March • Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team responds to help rescue and provide emergency shelter for pets of Southeast Missouri Flood victims. The Humane Society of Missouri is the lead animal welfare agency activated by SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency) to help in the rescue and shelter efforts in the flooding parts of Missouri. HSMO partners with national organizations to cover widespread flooding in Cape Girardeau, Butler, Pemiscot, Jefferson and St. Louis Counties. Gov. Matt Blunt commended the Humane Society of Missouri and other animal service organizations for assisting pet owners displaced by the flooding by caring for their pets.
April-June • HSMO’s Disaster Response Team continues to assist pets and their owners throughout the state and region during a summer plagued with natural disaster. Rescue and sheltering services are provided to victims of the Newton County tornado as well as flooding in Lewis, Pike, and Lincoln Counties. The Disaster Response Team also received an official request for assistance from the Iowa Department of Agriculture for teams trained in water rescue. HSMO immediately dispatched three rescue teams totaling 10 people with boats, trailers and HSMO’s mobile shelter unit. HSMO performs water rescue operations and assists with temporary sheltering in Cedar Rapids.
August • The Humane Society of Missouri conducted the largest animal rescue in the organization’s history. In cooperation with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, a 26-person team from the Humane Society of Missouri rescued more than 360 animals on an 80-acre property outside of Pleasant Hope in southwest Missouri. According to Humane Society of Missouri humane investigators and representatives of the sheriff’s department, the animals were living in deplorable, filthy conditions with little to no access to appropriate or adequate food, no fresh, clean water, and no adequate shelter.
October • 73 dogs and cats are rescued from a substandard breeder in Howell County. Many of the animals are emaciated with no access to food or water, some have severe mange and other skin infections and matted coats. HSMO also responds to a request from the State of Indiana to perform field rescue operations and evidence collection at a substandard puppy mill south of Terre Haute.
