| Dear Friends and Supporters, |
| Hurricane Gustav is rapidly approaching the U.S. and is expected to make landfall on the coast of Louisiana and Texas, Monday morning - even sooner than originally expected. Gustav is now rated a strong Category 3 hurricane, but expert opinions are mixed about whether the hurricane will be a Category 3 or Category 4 storm when it reaches the U.S. Here's some important information that we wanted you to know: |
WE'RE PREPARED FOR GUSTAV
The Animal League has dispatched our emergency rescue team, with two of our 40-foot Mobile Rescue Units and multiple rescue teams scheduled to arrive in the Hurricane Zone before Gustav hits. We are working with our shelter partner, the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and many others, and will take a multi-pronged approach to our rescue efforts: |
- First, we are prepared to set-up a triage area on one our 40-foot Mobile Rescue Units to provide temporary shelter and emergency care to animals in need.
- We plan to take animals from shelters in the Hurricane Zone to free up desperately needed space, so shelters and rescuers can accept even more animals displaced by Gustav (or either of the other two hurricanes that are on their way to the U.S.).
- The Animal League will also remain in the Hurricane Zone, continue to monitor the situation and be ready to accept added displaced animals.
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| As with Hurricane Katrina rescue efforts, we expect to transport displaced animals out of the Hurricane Zone by mobile transport and airlift (as necessary). |
ANIMAL LEAGUE'S ANIMAL RESCUE INFORMATION CENTER
We have launched the Animal League Rescue Information Center on our website so you, as a valued supporter, can use one source to access various types of information on Gustav and our rescue efforts, including: |
| A Rescuer's Blog - Notes from the Field: Our Senior Vice President of Operations and our mobile units will post information to our Rescue Information Center blog - and will report in on a very timely basis to keep you continuously updated on what's happening with rescue preparation and rescued animals in the Hurricane Zone. You can visit the blog here. News Feeds & News Alerts: We'll be linking you to top news and weather sources, so you can get the latest updates on Gustav and the other hurricanes on the way. If you are not already on the list and live in the Tri-state area, please update your subscription to receive local Adoption and Rescue Alerts from us too. |
THREE YEARS OF ON-GOING SUPPORT SINCE KATRINA
We wanted you to also know that North Shore Animal League America rescued over 1,600 cats and dogs within the days and weeks following Hurricane Katrina and Rita, via 44 ground transports and two airlifts. Over the past 3 years, our presence in the region continues to be felt through the on-going rescue of animals in the Louisiana Parishes. The Animal League has been accepting homeless animals from the region on virtually a monthly basis and maintains a partnership relationship with Companion Animal Network and the Katrina Lifeline program. |
| As the result of last week's puppy mill rescue in West Virginia and the dispatching of our emergency rescue team for Gustav, significant costs are being incurred and we are depending so much on the generosity of supporters such as you. Please make a generous contribution today so that the Animal League can continue our mission to rescue as many displaced animals as possible. |
Yours truly,
J. John Stevenson
President, North Shore Animal League America |
| P.S. Please spread the word to your family and friends. Knowledge is power, and we want the power to save as many lives as possible |
