haven’t appropriately prepared for evacuation. Sometimes pet owners have been prepared but local or state disaster plans have not been written to accommodate for the evacuation of animals. One of the goals of the MOU is to reverse this trend.

“I am eager to see how we can collectively address challenges in disaster preparedness and response as we look to prepare families for the unexpected,” explains Dr. Heather Case, AVMA coordinator for emergency preparedness and response. “This new MOU is a call to action for both groups and will allow us to develop new programs on the local level to meet the challenges.”

Dr. Case said that the renewed cooperation between the AVMA and the Red Cross is already starting to bear fruit. For example, the Chicago chapter of the Red Cross and the AVMA have been meeting to address a problem of common concern following house fires: temporary housing for pets. The Red Cross provides temporary housing for the victim’s of fires but cannot currently accommodate pets.

“Many people choose to sleep in their cars simply because they can’t find a home for their pets,” Dr. Case explains.

A new program being developed by the two groups in Chicago would create a network of local veterinarians that would house the animal victims of a house fire. Once this program is developed in Chicago, it’s hoped that it will be duplicated across the country.

For more information about the AVMA, please visit www.avma.org. For more information about the AVMF, please visit www.avmf.org.

For more information:
• Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Plan for Pets
• AVMA Disaster Preparedness
• AVMF Disaster Preparedness & Relief

Source: American Veterinary Medical Association press release courtesy of PRNewswire.com
Photo credit: taken by Jennifer Hayes
Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends staff