For Immediate Release:  Friday, August 11, 2006

St. Tammany Parish Partners with Noah’s Wish 

St. Tammany Parish recently partnered with Noah’s Wish Animal Disaster Response Team. Noah’s Wish is a nationwide rescue group founded to manage animal rescue and recovery efforts during and after a disaster.            

            In the event of a disaster, Noah’s Wish will coordinate its services with the St. Tammany Parish Animal Services Department to safeguard the animals of St. Tammany Parish. Coordinators and volunteers will rescue abandoned or stranded animals and coordinate veterinary care for sick and injured animals. Workers will document lost animal information as well as arrange foster homes for abandoned animals. “We really appreciate the volunteers of Noah’s Wish. I believe their service will be a great asset to the people of St. Tammany Parish.” said Dr. Brent Robbins, Director of Animal Services for St. Tammany Parish.  

            Residents should make arrangements to evacuate with their pets.  Pet friendly accommodations can be found at these internet sites:  http://www.petswelcome.com/ and http://www.pets-allowed-hotels.com/ .  Residents should take responsibility for their pets.  

Noah’s Wish responded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Within two days Terri Crisp, Director of Field Operations for Noah’s Wish, arrived in Slidell with her team and began working around the clock to rescue and shelter animals. Noah’s Wish cared for 1,974 animals at its temporary facility. These included dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, lizards, squirrels, snakes, horses, mice, hamsters, pot belly pigs, a pea hen, a flying squirrel, an emu, a scorpion, a tarantula, a ferret, fish and a rat. Of the animals rescued, 75 percent were positively identified by their owners. More than 900 volunteers traveled from around the United States and Canada to donate their time toward the rescue and recovery efforts. More than 40,000 volunteer hours were logged during this disaster.  

Noah’s Wish Staff and Coordinators also have experience working during disasters around the world, most recently helping rescue animals during the 2004 Tsunami in Sri Lanka and the 2005 Floods in Romania.