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Funds for Animal Relief Efforts in Colorado
Local Fund:
Intermountain Humane Society will accept donations for local emergency planning and response efforts on the 285 Corridor and the Park County Fairgrounds. Funds will be used for animal care, emergency supplies, facility improvements, staff & volunteer training and public education. Please send contributions to Intermountain Humane Society, Disaster Preparedness Fund, P.O. Box 1250, Conifer, CO 80433. Please call 303-838-2668 for additional information.
State Fund:
The Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies has established a fund through the Denver Dumb Friends League. This fund will help mitigate the cost of disaster response as it applies to all animals by non-profit and governmental agencies. This fund will cover all fires to date and other fire and emergency situations that should develop this summer. IMHS Executive Director, Dr. Kevin Dennison has been honored by being asked to assist in administering this fund. Please make checks to: Denver Dumb Friends League-Animal Relief Fund, 2080 S. Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80231. For questions about this fund, contact the American Humane Association at (303) 792-9900, ext 608. IMHS urges all IMHS members and our community to consider donations to this fund.
Animal Evacuation Information
General:
IMHS serves an area that includes both Jefferson County and Park County. IMHS is a member agency of the Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies and an active participant in that groups statewide Emergency Preparedness Committee for assisting various local agencies with disasters. We are working to incorporate IMHS resources, staff and volunteers into disaster responses for both Jefferson and Park Counties. Included here is a summary of the disaster response that each county has planned for wildfires and other emergencies affecting mountain residents.
Companion Animals:
Jefferson County:
Dogs, cats, and other small pet animals from the evacuated areas that need a place to go will be evacuated to Table Mountain Animal Center (38th and Youngfield Service Road, across I-70 from the Wal-Mart at 38th and Youngfield). Animals will be photographed, examined, and a record filled out. Some animals may be transferred after that to boarding kennels and other facilities, but this system is working well because it keeps animals identified and makes sure that one source knows where all the evacuated animals are. Table Mountain Animal Shelter performed superbly during the Snaking Fire and Black Mountain fires, making sure that all animals were safely returned to their families. Evacuation of animals not removed by their own families is conducted by animal control officers from Jefferson County, often assisted by animal control officers from adjoining agencies. In addition, a group of sled-dog mushers is organizing to provide statewide transportation help to animal control agencies using their sled-dog trucks to improve the speed and efficiency of emergency animal evacuations. This community needs to appreciate the great work and leadership provided by Donna Straub at TMAC and Carla Zinanti at Jeffco Animal Control!. If you need to reach Jefferson County Animal Control concerning evacuation pets, please call Animal Control at: 303-271-5070 or call the Sheriff Dept at 303-277-0211.
Northeastern Park County:
During the Snaking fire, Jefferson County provided their disaster management resources and facilities for animals to Park County residents (see the above description). Animal Control Officers from Jefferson, Clear Creek and other counties assisted the Park County Animal Control officers in managing the disaster. In recent discussions, however, it is apparent that Park County needs to develop disaster plans and disaster management facilities for animals of its own, to complement existing Jefferson County resources. In local disasters, Hwy 285 could easily be closed, requiring both Park County and Jefferson County residents to evacuate their pets and livestock to Park County and other facilities. Other areas of Park County outside the northeastern section could experience similar evacuations and facilities in Park County would be essential. Currently, plans are being formulated to utilize the Park County Fairgrounds for animal evacuations, for both companion animals and livestock. This plan will require significant donations of funds, time and materials to build a practical plan for management of evacuated animals in Park County during disasters. See the section below on how you can help for further information.
UPDATE: On June 12-14, The Intermountain Humane Society, The Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies and American Humane Association all joined forces to assist Park County by setting up an emergency animal evacuation center at the Fairgrounds in Fairplay to assist with evacuations from the Lake George area.
Horses and livestock:
Jefferson County
During disasters in Jefferson County, horses and livestock will be evacuated by the Jefferson County Mounted Search and Rescue. This organization has a multitude of excellent volunteers who are trained in evacuation procedures and loading horses. If you want to help evacuate horses during disasters, please call Jefferson County Animal Control or the Fairgrounds about joining this organization prior to an emergency, so that your trailer can be inspected and you can participate in training programs concerning evacuation procedures. Officers of the State Brand Inspector's office are assisting in making sure that horses are properly identified prior to leaving the area. Evacuated horses will be housed at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Once at the fairgrounds, horses will be cared for by volunteers from the Jefferson County Horse Council. If you need help in evacuation of livestock, please call Animal Control at 303-271-5070, the Sheriff Dept at 303-277-0211 or the Fairgrounds at 303-271-6603. All of these organizations need to be applauded for their phenomenal performance during this year's fires. Many of these volunteers have taken many days out of their normal lives to care for endangered livestock, with multiple fires already this year!
Park County
Park County gratefully received assistance during the Snaking Fire from Jefferson County organizations. As we stated above, Park County Animal Control, with assistance from several local organizations is working to put together a program for disaster management similar to that which exists in Jefferson County. This plan will allow both counties to provide optimal assistance to their residents and the other county, as dictated by the circumstances of the emergency. Currently, donations, volunteers and materials are needed to enhance the Park County Fairgrounds to potentially house horses in large number during a major evacuation. Horse haulers and horse care providers are also needed to provide services during evacuation efforts. Persons interested in helping should contact IMHS at 303-838-2668.
