American Humane Association Provides Animal Relief Aid to Japan

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Humane Association, the nation's voice for the protection of children and animals, today provided $10,000 in cash, along with a shipment of critically needed animal sheltering supplies, to support local animal relief efforts in Japan. This assistance to the Japan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) and the Japan Animal Welfare Society (JAWS) will help provide shelter to the thousands of animals that were displaced by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency affecting the country.

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Those agencies, along with the Japan Pet Care Association and the Japan Veterinary Medical Association, have formed the Headquarters for the Relief of Animals in Emergencies, whose mission is to transport rescue supplies, provide financial support, and meet the animal response requests in local areas impacted by the disasters. The Headquarters for the Relief of Animals in Emergencies will collaborate with the Japanese central government, as well as with self-governing and related official organizations, to facilitate the effectiveness of animal rescue operations.

"When the disasters occurred in Japan, our hearts went out to all the families affected by those devastating events, and we immediately initiated contact with our international partners to discuss how we could help," said American Humane Association President and Chief Executive Officer Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D. "Our Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team has been in constant communication with our partners and contacts in Japan, and the outpouring of donations from compassionate people all across the country is enabling us to send this initial support as we finalize plans for how we can best assist in this critical animal relief effort."

"American Humane Association's emergency services grant and supply donation will help our animal rescue partners in Japan provide manpower, materials and financial assistance for animal victims of these disasters," said Debrah Schnackenberg, American Humane Association's Senior Vice President, Emergency Services. "We're proud to support the exceptional work they have done in securing shelter locations in three cities, coordinating with local veterinary groups, and staging the deployment of supplies. We are eager for animal emergency rescuers to deploy into the disaster zone, as soon as it is safe enough to do so."

"The situation in Japan is a heartbreaking tragedy," Ganzert said. "We want to do everything we can to ensure that animals are rescued, cared for, and ultimately reunited with the families who love them." Ganzert said American Humane Association has committed that 100 percent of donations received for Japan animal relief will go to helping the animal victims in Japan — American Humane Association will not be deducting administrative costs from the donations.

American Humane Association's Red Star Animal Emergency Services was established in 1916, at the request of the U.S. government, to assist military horses and other animals used by the U.S. Army on the battlefields of Europe in World War I. Since then, Red Star has responded to both natural disasters and man-made emergencies, ranging from Hurricane Katrina to wildfires to floods to puppy mills. Composed of American Humane Association staff and a nationwide network of 200 trained volunteers, Red Star Animal Emergency Services stands ready to assist communities in preparing for and responding to disasters that affect families and their animals.

To donate to American Humane Association's Japan animal relief effort, visit www.americanhumane.org.

About American Humane Association

Since 1877, the historic American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting children, pets and farm animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding human-animal interaction and its role in society. As the nation's voice for the protection of children and animals, American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.

SOURCE American Humane Association