Pet disaster relief rolls out help for pets in Chester County
Chester County now has an AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer that will be available to dispatch to any disaster scene that needs assistance sheltering pets.
It’s all due to the work of AKC Reunite, the largest non-profit pet identification and recovery service provider in the United States.
AKC Pet Disaster Relief, a national program that is dedicated to keeping pets and their owners safe in response to natural or civil disasters, joined forces with local American Kennel Club dog clubs and dog lovers to present an emergency trailer to the Chester County Animal Response team.
“The Chester County Animal Response team is tremendously thankful to AKC Reunite, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and the Labrador Retriever Club for providing us with such a substantial tool for our community,” said Janet Zeis of the Chester County Animal Response team. “Our organization is now better equipped to help pets and pet owners if disaster strikes”.
The AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailers help to create a safe, temporary home-base for at least 65 pets during the first 72 hours after a disaster is declared. The trailers house and deliver essential animal care items including crates and carriers, AKC Reunite microchips and an AKC Reunite universal microchip scanner, bowls, collars and leashes as well as fans, lighting and a generator, cleaning supplies and maintenance items. These supplies can be used as co-location shelters, where people can evacuate with their pets, as well as emergency animal shelters for displaced animals.
“This is the 78th trailer donated through the AKC Pet Disaster Relief program. The trailer will provide resources to assist the Chester County Animal Response team when responding to natural disasters in their community,” said Tom Sharp, AKC Reunite CEO. “Safe, efficient pet sheltering solutions are crucial following a disaster, and we are pleased that an AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer will be available as an important resource.”
The purchase of the trailer was made possible by donations from the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc, AKC Reunite and a $100,000 donation from the Kennel Club of Philadelphia earlier this year. The funds from the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s donation were specifically allocated to provide eight AKC Pet Disaster Relief Trailers to counties within New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This trailer is the third of the eight from this group and will provide materials to help the Chester County Animal Response Team be prepared for potential disaster.
“Our association is thrilled to be able to bring such an vital tool to the Chester County Animal Response team,” said Wayne Ferguson, President of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. “The AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer will help this organization better assist their community in times of disaster.”
“The AKC Pet Disaster Relief Trailer will help assist the Chester County community with pet sheltering in times of disaster,” said Fred Kamp, President of the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. “Our organization is honored to have contributed to the donation of this life-saving device.”