When disaster strikes and animals are in need, every little bit matters. So if you’d like to make a difference in Iowa, here are a handful of ways to help:
1. Donate to the Best Friends Rescue Fund.
The Best Friends Rescue Fund provides for animals who need emergency care while members are working to place them in new homes or organize whatever long-term care they will need. One hundred percent of Rescue Fund donations go directly to helping animals in emergencies.
Give to the Rescue Fund online when you click here. To make a donation by phone, call (435) 644-2001, ext. 4801.
To make a donation by mail, please make your check payable to " Best Friends Rescue Fund – Iowa Floods" and mail to:
Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Rescue Fund
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, UT 84741-5000
2. Pledge for the animals at Racing Laps for Best Friends. Driver Andrew Prendeville is donating all proceeds from this weekend’s race in Newton, Iowa, to the rescue effort. You can pledge your support for as little as 25 cents per lap, when you click here. (Get details on the race here.)
3. Volunteer for the rescue.
Swiftly moving floodwaters present a real danger for even the bravest volunteers. For that reason, Best Friends is asking for volunteers who have completed the following FEMA courses. (Please note that the first four are required. The last one is preferred.)
- FEMA ICS 100 Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
- FEMA ICS 200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
- FEMA IS 700 National Incident Management System (NIMS): Introduction
- FEMA IS 800 National Response Plan (NRP): Introduction
- FEMA IS 10 Animals in a Disaster, Module A: Awareness and Preparedness
If you have the above qualifications and would like to be put on our volunteer on-call list, please contact Ellen Gilmore at elleng@bestfriends.org or (307) 630-0914 to fill out the required paperwork. As volunteers are needed, she will contact individuals for deployment.
4. Foster or adopt a homeless pet.
Because Best Friends is still in the search-and-rescue phase, all animals being rescued will go to a local veterinary clinic. There they’ll be treated as already-owned pets (and we anticipate many happy reunions!). But after the floodwaters recede, there still may be some who need new homes. So, be sure to check back periodically if you’re interested in fostering or adopting. We’ll be delighted to direct you to the local shelters.
5. Locate an animal missing in the flood.
If you – or someone you know – is trying to track down animals missing during the flood, you can check to see if they’ve been taken into temporary care by calling Best Friends Animal Society’s Animal Help department, (435) 644-2001, ext. 4789, or e-mail animalhelp@bestfriends.org. ____________________________________
Help Best Friends rescue pets from the floods. Donate here.
The work of Best Friends is possible only because of your generous support. Please help us reach our goal of No More Homeless Pets.
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