The Spirit Of Giving: Help Animals Have A Happy Howl-iday

(ANIMAL ACTIVISM/TAKE ACTION) Happy Holidays! ‘Tis the season of giving, and the Global Animal Foundation is celebrating by giving back to animals in need.

As you may know, Global Animal Foundation is a non-profit 501(3)C charity that functions like a Green Cross for animals. It’s a responsive umbrella organization that distributes donations to vetted animal rescues worldwide that aid animals in crisis. Our mission is to swiftly get resources on the ground during natural disasters and other emergencies that put animals, from pets to wildlife, in critical peril.

Thanks to donations from animal-lovers across the globe, our campaigns have granted thousands toward assisting animal rescues with funding for medical expenses, providing food and housing for rescued animals, and helping shelters reunite lost pets with their families in the wake of natural and manmade disasters.

Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund – May 2013

Last year, we distributed funds to rescue organizations helping animals in the wake of one of the deadliest storms in U.S. history. Thanks to the support of our concerned readers, we assisted organizations like the Central Oklahoma Humane Society (OK Humane) with housing and caring for hundreds of animals displaced by the deadly tornadoes, as well as reuniting dozens of lost pets with their families.

Donations also aided Horse Feathers Equine Rescue in providing much-needed transportation, feed, and medical supplies to affected animals, particularly horses, in the hard-hit Oklahoma City area.

Additional funds were distributed to out-of-state organizations organizations like the Tri County Humane Society (TCHS) and PAWS Chicago who personally drove hundreds of miles to take in pets who had already been surrendered to Animal Care & Control, thus freeing up shelter space for displaced pets and giving the pre-existing shelter animals a second chance at life.

After hours of looking at photos of lost dogs, searching shelters, phone calls, and more, the Minnick family magically found Tory, but are still looking for one more dog. Photo Credit: Central Oklahoma Humane Society — After hours of searching, the Minnick family was miraculously reunited with their dog Tory. Photo Credit: Central Oklahoma Humane Society

Colorado Flooding Relief Fund – September 2013

In September 2013, Colorado witnessed a week of historic flooding from Colorado Springs north to Fort Collins, which destroyed over 1,500 homes, leaving many people and animals stranded.

Numerous rescue organizations—from the national to local level—banded together to help animals trapped and left behind along Colorado’s Front Range.

Thanks to the help of our concerned readers, animals in Colorado were provided with food, water, shelter, and medical care through organizations including the American Humane Association’s Red Star Rescue Team, Code 3 Associates, PetAid Colorado, the Longmont Humane Society, and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

A Boulder County Animal Control officer and AHA workers rescue a cat from a destroyed home as the flood water recedes. Photo Credit: AP

Philippines Typhoon Yolanda Relief Fund – November 2013

Later last year, over 1.3 million families in 39 provinces were impacted by the deadliest natural catastrophe in Philippine history, Typhoon Haiyan (or Typhoon Yolanda).

Animal organizations were faced with the enormous logistical and physical task of providing rescue, veterinary care, and humane treatment to over 100,000 animals caught in the crisis.

Global Animal Foundation donations supported both local and international rescue teams including Humane Society International (HSI) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), as well as their immediate and long-term plans to help animals throughout the hardest hit Philippine provinces.

Volunteer Martin Morales during the Disaster Relief Operation in Bohol. Photo Credit: PAWS

Arkansas & Mississippi Tornado Relief Fund – May 2014

After a ferocious storm system tore through Central and Southern U.S. in May, several agencies lent their services to help out however they can—whether by bringing in search dogs, providing food assistance and veterinary services for lost and/or injured animals, or reuniting families with their four-legged loved ones.

Donations were dispersed between the Faulkner County Humane Society (HSFC), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society (TLHS), and other key organizations to help with medical costs for injured animals, boarding and food, and reuniting lost pets with their guardians throughout the hardest hit states, Arkansas and Mississippi.

This lucky guy was reunited with his family today. Photo Credit: Maumelle Animal Clinic — This lucky pup was reunited with his family at Maumelle Animal Clinic in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Photo Credit: Maumelle Animal Clinic

In the spirit of the holiday season, consider these three ways of giving back and helping out an animal in need:

1. Kick off your holiday shopping with GAF honor gifts: Tribute donations make great gifts for the holiday. Give to emergency animal rescue in honor of a person or pet and help GAF continue its message of kindness, compassion, and concern for all living creatures around the world.

2. Give an animal a home for the holidays: Consider bringing joy to your world this holiday season by choosing to adopt a pet–don’t forget to visit our pet adoption database! But first, make sure to review these helpful tips to responsibly give a pet as a gift.

3. Donate to the Emergency Animal Relief Fund: Support ongoing initiatives worldwide to get immediate aid to animals in need during emergency situations.

Here at Global Animal, we believe that helping injured and displaced pets is a profound and direct way to support the people in the throws of a natural disaster. It’s not an either/or. All animal lovers can relate to what it would feel like to be reunited with a pet after a disaster.

Your donations help us give back to animals in need all year long.

Global Animal Foundation is a California Nonprofit Corporation with IRS 501(c)3 recognition. Your donation is tax-deductible.