Joint effort in White Mountains provides help to animals: more help is needed

PHOENIX, Ariz. - In response to a growing need to assist the animal victims of the Rodeo fire, the Arizona SPCA, the Arizona Humane Society, Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare, In Defense of Animals, the Silver Creek Humane Society, the St. Johns' police department, Friends for Life, and other organizations are working together to evacuate animals, to assist in care of the animals, and to reunite them with their families. The effort is spearheaded and organized in the White Mountains by Barbara O'Lear, President of the Silver Creek Humane Society and by Officer Butch Gunnels and the emergency services division of St. John's, Arizona. The Silver Creek Humane Society and St. John's emergency services have set up an effective and organized structure for caring for evacuated horses and companion animals.

Valley community groups have offered assistance in various ways. The Arizona Humane Society and Friends for Life are helping with small companion animals such as dogs and cats. The Arizona SPCA, CCAW, and In Defense of Animals, with the assistance of generous members of the community, have joined forces to assist in helping White Mountain organizations with horses and other livestock. At this time, evacuated horses, foals, goats, and other agricultural animals are being taken to the Navajo County Fairgrounds in Holbrook, Arizona, the Taylor rodeo grounds in Taylor, Arizona, the St. John's Fairground and Equestrian Center in St. John's, Arizona and to Springerville. More than 200 horses are currently evacuated to the facilities and the numbers grow as the fire continues to burn. Sheep, pigs, chickens and other small livestock also have been evacuated.

Dr. Pat Haight of In Defense of Animals, delivered bales of hay to the Holbrook, St. John's, and Taylor facilities on Friday and Saturday. AZ SPCA Director of Operations, Miriam Carranza, led volunteers to deliver additional bales of hay on Saturday to the Silver Creek Humane Society. Because of the number of animals evacuated, there is a continuing need for food for horses and other agricultural animals. Grass hay is adequate at the moment but there will be a continued need for food for several weeks even after the fire is contained. Other supplies are critically needed including medical supplies for horses, feed for older horses, foals, and special need horses, feeders, hanging water buckets and bandages. Facilities in Taylor and Holbrook also have a critical need for the assistance of equine veterinarians.

Elaine Mendez is the Silver Creek Humane Society's coordinator for the care of evacuated horses. On Sunday, Mendez, Officer Gunnels, members of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department mounted posse, together with volunteers, worked into the night driving trucks pulling horse trailers into evacuated areas of Show Low, Pinetop, and Lakeside to take to safety horses and other animals who could not be taken out earlier by their families. "Hundreds of people came together and worked together to save these animals. It brought tears to my eyes," said Mendez, when talking with Dr. Haight on Monday.

At this time, all facilities have a critical and ongoing need for supplies. Those wishing to help may do so in several ways:

• Deliveries of food, hay, dog food and other supplies to the evacuated animals in the White Mountain area should be prearranged through the Silver Creek Humane Society or through Officer Gunnels and emergency services in St. John's Arizona.
• Donations of grass hay and other supplies also can be made to Valley locations listed on the enclosed sheet. The AZ SPCA will carry supplies to the White Mountains.
• Supplies can be purchased directly by credit card from designated Feed Stores in the White Mountain area.
• Donations for the purchase of supplies and for assistance for horses and other agricultural animals should be made directly to the Arizona SPCA or to the Silver Creek Humane Society.

"This is a terrible tragedy for the residents of these areas. It is compounded for many of them because they are worried that their animals may be injured or lost. We are very grateful that we are able to help the residents of the White Mountains care for their animals and, at the same time, relieve the concerns of these families. At this time, there is a need in Holbrook, Snowflake, Taylor and St. John's for supplies. Donations for these items are badly needed, " said AZ SPCA program director, Miriam Carranza.

"The people here cannot believe how people in the Valley have responded and how they have gotten us what is needed. I want them to know that their help is making a difference here, that it is needed, and that we are very grateful," said St. John's Animal Control Director, Russ Hartman. Information on where to donate and what is needed may be found here.

It is the policy of In Defense of Animals to no longer use language that accepts the current concept of animals as property, commodities and/or things. Rather than refer to ourselves or others as "owners" of animals we share our lives with, we now refer to ourselves and others as "guardians" of our animal friends and to animals as "he" or "she" rather than "it." Guardians do not buy or sell animals; instead they rescue and adopt. We urge you to do the same.