Helpful Information concerning animal evacuations:
 | Make sure that animals are identified. Dogs and cats should have collars with tags. Cat carriers should have the owner's name and phone number written on them. Be sure to have leashes for dogs and cat carriers for cats. Horse halters should have an ID tag or the owners name and number written on them. You should have copies of brand inspection and registration papers to prove ownership when reclaiming your horse from an evacuation center or when transporting horses. |
| Whenever possible, take all of your animals with you when you evacuate an area. You may not be able to return again and leaving animals endangers animals and endangers people trying to come back later for them. |
| Bring along any medications that your pet needs. If you will be keeping your pets at a friend's house, bring adequate food, water, bowls, leashes and grooming supplies that you will need while evacuated (if time permits you to assemble these items). |
| Be prepared: Make a list of things you need to take during an evacuation and keep many of those items organized in a "ready to go" place. This includes not only animal related items, but important papers, emergency supplies and personal items like pictures. |
| Be appreciative: Many of the people working during these emergencies are volunteers, taking time off from their lives to help others, often at great personal expense! They do it for the love of animals and their community. Please be sure to be patient during these times and remember to thank these volunteers for their efforts. |
You can download a more thorough handout titled "Keeping Pets and Livestock Safe During Disaster Situations" by clicking here.
Even if you are not subject to evacuation at this time, we urge you to make plans concerning future disaster situations. The forest is absolutely bone dry right now and if we don't get significant moisture soon, there will be many such fires in the near future. You should also take immediate steps to prepare your mountain home to withstand a fire as much as possible. Please contact your local fire department concerning their current recommendations!
What Can I do to Help?
People want to help others when a crisis occurs. Intermountain Humane Society has compiled a list of what IMHS and other agencies need before and during disasters.
What is needed:
Intermountain Humane Society:
| Intermountain Humane Society is developing a disaster preparedness/response section, headed by Executive Director Dr. Kevin Dennison. Dr. Dennison is also a member of the Emergency Preparedness Committee for the Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies (CFAWA), so IMHS resources will be directed both locally as well as part of a CFAWA response anywhere in the state. IMHS sent Dr. Kevin Dennison to Fort Worth, Texas at the end of May to a four-day national conference on animal issues in disasters. |
| IMHS has volunteered to set up and staff a CFAWA/IMHS Animal Evacuation Information Booth at a highly visible location during fires in Park and Jefferson Counties. This booth will provide information about where animals should go, how to reclaim evacuated animals, current status of the emergency and emergency preparedness education. We hope to be able to operate this booth in conjunction with CFAWA in emergencies throughout the state in the near future. IMHS has ordered banners and other materials to construct this booth and will be working with Park and Jefferson County Animal Control to ensure the distribution of accurate and timely information at this resource. |
| IMHS will be helping to provide resources and equipment to volunteers assisting animal control authorities in Park and Jefferson County. IMHS is also requesting donation of materials to help care for evacuated animals at the Park County Fairgrounds. Needed items include: Horse water buckets, horse halters, lead ropes, portable livestock panels, rakes, shovels, dog collars, cat & dog airline carriers, towels, blankets, and dog & cat food and water bowls. In addition, IMHS desperately needs a 14-20 foot long enclosed cargo trailer in which to store and transport emergency equipment and supplies. Please call 303-838-2668 to arrange to donate items. During an emergency, items needed will include hay, bedding, pet food, cat litter, paper towels. |
| IMHS needs funds to cover equipment, supplies, volunteer training expenses and public education expenses. To donate to this cause, send a check to: IMHS Emergency Preparedness Fund, P.O. Box 1250, Conifer, CO 80433, or call 303-838-2668. Donations are tax deductible. |
Other Agencies:
| Table Mountain Animal Center has is the evacuation center for Jefferson County. It was also the evacuation center after the first day for the Snaking Fire (Intermountain Humane Society served that purpose on the first day). TMAC always needs a variety of supplies and is always in need of dependable volunteers. Items such as pet food, cat litter, paper towels, office supplies and a variety of other supplies would be appreciated by them. TMAC's website is www.tablemountainanimals.org and their phone number is 303-278-7575. |
| If you have a boarding kennel and want to donate some space to evacuated animals, please contact TMAC or IMHS! |
| We need people to take an active interest in disaster preparedness. Intermountain Humane Society will be working with other groups to set up a horse/livestock evacuation program for Park County. We need the input and resources of equestrian facilities (such as the Park County Fairgrounds, Burland Equestrian Center and private stables), animal related businesses (such as veterinarians, feed stores and others) and input from individual horse owners. If you are interested in participating in an effort to build an equine association for Park County, please contact Dr. Kevin Dennison at 303-838-2668. |
| The Jefferson and Park County Fairgrounds in these emergency situations can use supplies and cash donations. Also bandage materials and first aid supplies are often needed. Veterinarians can assist in helping to treat horses that are stressed or suffering from smoke inhalation or minor injuries during transportation. Experienced horse handlers can be of help at the fairgrounds as well. Please call 303-271-6603 in Jefferson County and 719-836-4289 in Park County for more information. |
| Foster Homes are potentially needed if a disaster worsens. Unfortunately, foster homes are the most valuable if they have a pre-existing relationship with a local rescue organization and are property equipped and trained for handling additional dogs and cats. Please contact Intermountain Humane Society at 303-838-2668 or Evergreen Animal Protective League at 303-674-6442 if you would like to become a regular foster home. (Foster homes cannot be utilized in areas that may soon be threatened by a fire, since the animals would have to be evacuated a second time!) |
May all of us and our animal friends pass through these times in safety. It is a comfort to know that so many care!
Last update May 18th, 2004