Recent Emergency Services
Amid the chaos of a mass evacuation -- when every second counts -- even the most beloved companion animals can be overlooked and left behind. If flood waters are rising, people typically cannot take the time to coax terrified cats out from under their beds. Even wild animals, despite their survival instincts, cannot always save themselves from a perilous situation.
Disasters -- whether manmade or natural -- can occur at any time, in any place. American Humane Association's Red Star Animal Emergency Services helps communities prepare for disasters -- before they strike. Once they occur, American Humane Association's Animal Emergency Services is on the scene to:
- Assess animal needs
- Care for injured animals
- Reunite animals with their families
- Ensure animal shelters are co-located with human shelters
- Distribute pet food and supplies
American Humane Association's Animal Emergency Services is available to help communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, thanks to a team of Animal Emergency Services Volunteers. These individuals are animal lovers committed to making sure animal needs are met during times of crisis.
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Minot Flood Emergency DeploymentThis summer, the Souris River in North Dakota rose to record levels, severely flooding the city of Minot. People rushed to evacuate to safety. About one in every four Minot residents had to evacuate — and they had to figure out what to do with their beloved pets. |
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Joplin Tornado Emergency DeploymentOn May 22, a massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Mo., destroying homes and taking lives. Just back from an intense deployment to Memphis, our Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team deployed to Joplin within days of the disaster to help shelter hundreds of desperate animal victims and to provide much-needed relief to the brave Joplin Humane Society staff, many of whom are experiencing devastating personal loss. |
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South Storms Animal RescueFollowing the devastating storms that ravaged entire communities in more than a dozen Southern and Midwestern states, our Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team mobilized to provide rescue and sheltering to the animal victims of these massive disasters. |
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Japan Earthquake and TsunamiWe are closely monitoring the situation in Japan, and our hearts go out to all those who are affected. We are reaching out to our international partners regarding a joint response to this emergency, and we have set up a fund to help animal victims of this tragedy and other disasters. |
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Montana Horse ReliefRed Star Animal Emergency Services™ delivered hay to nearly 500 starving and sick horses outside of Billings, Mont. |
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Arkansas Horse RescueOn Dec. 14, our Red Star Animal Emergency Services team began assisting in the care of 116 neglected and injured horses seized in Fulton County, Arkansas. |
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Starving Horse Response (Maryland)Our Red Star Animal Emergency Services team deployed to Maryland on Sept. 27 to help care for seven starving and critically ill horses seized from a horse rescue facility in West Virginia. |
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Colorado WildfireOn Sept. 7, a Red Star Animal Emergency Services team worked alongside Boulder County Animal Control to evacuate pets trapped in homes near a raging wildfire. |
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Update From HaitiMembers of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti, including American Humane Association, have been continually working to help the people and animals of Haiti following January's devastating earthquake. |
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Pennsylvania Cat RescueOn June 24, a Red Star Animal Emergency Services team assisted with the rescue of 387 cats from an overcrowded animal shelter. |
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Maryland Horse RescueOn May 17, a Red Star Animal Emergency Services team deployed to Maryland to help care for 26 severely neglected horses seized from a farm. |
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Erie County, N.Y., Horse RescueOn March 25, we sent a Red Star Animal Emergency Services team to help care for more than 70 horses rescued from deplorable conditions. |
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Mississippi Puppy-Mill SeizureOn Feb. 4, nearly 100 dogs were removed from deplorable conditions in a Marshall County, Miss., puppy mill. |
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Memphis Shelter InvestigationAmerican Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team was in Tennessee in October 2009 helping care for pets in the Memphis Animal Shelter, under investigation for alleged animal abuse. |
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Missouri Dogfighting CaseAmerican Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team traveled to Missouri to help care for more than 500 dogs rescued in summer 2009 during the largest dogfighting raid thus far in U.S. history. |
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Cazenovia, Wis., Animal SeizureOn May 19, 2009, American Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services team began work in Cazenovia, Wis., to assist in the seizure of hundreds of animals from a local sanctuary. |
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North Dakota FloodingOver the weekend of March 28-29, 2009, an American Humane Association Red Star Animal Emergency Services team deployed to North Dakota to potentially help with the care and sheltering of animals evacuated from the Red River flooding in the Fargo area. |
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Sparta, Tenn., Puppy MillOn Feb. 11, 2009, American Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services deployed to Tennessee to support the seizure and sheltering of 250 dogs from a suspected puppy mill. |
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Hurricane IkeIn mid-September 2008, American Humane Association's Red Star Animal Emergency Services deployed to the Beaumont, Texas, area to conduct disaster assessments, animal search and rescue, and sheltering operations. |
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Hurricane GustavIn late August and early September, American Humane Association partnered with other animal welfare organizations to shelter, care for and ultimately reunite approximately 1,200 animals with their owners in Louisiana following Hurricane Gustav. |
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Operation "Noah's Ark"American Humane Association's Red Star Animal Emergency Services provided animal rescue and sheltering operations in Denver, N.C., after 390 animals of numerous types were seized from a private property in August 2008. |
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Midwest FloodingIn June and July 2008, American Humane Association's Animal Emergency Services deployed to Illinois and Iowa to provide sheltering for animals displaced by the Midwest flooding and to rescue more than 60 pigs that were stranded on a levee. |
