I must be on a happy endings kick, ‘cause here’s another one that had me crying great big, sloppy, happy tears. When Jen Leary suffered an injury that prevented her from doing her job as a firefighter in south Philadelphia, she made a minor change to her career path. Instead of rescuing humans, now she rescues animals. (You can watch the video that made me tear up
here.) Her organization,
Red Paw, does for pets what the Red Cross does for people affected by disasters. It rescues pets from emergency sites; offers food, shelter, and medical care; and works with volunteers to provide foster care and adoption services. And while it’s strictly local at this point, the idea is beginning to catch on. In fact, according to a write-up in
Philly.com, the organization has more than 17,000 followers on social media (check out Red Paw’s Facebook and
Twitter pages), and the city’s Office of Emergency Management actually enlists Red Paw’s help in its emergency response efforts. According to Leary, Red Paw is the only organization of its kind in the country. And while Red Paw is certainly the most thorough service provider for animals, if you don’t live in the Philadelphia area, there are other organizations you could contact for help with animals in an emergency situation. Notably,
PetSmart Charities has an emergency relief arm, the
AKC’s Pet Disaster Relief collects resources and works with local emergency management centers, and the
American Humane Association’s “Red Star” mobile animal relief service has helped on disaster sites across the US. In addition to accessing large-scale rescue organizations, there are steps you can take on your own to prep and protect your pets in the event of an emergency. Check out the posts and resources we’ve collected below.
Don’t leave Fido and Fluffy out of your plans when preparing for an emergency—every member of your household deserves to stay safe!
