Natural Disasters

Thank you! With your support our grants team was just able to launch the ASPCA Disaster Fund to help shelters and other animal welfare groups affected by or responding to the recent storms.

“After our Field Investigations and Response Team witnessed firsthand the incredible devastation, we wanted to offer additional aid,” says ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “The ASPCA Disaster Fund will provide critical resources to help these local groups protect and care for animals in their communities.”

Thank You, Rachael Ray!
As part of the relief effort, TV personality Rachael Ray, with her dog food line Nutrish and her philanthropic initiative Rachael’s Rescue, has pledged her support with a really generous contribution of both funds and pet food.

“I am a huge lover of animals, and I simply can’t bear the thought of them homeless, hungry and in need of care,” says Rachael Ray. “One of the main factories where our Nutrish Just 6 treats are manufactured is located in Joplin, so this tragedy has really hit home and we knew we needed to spring into action and help. I’m so happy I could join the incredible efforts already underway by the ASPCA in helping families find their pets and care for animals in their community—we started Nutrish and Rachael’s Rescue for this very purpose.”

Take Action!
If your local shelter is in need of emergency funding, learn more about applying for an ASPCA Disaster Fund grant today. Want to help? The ASPCA relies on the continued support of our members to provide these vital services. Please text PLEDGE to 25383 to donate $10 to our disaster relief efforts!

In the wake of the devastating storm that demolished much of the community of Joplin, the ASPCA has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Joplin Humane Society to support its disaster relief and recovery efforts. The grant was presented in memory of Joplin Humane Society Executive Director Karen Aquino’s step-daughter, Rachel Markham, who perished in the disaster.

“Our thoughts are with Karen and all the people of Joplin who lost loved ones to this tragedy,” says Joplin native Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. “The Joplin Humane Society is doing amazing work helping animals affected by the disaster, and we wanted to further support the organization with this grant.

ASPCA on the Ground in Joplin
On May 23, the ASPCA deployed to Missouri to lead emergency sheltering efforts of animals displaced by the tornado. Working closely with the Joplin Humane Society, nearly 850 animals have since been rescued—with more than 200 beloved pets being reunited with their families.

“My husband and I are humbled and touched by this gesture,” adds Aquino. “We are grateful to work with the ASPCA in our efforts to reunite pets with their families and help make them whole again.”

Please help us continue to support the animal victims of Joplin. Text PLEDGE to 25383 to donate $10 today!

The ASPCA Field Investigations and Response (FIR) Team is in Joplin, Missouri, following a lethal tornado that devastated the area last weekend. The deployment is especially meaningful for ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response Tim Rickey, who is himself a native of Joplin.

“The destruction caused by the tornado is indescribable, and our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by this disaster—pets and people alike,” says Rickey, who began disaster relief work in Joplin the day after the tornado.

At the request of the Joplin Humane Society, we’re heading up emergency sheltering operations and assisting the Humane Society of Missouri with field rescues. On Monday, Rickey helped the city establish a temporary shelter for family pets near the Joplin Humane Society.

“We hope to alleviate the stress for pet parents by temporarily caring for their animals,” says Rickey.

PetSmart Charities is assisting in this effort, providing two Emergency Relief Waggin' vehicles filled with sheltering supplies like crates, blankets and bowls.

The ASPCA has also coordinated the transport of nearly 150 animals from the Joplin Humane Society to Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri in Springfield. This move will allow Joplin Humane to accept more animals affected by the tornado.

“We’re ensuring that existing shelter animals are out of harm’s way,” says Rickey, adding that many of the dogs and cats rescued so far are suffering from lacerations, broken bones and eye injuries that appear to have been caused by the storm.

Adds Rickey: “The ASPCA will provide ongoing assistance, personnel and resources in Joplin as long as we’re needed.”

Please help us support the animal victims of recent disasters in the South and Midwest. Text PLEDGE to 25383 to donate $10 today!

Last week we told you that the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response (FIR) Team deployed to locations in the South and Midwest to rescue and shelter animals affected by the tornadoes and flooding in the region. Here’s the latest on what our teams are doing, and how they’re preparing to accomplish as much as possible in the coming weeks.

- Pemiscot County, Missouri: ASPCA Midwest Director of Field Investigations and Response Kyle Held is heading up a sheltering mission in conjunction with the Caruthersville Humane Society. More than 80 animals, including a goat, are receiving care under this mission, and more are expected to arrive as flooding continues. Many animals have been removed from the area with the help of our shelter partners. At least 19 animals were rescued over the weekend, and more rescue missions are planned.

- Faulkner County, Arkansas: A team led by ASPCA Shelter Operations Manager Bonnie Dean is assisting with sheltering and conducting field assessments in Arkansas. The team canvassed a large area and handed out pet food to local residents, and roughly 100 dogs, 12 horses and three kittens are being sheltered in a rodeo arena.

- Shelby County, Tennessee: As the Mississippi River rises, evacuations in this area have increased. Led by ASPCA Southeast Direct of Field Investigations and Response Kathryn Destreza, the team here has been helping local organizations develop a plan for an emergency shelter in preparation for evacuation. Another team, along with PetSmart Charities (PMC), spent the weekend setting up a distribution center point in Shelby County. Three PMC trailers arrived loaded with food, sheltering supplies, 25,000 square feet of chain length fencing and crates for 2,300 animals.

“The ASPCA is extremely grateful for the collaboration between national and local agencies that combined efforts to help animals in need,” says Tim Rickey, senior director of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response. “The ASPCA and our partners, including Memphis Animal Services, the Humane Society of Memphis, PetSmart Charities, Code 3 Associates, American Humane Association, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Humane Society of the United States, are committed to a collaborative effort to help pet parents and animals impacted by the recent chain of natural disasters. We will continue to do everything we can to help these communities as long as we’re needed.”

Stay tuned to ASPCA.org for more breaking news from the field.