NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Noah's Wish will visit 10 cities across the United States and Canada in 2006 to recruit and train volunteers for their National Animal Disaster Response Team. The three-day training program is a requirement for volunteers who want to participate in animal rescue and recovery during disasters. Noah's Wish is a non-profit organization that works exclusively to rescue and shelter animals in disasters and relies on this trained core of volunteers who respond when disaster strikes.
Noah's Wish responded to Hurricane Katrina and set up a temporary shelter in Slidell, Louisiana 72 hours after the storm devastated the Gulf Coast. Almost 2,000 animals were rescued and cared for in the three months following the disaster. The massive animal rescue effort was made possible by over 1,000 volunteers who responded from across the United States and Canada.
"Volunteers are the heart of Noah's Wish; without them, our work would not be possible," said Terri Crisp, Founder and President. "Our training is unique because it is the only program that simulates the disaster environment and prepares volunteers for the emotional and physical challenges of working to save animals in areas of total destruction and chaos."
Participants stay on-site for the hands-on training that includes team building and instructional classes. The agenda includes safety, procedures for processing paperwork, animal care and handling, search and rescue procedures and disaster preparedness.
Terri Crisp has been saving animals in disasters since 1983. Her unmatched experience has made her the expert in the field of managing animals in disasters. Terri is also the acclaimed author of Out of Harm's Way and Emergency Animal Rescue Stories. She also helped co-write an animal disaster training course for FEMA.
For individuals who may not be able to commit to the three-day training, Noah's Wish will open two hours of the program to the public, offering an opportunity to learn about the organization, hear first-hand accounts of animal rescue during Katrina and receive life-saving information on disaster preparedness. This session will take place on Friday 7-9pm in each city.
For more information including registration fees, visit www.noahswish.org. Classes are limited in space, so early registration is encouraged. Here is the 2006 schedule:
Savannah, Georgia - February 3, 4, 5
Dallas, Texas - February 17, 18, 19
St Louis, Missouri - March 3, 4, 5
Baltimore, Maryland - March 17, 18, 19
Los Angeles, California - March 31, April 1, 2
Denver, Colorado - April 21, 22, 23
Madison, Wisconsin - May 5, 6, 7
Anchorage, Alaska - May 19, 20, 21
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada - June 16, 17, 18
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - June 23, 24, 25
WWW.NOAHSWISH.ORG Noah's Wish is a 501 c3 not-for-profit organization. P.O. Box 997 Placerville, CA 95667 (916) 939-9474