Katrina: Good News!

The Young-Williams Animal Center gives a very big thanks to those who donated pet supplies for the animals displaced by Katrina! Enough supplies have been received for animals that are receiving temporary care locally and for those who remain in the areas hit by Katrina. The local DART (Disaster Animal Rescue Team) organization has handled the recent incoming Katrina animals. DART addresses short-term needs, including boarding incoming animals until they can be reunited with their owners. This is good news as these are not “homeless” animals but rather animals that are temporarily separated from their families.

In the weeks and months to come, unclaimed animals from the gulf region will likely make their way to shelters across the country. We’ll need your help again when the time comes. However, please realize that the Animal Center is the public intake for Knoxville and Knox County. We expect to shelter nearly 16,000 homeless and unwanted animals this year, and none will be turned away. Pet overpopulation is an every day problem, so please keep our animals in your hearts and in your minds.

Donations

The information below was taken from www.petfinder.com. Please visit that website for updates and for more information about making monetary donations. Be sure to subscribe to the ASPCA's online newsletter at www.aspca.org for updates, too.

Financial donations are being accepted through the Dr. Walter J. Ernst, Jr. Veterinary Memorial Foundation at the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association.

Please make checks payable to the LVMA Dr. Walter J. Ernst Veterinary Memorial Foundation (write "Katrina Fund" on the memo line) and send to the LVMA, 8550 United Plaza Blvd., Suite 1001, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. They will be able to use these funds quickly. You may designate that your donation be used to care for animals directly, or that it may be used in support of the displaced veterinarians who are now in Baton Rouge helping to provide care for stranded animals.