Little Guild of St. Francis for the Welfare of Animals Receives $12,000 Grant from ASPCA

West Cornwall, Conn.—Little Guild of St. Francis for the Welfare of Animals has been awarded $12,000 in grant funding from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to provide medical care and treatment for animals displaced during Hurricane Sandy.

"The Little Guild is very grateful for the assistance from the ASPCA for the medical needs of the animals we rescued from Hurricane Sandy," said Denise Cohn, executive director of Little Guild of St. Francis for the Welfare of Animals. "It is a huge help in ensuring we can provide the best medical care possible for the many animals that need it."

"The ASPCA is well aware of the challenges animal shelters face in the wake of a natural disaster," added Tim Rickey, vice president for the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team. "We commend groups such as the Little Guild of St. Francis for stepping up to assist other shelters in need during these difficult times. We hope that our grant will enable them to provide medical care and treatment for displaced Sandy animals so they can be made available for adoption."

Following Hurricane Sandy, Little Guild of St. Francis for the Welfare of Animals traveled to Philipe, W.Va. to assist Animal Friends of Barbour County, which was badly damaged and left without power, heat and water. Little Guild took 65 dogs and 23 cats, many of which required medical attention including spay or neuter surgeries.

The ASPCA is commonly called upon by state and municipal governments and other animal welfare agencies to lend expertise during large-scale animal rescue operations. Every year, the ASPCA assists thousands of animals in communities throughout the U.S. that were severely affected by tornadoes, flooding and storms. During Hurricane Sandy, the ASPCA assisted nearly 61,000 animals through field rescue, sheltering, pet supply distribution and mobile wellness clinics in New York and New Jersey. The ASPCA also responded to the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Mo., Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008, and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

For information on disaster preparedness and safety tips from the ASPCA, please click here.