By Stacy N. Hackett
Posted: June 23, 2008 2 a.m. EDT
To assist animal victims of the recent floods in Indiana, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will award $12,000 to the Morgan County Animal Shelter in Martinsville. The grant comes after devastating flash floods in Morgan County led President Bush to declare the area a federal disaster area.
“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 Ed Sayres, ASPCA president and CEO. “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.”
Working with the PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin’, the Morgan County Animal Shelter has already transferred all adoptable animals to other parts of the country, said Tiffany Mahaffey, ASPCA disaster readiness manager. This has opened up space for the shelter to house animals affected by the flood. With assistance from the ASPCA and C-Specialties, the shelter also provides low-cost vaccines and medications to the pets 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.”
ASPCA recognizes the need for assistance in other areas of the Midwest affected by flooding, rain and tornadoes. “The ASPCA is in the process of determining how it can support other shelters as well,” Mahaffey said.