Local Officers Volunteer to Help Animals

A dog was found tied to an electrical pole 

as the flood waters rose in Houston.

As flood waters rose in Houston and the surrounding areas some flood victims saved their pets, some had to leave their pets behind. So Oklahomans are stepping in to help.

Randy Freeman and Lewis Brown, Sallisaw’s animal control officers, have both been placed on call by their organization, the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).

The MRC is a national network of volunteer units that assist other medical professionals, such as physicians, dentists and veterinarians, in times of catastrophes such as the flooding in Texas.

Freeman said the dogs and cats found in the flooded areas are being sent north to HART in Tulsa, and MRC members such as he and Brown are put on call to help care for the animals during the trip.

Freeman said the Sallisaw Animal Care Facility is full and at the present time has no room for animals from disaster areas.

“They are going to Tulsa County to HART for a layover there before going further north. It’s a HUB where they are cleaned up and taken care of. They are then dispersed north,” Freeman explained.

He said the area MRC includes five counties – Sequoyah, Adair, Cherokee, Haskell and Latimer – and has about 30 members.

Freeman said, “I have heard there are hundreds of animals on their way. Some have already been sent to San Antonio.”

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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