Payne County, Oklahoma is now equipped with an AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer that will be available to dispatch to any disaster scenes that need assistance sheltering pets.

AKC Pet Disaster Relief, a national program that is dedicated to keeping pets and their owners safe in response to natural or civil disasters, joined forces with local American Kennel Club dog clubs and dog lovers to present an emergency trailer to officials from the Payne County Animal Response Team (Payne CART).

AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailers help to create a safe, temporary home-base for at least 65 pets immediately after a disaster is declared. The trailers house and deliver essential supplies such as fans, lighting and generators; cleaning supplies; maintenance items; and animal care items including crates and carries, AKC Reunite microchips and an AKC Reunite universal microchip scanner as well as bowls, collars and leashes. These supplies can be used as co-location shelters, where people can evacuate with their pets, as well as emergency animal shelters for displaced animals.

“We are grateful to these AKC dog clubs and AKC Reunite for providing us such an important tool for our community.”

Jeff Kuhn ~ Payne County Emergency Management Director

“This trailer will provide critically important animal sheltering resources to help Payne County quickly care for its citizens and their pets when responding to destructive tornadoes or other natural disasters,” said Tom Sharp, AKC Reunite CEO. “Safe, effective pet sheltering solutions immediately following a disaster are incredibly important, and AKC Reunite is pleased to offer this AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer as an invaluable tool to assist Emergency Management response when disaster strikes Oklahoma.”

The purchase of the trailer was made possible by donations from the Canadian Valley Kennel Club, Red Dirt Agility Club, Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences Student Chapter of the AVMA, Bartlesville Kennel Club, Onofrio Dog Shows, Mid-Continent Kennel Club, Doberman Pinscher Club of the Indian Nation, Stillwater Humane Society, Dog Judges Association of America, Siberian Husky Club of America, the Seminole Kennel Club, and AKC Reunite, the nation’s largest non-profit pet identification and recovery service.

“We are grateful to these AKC dog clubs and AKC Reunite for providing us such an important tool for our community. Now our team is better prepared to help pets and pet owners during times of disaster,” said Jeff Kuhn, Payne County Emergency Management Director.

“Our Association is honored to be a part of the group providing such a helpful piece of equipment to the county emergency services by bringing them an invaluable tool like the AKC Pet Disaster Relief Trailer,” said Joe Purkhiser, President of the Dog Judges Association of America.

“We’re very pleased to help bring an AKC Pet Disaster Relief Trailer to Payne County. The trailer helps assure Payne County residents that their pets will be safe in case of a disaster,” said Timothy James of Onofrio Dog Shows.

Individuals, corporations and other interested parties can donate to trailer projects in local areas or across the country. Donations are tax deductible and accepted online. Approved organizations that raise a minimum of $1,000 will have their logo featured on the AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer.

Learn more about how to get involved online with AKC Pet Disaster Relief or contact us at 919-816-3980 and relief@akcreunite.org.