How to help hurricane pets...

We awaken to the first day of September with Mother Nature demonstrating how humans have control over nothing except maybe our iPods. Maybe.

You can't even plan a convention in Minnesota when Mother Nature is being cantankerous on the Gulf Coast.

And, in between, in Dallas and other refugee destinations, there are considerations being made for refugees and their animals.

As we noted in a weekend news blog yesterday, the Metroplex Animal Coalition, Dallas Animal Services and the SPCA of Texas are taking steps to help people and their animal friends find comfort and safety in Dallas.

(The photos on the right and below are from temporary kennels and an administration area set up in Dallas.)

These efforts continue today and we get the info (and those photos) from veteran animal activist Jonnie England, who is serving as spokesperson. She is a member of the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission and the Director of Animal Advocacy for the Metroplex Animal Coalition.

DONATION SITE ESTABLISHED: A central donation site for kennels, dog beds, supplies, etc., is being established at the SPCA of Texas Lone Star "campus" site at 2400 Lone Star Drive, in the sprawling industrial complex adjacent to I-30 just west of downtown Dallas. (Hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. starting tonight.) The SPCA's office is on Lone Star between Hampton Road and Westmoreland Road -- you can see it on the south side of the freeway and reach it from either Hampton or Westmoreland. The Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center is at Westmoreland and I-30, a few blocks west of the SPCA building in the Dallas Animal District.

HOW TO GIVE MONEY: At the Metroplex Animal Coalition website HERE, click on the live blog and see how to donate to help hurricane victims and local agencies that are helping protect animals from the hurricane areas.

SHELTER NEEDS: Now, to help with this effort to protect animals that wind up in the care of Dallas folks, Jonnie reports that the Dallas Animal Services folks have come up with a list of things needed to help the mission:

            *CANNED cat, dog, puppy and kitten food – any good brand – NO dry food

            *Durable dog toys (like Kongs and HARD plastic; not fabric or soft rubber toys)

            *Rolled rawhides and flip chips

             *Cat toys, including disposal “toys” like toilet paper/paper towel rolls

            *Newspapers with the slick advertising sections REMOVED (absorbency is the key)

            *Ballpoint pens

            *Lightweight bed sheets

            *Opaque (not clear) shower curtains or shower curtain liners (to create "walls" between kennels)

            *Shower curtain rings/hooks

            *Watering cans – new and clean to provide water to the animals

            *Food scoops or measuring cups.

WHAT IS A VOAD? You'll read that MAC is working with Dallas County VOAD to accomplish all this.

And, if you're like me, you'll wonder what in the heck is a "VOAD." Village of Active Dogs? Volunteers on Antacid Drugs? I used to keep up with the alphabet soup of government and bureaucracy but VOAD was a new one for me -- turns out it stands for "Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster." So, as you can see, it's a coalition of do-gooders working to help fellow Americans in hard times. VOAD. People you can count on in tough times. PYCCOITT.

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