When a Killer Tornado Hit Oklahoma, the AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund Hit the Ground Running by Sharon Pflaumer
P
et owners can rest a little easier thanks to the American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) Canine Support and Relief Fund. Like a guardian angel watching over their fourlegged friends, AKC CAR staff monitors events nationwide in the event a natural disaster or national emergency occurs that impacts the well-being of pets. If one does occur, a relief effort is mounted to assist with the care of companion animals in harm’s way. “When the tornado hit Oklahoma at the end of the business day on Monday, May 20th, we began reaching out that night and offering assistance,” AKC CAR CEO Tom Sharp says. “By Tuesday
morning, we knew just how bad the situation was. We were lucky to have Stacy Mason, an AKC employee who only lives an hour north of Oklahoma City. Because she wasn’t affected by the storm, she was able to begin relief efforts on our behalf immediately. “When I spoke to her on Tuesday morning, she told me the people she knew in the local kennel clubs were setting up an emergency animal shelter and needed dog crates, bowls and other supplies. We authorized her to purchase them at the Petco Store in Stillwater, OK using an AKC corporate credit card. After buying the store’s entire stock of crates and dog bowls, she transported them in her van to Oklahoma City by noon on Tuesday--the day after the tornado hit.”
A Helping Hand Because Mason is trained in Emergency Management Protocols, she was able to help local kennel club volunteers implement an emergency animal shelter at the Animal Resource Center (ARC), a local non-profit facility run by Barbara Lewis where training classes, pet expos and other events are held. Between the supplies paid for by AKC CAR funds, Mason’s Emergency Management expertise, Lewis opening the ARC to disaster relief efforts and the hard work of local kennel club volunteers, the emergency animal shelter they set up was able to take in pets displaced by the storm almost immediately. (AKC CAR also donated large AKC kennel runs to the ARC emergency animal shelter and
PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY STACY MASON
Stacy Mason loading crates in Stillwater before setting out for Oklahoma City.
44 Dog News
Pets await reunion with their owners, while crated at the emergency animal shelter set up at the Animal Resource Center (ARC).
“Cooper” is reunited with his owner at the ARC emergency animal shelter.