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For Immediate Release: January 22, 2010
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954

(TRENTON) – The New Jersey Animal Emergency Working Group (AEWG) will hold its 13th Annual Symposium on Monday, March 1, 2010 in Westampton to prepare state and county animal response teams to aid animals during emergencies.

The daylong seminar will seek to ensure all counties have animal emergency response plans in place and know the resources available to them.  Hands-on training and demonstrations will involve equine, bovine, swine, goats, sheep, dogs, cats and wildlife.

Disasters, such as the earthquake in Haiti, which killed, injured and rendered homeless animals, as well as humans, highlight the need for trained personnel who can address the needs of animals in emergency situations. New Jersey has more than 1.7 million farm animals, mostly chickens, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. In addition, there are millions of dogs and cats owned throughout the state.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture, under the auspices of AEWG, develops and coordinates plans to protect animals during emergency situations.  It oversees state and county animal response teams that work in the field during disasters and emergencies.  The AEWG operates under the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health and the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management.

Animal control officers, police and firefighters, county emergency planners, animal response volunteers, veterinary-related personnel and others with an interest in assisting animals during emergency situations will be in attendance at the symposium, which will be held 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Burlington County Training Academy, 53 Academy Dr., Westampton, Burlington County. 

For more information or the registration form, visit: www.state.nj.us/agriculture/news/events/2010AEWGregistrationform.doc 

For more information about AEWG and county and state animal response teams, visit: www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/prog/emergency_preparedness.html.