Disaster Response

For those of us on the East Coast, the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 is still present and fresh on our minds. And most recently, persistent flooding in the Midwest has wreaked havoc on the lives of humans and pets alike. It’s important for pet parents in all parts of the country to be prepared to act in the face of a disaster—and that includes having an emergency plan in place for your pets.

That’s one of the reasons why we joined FEMA to recognize May 8 as National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. We hope you’ll take this opportunity to learn more about the ways you can keep your furry friends safe in an emergency. Here are a few easy steps you can take:

1. Have a Plan. Your “all-family” plan needs to include how you will transport your animals in an evacuation, possible routes you will take and your destination/sheltering options. Practice that plan at least yearly and share it with your family and friends.

2. Build a Kit. Don’t forget a photo of your pet, medical records, vaccination records, and any special food or prescriptions.

3. Stay Informed. Keep an eye on the weather, follow a projected storm’s path and don’t get caught unprepared. Staying informed also means knowing which shelters house both people and pets, monitoring possible road closures and having alternate travel plans.

4. Know Your Neighbors. It’s best to form a relationship with your neighbors well in advance of a disaster situation.Develop a telephone tree and determine who is home and when. If a disaster occurs while you’re at work, your neighbor may be the only one who can reach your pets.

5. Vaccinate and Microchip. If you’re ever required to shelter your pets, you’ll want them protected against disease. And the single most important piece of advice we can offer is to microchip your pets. It is truly their ticket home.

Please visit our full list of disaster preparedness tips for more information.

Weather Update: Due to the blizzard, this event will be held Sunday, Feb. 10, only. Please watch ASPCA.org/onelove for the latest information.

When Hurricane Sandy hit NYC, the ASPCA’s Cruelty Intervention Advocacy (CIA) program was preparing to remove more than 30 cats from a New York City apartment. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, CIA realized that the cats’ situation could quickly develop into a full-scale crisis.

The team took swift action, rushing to the apartment to provide immediate relief. With the lives of the animals potentially at risk, the CIA team acted quickly to remove the cats and bring them to safety.

Ever since, these resilient kitties have been recovering at our wonderful partner One Love Animal Hospital in Downtown Brooklyn. Today, they’re all in tip-top shape. In fact, the only thing they need now is a loving home to call their own.

Special Adoption Event This Weekend!

Animal lovers of NYC, that’s where you come in! This Sunday, February10, at One Love, the ASPCA is hosting a pop-up adoption event for these very special cats, and we can’t wait for you to meet them! Each of the adoptable feline cuties is so cuddly, sweet and outgoing that you’d never suspect their lives haven’t been all catnip and stuffed mice.

You can change a life just in time for Valentine’s Day by giving a kitty a brand-new family to love. And if one isn’t enough for you, consider taking home a pair of BFFs! Some of the cats are available in bonded pairs.

Ready to take the plunge and fall in love with a new furry friend this weekend? Check out aspca.org/onelove for more details, including information about how New Yorkers can help us get the word out.

To learn more about how CIA helps hoarded animals and those who are overwhelmed by the number of animals in their care, please visit CIA’s page.

We hope to see you this weekend!

Of course, we know the star of a presidential inauguration is the president. Still, we can’t help but focus on all the amazing horses who participate in the Inaugural Parade. Did you know that they come from all over the country and are specially selected to participate? Some are even therapy horses for soldiers in their daily lives.

No matter what your political affiliation, these gorgeous equines marching up Pennsylvania Avenue to ring in a new presidential term are quite a sight to behold.

This year, the ASPCA will be on hand to help. At the 57^th Inauguration on Monday, these special horses will have the benefit of ASPCA experts stationed along the parade route in case any animal emergency should occur. 

We’re participating at the request of the D.C. Department of Health, and we couldn’t be more honored to help out.

Heading to the Inauguration Parade, too? We’ll see you there!

This week, we’re beginning to wind down the Brooklyn emergency boarding facility we opened in November for Sandy victims’ pets and pets found in the aftermath. We’re trying as hard as ever to reunite the remaining animals with their families—and we need your help!

Since the boarding facility opened, the ASPCA and other local agencies have been working around the clock to track down the families of lost pets through grassroots outreach, flyers, advertising, public service announcements and the Animal Care & Control of NYC’s lost pets website.

To date, we’ve reunited more than 100 pets with their families, but nearly 140 displaced animals still remain at the emergency shelter. Of course, any unclaimed pets will receive the best possible placement when the facility closes, but we’d love for them to go home with their original families.

That’s why we need you to share the information below!

If you or someone you know is missing a pet post-Sandy, please tell them to come to the ASPCA emergency boarding facility (at 1508 Herkimer St. in Brooklyn) as soon as possible, or visit the lost Sandy pets site to view all lost pets residing at the facility. Pet parents who wish to reclaim their pets from the boarding facility should also call the Hurricane Sandy Pet Hotline at 347-573-1561..

Thank you!