[MarinTeams] EARS joins humane societies to rescue pets displaced by Ohio River flood 8/23/07

[Kate Danaher]

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/orflood.html

EARS joins humane societies to rescue pets displaced by Ohio River flood

A foot of rain, and the Ohio River was 60 feet high and rising . . .

The beautiful Ohio of song flowed over its banks in the worst flood in 33
years in March, sending families scrambling for their lives. Some people had
time to gather a few possessions and head for high ground, but many left
their treasures behind, including their pets.

The community rallied to support of the flood victims; radio and television
stations, businesses, and government agencies went to work, and the money
poured in to help those who temporarily or permanently lost their homes.
Agencies and charities struggled to provide temporary lodging to displaced
families, and animal shelters opened their doors to stranded and abandoned
dogs, cats, and other pets.

The Hamilton County SPCA turned their auditorium into additional kennel
space, and volunteers hustled to find crates, blankets, and cleaning
supplies to help the effort. Iams donated tons of food. Shelters and
volunteers in Northern Kentucky rose to the occasion, and Highland Heights
Animal Hospital coordinated a rescue effort.

The Clermont County Humane Society began the rescue of dogs from the
riverfront areas, but the tiny building on Filager Road was soon full. Then
EARS ‹ the Emergency Animal Rescue Service ‹ arrived from California and set
up a temporary shelter at the Clermont County Fairgrounds.

Like the Red Cross, EARS responds to natural disasters such as earthquakes,
hurricanes, oils spills, fires, and of course, floods. ³We² includes an
advance team, all volunteers, who set up the emergency shelter. They came
from California and St. Louis to work with fairground management,
veterinarians, local media and businesses, and CCHS to provide temporary
housing for animals made homeless in the disaster and to spread the word
about their availability as a port in the storm for pets until owners could
return home or find other quarters.

EARS works on several fronts: They accept animals from owners who need
temporary help with housing or feeding; respond to reports of animals
abandoned or lost in the flood area; take in animals picked up from the
flood area by the dog wardens; and give food to flood victims so they can
feed their pets. The crew also visits the flood area and helps in the search
for animals reported lost.

One dog owner brought his Beagles and Chows to the fairgrounds. One Beagle
was about to whelp puppies, so she was isolated from the others and
monitored during the birth by a volunteer. A few days later, the owner
returned and took his dogs, three Chows, three adult Beagles, and three
puppies.

Veterinarians worked long hours to examine and vaccinate the animals. Dogs
were checked for heartworm and cats for feline leukemia. Some animals were
taken to veterinary clinics for treatment and observation. Each animal was
also implanted with a microchip donated by Avid.

Each animal was photographed and added to the record book. Each animal had
its own page of information, detailing physical description, veterinary
checkup, shots, name of the owner if available, and location of pickup.

The animals were housed in crates loaned by area dog owners and by
organizations such as the League for Animal Welfare. Members of the Clermont
County Kennel Club loaned crates and donated blankets and cleaning supplies,
and the club gave money to defray veterinary expenses. Local businesses gave
food and water bowls, collars, leashes, and other supplies. Volunteers
cleaned the crates and walked the dogs.

The EARS crew of about a dozen people spent 10 days assisting pets and
owners and then returned to home base in California and St. Louis. The pets
still in the shelter at that time were divided among foster homes, the
League for Animal Welfare, and the Clermont County Humane Society. Leftover
equipment and supplies were spread among area shelters. The record book of
pets was given to CCHS so that people searching for lost pets could review
the pictures and descriptions. All pets remaining when the emergency shelter
was closed would be kept for 30 days in their temporary homes; if not
reclaimed, they would be available for adoption.

EARS is a division of United Animal Nations. Along with providing rescue
services in disaster, EARS conducts workshops to prepare people to set up
their own rescue centers. Ironically, an EARS workshop was already scheduled
for Cincinnati ‹ in August.

For more information about EARS or the emergency rescue workshop, call (800)
440-EARS or e-mail  EARS4pets at aol.com