$20,000 Donation to Animal Control That Helped Displaced Animals

NEW YORK, NY – The American Kennel Club® and AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) are pleased to announce that the AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund has donated $10,000 to the Kirkwood Foundation for the Friends of the Animal Shelter Fund, the non-profit group associated with Cedar Rapids Animal Control and $10,000 to the Friends of the Animal Center, the non-profit group associated with Iowa City Animal Control for their tremendous efforts to care for the displaced animals during the recent flooding in Iowa.

The AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund is a permanent charitable fund which provides resources, support and other assistance to not-for-profit animal shelters and similar not-for-profit organizations providing care for domestic animals orphaned or displaced as a result of natural or civil disasters.

Both animal control agencies were tragically affected by the rising flood waters. They had to evacuate their permanent facilities and at the same time set up temporary shelters for more than 1,000 displaced companion animals for a month in the aftermath of the devastating flooding.

Cedar Rapids Animal Control and the staff at the Kirkwood facility have now successfully reunited all displaced dogs with owners, adopted out others, and worked with regional shelters and purebred rescue groups to find homes for all dogs temporarily housed at Kirkwood College.

Iowa City Animal Control, after setting up a temporary shelter at the Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds, found themselves up against a timetable to move displaced animals from the fairgrounds to a new temporary facility since their permanent home had been extensively damaged in the flood. All animals have been safely relocated to the animal control’s new temporary home.

In addition to AKC CAR’s $10,000 donation to each animal control group’s not-for-profit organization for their response, earlier donations such as crates, supplies and other resources were sent to the area immediately after the disaster.

AKC and AKC CAR would like to thank Scot Northern, President of the Cedar Rapids Kennel Association for his leadership role in helping us coordinate disaster relief in the area and for all the volunteer work area club members contributed to this effort.

In addition, we would like to thank all the individuals, AKC clubs and other organizations that assisted with monetary donations. We would like to acknowledge the various clubs who have contributed so far, including the thoughtful and creative “matching fund” program conducted by the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America.

Cedar Rapids Kennel Association

American Whippet Club

New England Dog Training Club

Tucson Kennel Club

The Bichon Frise Club of America

Central New Jersey Hound Assoc.

Key City Kennel Club

Irish Terrier Club of America

Pug Dog Club of America

Virginia Kennel Club

Sno-King Agility Club

Burlington County Kennel Club

Trenton Kennel Club

Shoreline Dog Fanciers Assoc. of Orange County

Western Carolina Dog Fanciers Association

Old Dominion KC of Northern Virginia

Gordon Setter Club of America

Wichita Kennel Club

Plainfield Kennel Club

Sand To Sea Non-Sporting Association

Greater Twin Cities Dalmatian Club

South Jersey Collie Club

Golden Triangle KC of Mississippi

Kachina Kennel Club

Framingham District KC

Mount Vernon Dog Training Club

Greater Kingsport KC

Putnam Kennel Club

Mensona Kennel Club

Great Dane Club of Des Moines

The Sheboygan Kennel Club

Newnan Kennel Club

Columbia Missouri Kennel Club

Charlottesville Albemarle KC

Anderson Kennel Club Anderson Indiana

Bichon Frise Club of San Diego

VA Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders

The Richland County Kennel Club

“AKC and AKC CAR will continue to assist those animal control agencies and other non-profit sheltering and rescue organizations that may find themselves faced with caring for displaced companion animals during natural disasters,” said Tom Sharp, VP and CEO of AKC CAR. “Currently we are working with local authorities in California, sending crates and supplies where needed as wildfires remain a threat throughout the warm summer months. Additionally, we are coordinating with local chapters of the Red Cross and state emergency personnel in Texas and other areas now that hurricane season may make evacuations necessary for pet owners.”