01.13.09
The HSUS has been requested by the District of Columbia Department of Health to provide support in handling animal issues that might arise during the Inauguration festivities, on January 18 and 20, 2009.
If you live in the metropolitan DC area, we invite you to work as part of the HSUS Team to support these events. We don't have a lot of specific detail right now, and as you can hear from the news, things are changing every hour. It's a high honor to be called on to help, and we look forward to including you on our team.
While no animals (except service animals) will be allowed in the secured public areas in downtown DC, there may be issues arising in the unsecured areas. Also, people with disabilities with service animals (which are allowed) may need assistance with their animals. Once again, The HSUS, together with our colleague organizations in the animal protection community, will be on the spot to help people with their animals. We need a large number of volunteers with some animal handling or sheltering skills and experience, as well as experience with support services, to serve as "eyes and ears" downtown on both days, and to support any need for short-term emergency sheltering on January 20th.
Please take this unique opportunity to be part of this historic event!
WHAT TO DO:
1. LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE AND WILLING!
If you are available for some or all of the day on Sunday January 18 or Tuesday January 20, and are willing to help us, please email your name, phone contact (routine as well as cellular), and your skills/experience (very briefly) to volunteer@ndart.org .
Please do not reply to this email address. It will only delay processing your offer to help.
2. STAY TUNED FOR ORIENTATION:
We will have an animal team orientation online or onsite .
3. INFORMATION:
We are gathering information to formulate a sound plan for thisever-changing situation, and we will share this information with those of you who respond - as soon as we know!
WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE:
1. Any volunteers must be able to get to downtown DC on their own. Please use the web to get information www.inauguration.dc.gov and Metro for travel. Parking will be nigh impossible.
2. You must be physically able and clothed to withstand winter weather situations, to carry your own cell phone, snacks and water, and to walk one to two miles to your assignment, remain on your feet most of the day, and walk back. We will assign shifts of approximately six hours. If you can work more, great!
3. Volunteering does not get you any special tickets for admission to the inauguration, the parade, or any other events. However, you will see as much as the general public, probably more, and be part of this great event. We will have some special team identification items, as well as
recognition items to help you remember your experience!
4. We will have roving foot patrols on Sunday and Tuesday to help in the crowds by identifying animal issues, supporting the public in caring for their own animals, and escalating any needs to a higher level.
5. We will set up and staff an indoor facility close to the area of the festivities to help with any short-term animal sheltering needs.
6. This list of what we know for sure will GROW! :-)
Please collect your questions - We will be getting your answers as soon as we can! And we hope you understand that it is difficult to estimate how many volunteers will be needed.
Thanks very much - we appreciate your support!
Scotlund Haisley,
Senior Director, Emergency Services
and
Anne Culver
Director of Operations, HSUS Inaugural Response
volunteer@ndart.org
