February 2009

Ever wonder what you would do if your family, including pets, were faced with a disaster? Many of you have vivid memories of recent TV film footage and newspaper photos showing the damage wrought by the numerous disasters which stuck our nation in 2008. From flooding in the Mid-West, Wild Fires in California, to the devastating hurricanes that ripped through the Gulf Coast in early fall; last year was an extremely active period for natural disasters and no one knows what this year may hold.

Did you know that Noah’s Wish and their trained volunteers were there to give much needed assistance to animals that were impacted by these events?  Noah’s Wish conducted search and rescue efforts, provided food, water, shelter and veterinary medical services to animals that became victims of Mother Nature’s fury.  All of these services were provided at no cost to the community or individuals.

If you are like many caring people who watched and read about these events day after day, wishing you could do something to help, here is your opportunity. Noah’s Wish, an El Dorado Hills, California based non-profit organization whose singular mission is to keep animals alive during disasters, is presenting a two-day training program to recruit new volunteers.

Training simulates a disaster response, so those that signup must come prepared to be self-sufficient for the entire session. This means camping with your classmates, packing an air mattress, sleeping bag and two-day supply of food and water. No luxury accommodations or conference-style lecture halls here! The underlying premise for this method of training is to prepare volunteers both mentally and physically for the challenges they will face during an actual disaster response. Are you willing to temporarily rough it in order to help the animals?

Training topics will include; important information on Pet CPR & First Aid, Animal Intake, Volunteer Duties, Disaster Safety, Floods, Decontamination for Animals in Flood Waters, Rabies, Pet Loss and the Stages of Bereavement, How to Care for Horses and Poultry during disasters and much more.

Sessions will be held at the following locations:

Dublin, California – March 7 & 8, 2009                                          
Glendora, California – March 14 & 15, 2009                                     
Lebanon, Tennessee – March 28 & 29, 2009                                            
Iowa City, Iowa – April 4 & 5, 2009                                                          
Old Bethpage, New York – April 18 & 19, 2009                                 
Chester, Vermont – Mary 2 & 3, 2009                                                
Creston, British Columbia – May 23 & 24                                     
Cookstown, Ontario – June 6 & 7, 2009                                      
Harrisonburg, Virginia – June, 27 & 28, 2009

Space is limited, so register early. For more information or to register go to www.noahswish.info or call 916-939-9474.

© Photo credited to Noah's Wish