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WASHINGTON D.C. – American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, is deploying its Rescue team to Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes in Louisiana to care for hundreds of displaced animals in the aftermath of deadly Hurricane Ida. American Humane will be managing a temporary animal shelter for the lost pets and partnering with Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter, Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to provide this critical care.

“These southern-most parishes in Louisiana suffered the brunt of Hurricane Ida – a devastating Category 4 hurricane that caused widespread damage to homes and displaced thousands of families and their pets,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “It is our duty to ensure innocent animals, who are tragically separated from their families, are protected and given shelter during this traumatic time.”

Animals will be safely housed, identified and vetted at the temporary shelter until their owners can be found. The goal is to reunite as many animals as possible with their families and loved ones.

The American Humane Rescue team already completed a successful transfer of cats and kittens from Baton Rouge to Oklahoma using one of its 50-foot emergency rescue vehicles – taking them out of harm’s way and to an animal shelter with more available resources. Meanwhile, a second American Humane Rescue team was on the ground in California assisting in sheltering more than 500 small animals whose families had to evacuate in the wake of the Caldor Wildfire. As is required protocol in a major national disaster, American Humane is responding to official requests from local organizations.

Whenever disasters strike, the American Humane Rescue team leaps into action. American Humane carefully monitors developing situations before deploying resources, including highly trained staff, volunteers, food and medical supplies, in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Providing care for stranded, injured and lost animals in the wake of a natural disaster requires around-the-clock attention to the physical and mental wellbeing of each individual animal.

The American Humane Rescue team was founded more than 100 years ago during World War I when the U.S. Secretary of War requested assistance caring for injured horses in war-torn Europe. Since then, American Humane’s team of animal first responders have been on the ground for virtually every disaster in our nation’s history, from Pearl Harbor, to 9/11, to Hurricane Katrina, to the devastating wildfires in Butte County, California and everything in between.

To support our urgent disaster relief efforts and make a difference for our animal friends in need, please donate at www.AmericanHumane.org/HurricaneIda.

American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization. Founded in 1877, American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of animals, and our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the bonds between animals and people. For more information or to support our work, please visit www.americanhumane.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.