Noah's Wish

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Noah's Wish is a unique animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to rescuing and sheltering animals in disasters, throughout the United States and Canada.

Our Mission:

The singular mission of Noah's Wish is to save animals during disasters with our rescue and recovery services and to mitigate the impact of disasters on animals through our educational outreach programs.

For nearly ten years, Noah’s Wish has stayed true to its mission of saving the lives of animals impacted by disasters, and 2011 was no exception.

We believe the organization’s strength is in our dedicated and highly skilled volunteers, staff, and board members, all of whom work tirelessly to bring the organization together in a manner that seamlessly transitions from one disaster response to another without sacrificing the impeccable care we provide the animals.

Join us as we look back at the past year, its successes and sorrows, how we transformed lives, and worked together to help set the standard for the care of animals in disasters. This is the story of Noah’s Wish at work, a story that unfolds as one disaster after another unmercifully ravaged this country in 2011; as the organization responded to seven major disaster locations, where we cared for over 2,000 animals that had been left homeless. We believe this story exemplifies the core values that make Noah’s Wish – Noah’s Wish. Please accompany us on this journey.

Tornadoes in the spring dealt an exceptionally brutal blow to the southern part of the U.S. A series of large, vicious storms cut swathes of devastation through many parts of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas. Noah’s Wish responded to both Georgia and Arkansas in late April and early May, setting up shelters to house animals displaced by the tornadoes.  During these responses, we were operational for over three weeks and managed the care of more than 300 animals. Noah’s Wish trained volunteers staffed the shelters, some traveling from as far away as Connecticut and Ohio. In addition, almost 100 local residents volunteered their time to help clean cages, walk dogs, cuddle cats, and comfort people. Noah’s Wish volunteers added another dimension to our disaster response efforts in the late summer, when we participated in rebuilding the sanctuary in Georgia that was destroyed by the spring tornado - bringing it back to full operation and allowing volunteers to experience firsthand how their efforts to save the animals brought a community together.

While tornadoes were the bane of the south, flooding was the issue in the Midwest. Noah’s Wish set up a shelter in Metropolis, Ill., in early June to care for animals left homeless, when high water forced thousands to evacuate. From there, the next stop was Minot, N.D., where Noah’s Wish volunteers sheltered over 400 animals, whose families were displaced due to severe flooding. This response proved to be the longest of the year, with volunteers rotating in and out of North Dakota for well over a month. 

Then there was our response to Hurricane Irene on Long Island, N.Y. Noah’s Wish established an animal shelter in record time, when the threat of a direct hit by the hurricane caused thousands of residents to be evacuated from their homes for several days.

Not only was Noah’s Wish able to help out in major catastrophes during the year, but we also responded to smaller incidents in our local communities, for instance; we aided with renovating a cat sanctuary in Catskill, New York that was having a difficult time in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene getting volunteers to help rebuild their facility. We also responded to a call for emergency sheltering in Placer County, Calif., when over 10,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to a burning propane tanker car that threatened to explode.
 
Interspersed with disaster responses were numerous preparedness drills, community outreach events, and training sessions aimed at honing our volunteers’ skill levels in order to be better prepared when disaster calls. Our training program is recognized as one of the premier offerings nationwide and this year was no exception. Over 350 volunteers attended one of the eight sessions conducted in various locations throughout the U.S.  We thank our many volunteers, who so generously gave of their time and efforts to make these all success stories for the organization.

All in all 2011 was a very busy year, while we did a lot to care for animals impacted by disasters, but we feel there is much more to accomplish. As we move into 2012 and celebrate our tenth anniversary, we ask that you take that step with us with your continued support. Remember, our work has just begun!

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Noah's Wish is proud to be recognized as one of the "Best in America".

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  Noah's Wish newsletter, "Tails from the Ark",  for January 2012 is available here

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