Relief Effort Underway For Animal Victims of Superstorm Sandy

Dot's Place Animal Haven, in conjunction with Commonwealth Humane Society of Northern Virginia, Global Graphics, Corner Technologies and WGOG will hold a Food and Supply Drive for animals and those who care for them who were affected by Superstorm Sandy in the Northeast on Thursday, November 8^th at the Tractor Supply located on Highway 123, ½ mile west of the Seneca Walmart from 8:00 a.m. Until 8:00 p.m. If the truck is not filled, they will be back there on Friday.

Denise Painter, co-manager of Dot's Place Animal Haven which is a small cat rescue located in Seneca, began getting panicked email and Facebook messages a few days after Sandy ripped through New England from people begging for help with their pets, including emails from people with animal rescue groups in the New York/New Jersey area that were quickly running out of supplies with no way to replenish them, with many roads and stores closed.

She contacted Commonwealth Humane Society of Northern Virginia, the parent rescue of Dot's Place, and enlisted the help of Chris Haslam, CHS's director. Chris started putting together a transport to leave the Washington DC area on Wednesday, November 7^th, but Denise quickly realized it wouldn't be enough, not enough by far.

“I told Chris” Denise said “I'm getting overwhelmed by emails on the rescue network. We've got to get more stuff up there to these people on the ground who are helping the animals”.

That's when the idea of putting together a transport from Oconee County came about.

Corner Technologies of Seneca donated their truck and trailer to the effort. Tractor Supply gave permission to use their parking lot – which is convenient, since everything needed by the rescues can be purchased there. Global Graphics of Seneca is donating banners, and WGOG has agreed to get the word out to Oconee County residents. All that is needed is the donations, and Denise is hoping to leave Friday or Saturday morning early, headed for a warehouse in mid-New Jersey, which has been designated the staging area for all of the pet and rescue supplies.

The following items are needed: Camping supplies (tents, propane stoves, propane lanterns, propane heaters), tarps, blankets, lots and lots of bottled water because there is NO clean water on Long Island and Staten Island other than what is being trucked in, 5 gallon gas cans empty or full, rope, candles, cat food (dry and wet), dog food (dry and wet), bales of pine shavings, bags of pine pellets, leashes, collars, dog houses, cages, carry crates, trash bags, paper towels, cloth towels, non-perishable food for the humans helping the animals, paper and foam plates and bowls, flashlights, batteries, small propane tanks and gift cards for Walmart and Target.

Denise is also in need of funds to pay for the gas for the trip there and back. She has estimated the cost to be about $600 round trip. Any funds raised over those needed to make the trip will be used to buy more supplies for the animals in need. If you want to donate via Paypal, you may do so at www.humane.pro and you will receive a receipt for your donation for tax purposes (please put Oconee County Relief Effort in the subject line), and there will also be a donation jar at the event.