AVMF receives nearly $100,000 in donations for Katrina relief

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. - 9/09/05 - The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), at presstime, reports almost $100,000 has been donated through the non-profit's Web site. The money is slated for disaster relief efforts involving animals in hurricane-stricken areas of the Gulf Coast region.

While the donations were tallied just days following devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, officials expect more will be contributed to the foundation's disaster relief emergency fund, which supports aid for animals in disasters. The foundation also supports Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams deployed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist in treating injured animals and to provide public health advice. Four VMAT units have been tapped to serve, bringing roughly 240 veterinarians, technicians and assistants into needed areas, the American Veterinary Medical Association reports.

AVMF officials add that the organization's Web site now accepts international donations. For information on how to support animal relief efforts, visit www.avmf.org.

See DVM Newsmagazine's October issue for comprehensive coverage on the storm's aftermath.