Greater Birmingham Humane Society seeks donations to support families, their pets affected by storms
Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) is seeking donations to help support families affected by the March tornado outbreaks. (Getty Images)
In Alabama, spring has roared in like a lion. There have been 64 tornadoes reported in 2021, more than any other state, according to WFSA 12 News. Following the most recent March 25 outbreak, that caused a loss of life and immeasurable damage, some families lost everything. To help meet the need, the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) stepped up to offer donated dog and cat food, vaccinations and free emergency boarding services.
GBHS also welcomes donations from its Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3T1HJPJHAF71K?ref_=wl_share (Getty Images)
With storm season just getting underway, GBHS is seeking donations, including:
• Dog and cat food (wet or dry)
• Non-clumping cat litter
• Dog and cat toys
• New pet beds
• New collapsible crates
• New leashes
• New collars
• Rubbermaid containers
• Tarps
• Monetary donations: https://gbhs.org/tornadorelief
Donations can be dropped off at GBHS, 300 Snow Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209 on Tuesdays-Saturdays from 9-11 a.m. and noon-5 p.m.
To help families prepare for future storms, GBHS has provided some helpful tips to include in an emergency preparation plan:
- Name and contact information of veterinary and emergency clinics
- List of pet-friendly lodging options (in the event of evacuation*)
- Copies of a pet’s medical records and medications
- Crate or carrier (with contact information on the outside)
- Leash, collar and current ID tags
- Stash of food, water and extra set of unbreakable bowls
- Extra waste bags or litter box and litter
*During an evacuation, many pet owners don’t realize animals are not accommodated at emergency shelters, leaving thousands of pets abandoned at home or lost on the street. Be sure you have a list of all the pet-friendly friends/relatives and hotels in a 100- to 200-mile radius.
Even with the best planning, in disaster situations pets can become displaced or lost. If you have found a stray pet in one of the tornado-stricken areas, please call the GBHS Animal Care & Control team at 205-591-6522 and press 4 (after 5 p.m. press 2) or email TornadoRelief@gbhs.org.
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A storm rescue story
The Tucker’s family dog, Cooper, adopted from a shelter after the April 2011 storms. (Image courtesy of Alyson Tucker)
If you or your family have been considering a pet, your local humane society has many pets looking for a forever home.
In 2011, following the April 27 widespread tornado outbreak, shelters throughout the state were inundated with displaced, stray and abandoned pets.
“The shelters were reaching out to the public for supplies and for foster homes since there was more need than there was space available,” said Alyson Tucker, Alabama Power Media Relations manager.
Prior to the storms, Tucker had been looking for a sheltie or Australian shepherd puppy as a gift for her fiancé.
“As an avid animal lover, I decided to reach out to the shelter and offer to foster a dog in the meantime,” Tucker said.
The shelter had an adult dog, Cooper, that appeared to be a full-blooded sheltie.
“Cooper is so sweet,” Tucker said. “He quickly won my heart and the rest is history.”
Though the original plan had been to get a puppy, getting an older dog turned out to be a positive experience and fostering turned to forever for the Tucker family.
“I didn’t have to potty train him or go through the hard stages,” Tucker said. “I just got to love on him and enjoy him from day one.”
Tucker encourages people to consider the Humane Society, rescues or other shelters when thinking about getting a pet.
“They have animals of all breeds and ages that need somebody to love them and give them a home,” Tucker said.
Here are some adoptable pets at GBHS looking for their forever homes. To learn more about these or other pets available, visit: https://gbhs.org/adoptable-pets.
