Hurricane Sandy Relief Information
Best Friends Animal Society
12/10/12, Submitted by Paul E. Altherr - Chief Programs Officer
Q 1: What is the approximate dollar amount of donations and pledges that
your organization has received to date in response to Hurricane Sandy?
A 1: We have received approximately $354,000.00 of emergency response donations as of
December 5,2012.
Q 2: Will these funds be used solely for Hurricane Sandy relief? If not,
approximately what portion will be used for Hurricane Sandy relief and
what other purposes will funds be used for?
A 2: We expect that the majority of these funds will be used for Hurricane Sandy relief,
with any funds that are not used for Sandy relief to be used only for other future
emergency response efforts. We have spent approximately $150,000 through December 5,
2012 on Hurricane Sandy relief and we estimate that we may spend between $50,000 and
$110,000 more based on best available information, plans and estimates as of December
5,2012. See also our response to Question 7.
Q 3: Approximately how much has your organization spent to date on Hurricane
Sandy relief?
A 3: Approximately $150,000 as of December 5, 2012.
Q 4: What services has your organization provided to those affected by Hurricane
Sandy? What populations or geographical areas are being served by your
organization in response to Hurricane Sandy? What services does it expect to
provide in the future?
A 4: We have paid for the care of animals displaced by the hurricane (vet fees, temporary
boarding, transport of animals to rescue groups, etc.). We have also provided
financial assistance to animal welfare organizations that incurred extraordinary costs
as a result of the hurricane and its related effects. We have also received donated
animal food and pet supplies, and have arranged for these items to be distributed to
pet owners and their pets, primarily on Staten Island. Our services have been
primarily provided to pets, pet owners and animal welfare organizations primarily in
the New York metro area, including southern Connecticut and northern New Jersey, as
well as to a few organizations outside the tri-state area that accepted animals that
needed to be relocated from the tri-state area due to the effects of Sandy. We expect
that additional services to be provided in the future will be similar in nature.
Q 5: Has your organization provided funding to other organizations for Hurricane
Sandy relief efforts? If so, which organizations have received those funds
and what is the approximate dollar amount provided to them? How does
your organization determine the need for funding?
A 5: Through December 5, 2012, we have provided financial assistance in the total amount of
$105,200 to 31 animal welfare organizations impacted by or involved in the Hurricane
Sandy relief effort (see attached list). We required applicants for relief grants to
provide a detailed description of the extraordinary costs that they incurred as a
result of Hurricane Sandy.
Q 6: Has your organization provided, or does it intend to provide, direct financial
assistance to individuals, families or businesses for Hurricane Sandy relief?
If so, what is the approximate dollar amount that your organization
has provided to date and approximately how much direct financial assistance
does it expect to provide in the future? How does your organization
determine the need for assistance?
A 6: We have not and do not intend to provide any direct financial assistance to
individuals or families. Our support of individuals and families as pet owners has
only been through distributing donated animal food and pet supplies to them (primarily
on Staten Island). Our direct financial assistance to businesses has been only the
financial support to the 31 animal welfare organizations described in our reply to
Question 6.
Q 7: Does your organization have a plan in place on how to use any surplus funds
not spent for Hurricane Sandy relief? If so, please describe that plan.
A 7: Any surplus funds not spent for Hurricane Sandy relief will be used for emergency
response and relief services and/or support in future natural disasters.