PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A nonprofit organization with limited resources that has been coming to the aid of pets displaced in fires has transitioned its services to the Philadelphia Fire Department and its partners.
Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel Thursday delivered the good news that relief efforts for pets displaced by emergencies will stay and be expanded in Philadelphia.
"As someone who donates to Red Paw every month from my own paycheck, I am very aware of the unique asset that this organization has been to the city of Philadelphia," he said.
Red Paw Emergency Relief has been coming to aid of pets displaced from fires for about a decade. Resources were stretched thin and services were threatened.
But now, with the program transitioning to the Philadelphia Fire Department and its partners such as the Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross, it's hoped to have a bigger reach.
"It was too much for just one organization separate from city services to manage. It made a lot more sense to have something from within a city department that is a network," said Red Paw COO Lori Albright.
Nearly 30 members of the Philadelphia Fire Department's Community Action Team (CAT) units will be the first to be trained on how to care for displaced pets.
There will be no gap in Red Paw services.
Red Paw will soon become the Red Paw Foundation, where aftercare such as raising funds for pet friendly hotels and animals in need of critical care can be the focus.
