A group of dog lovers/exhibitors from all over the country have formed a group on Facebook to try and do something for the domestic animals that have been caught up in the flooding in Somerset.  It's called Pet Aid UK.

The group is looking for volunteers to donate and help transport pet food to the stricken areas.  The first car load of dog food has already started the journey from the North West to the Midlands, and there are volunteers willing to pick up the load near Bristol, but we need trustworthy, reliable people that can help us complete the journey, and also assist us with future loads.  Drop-off points for food are being established all over the country.

Alternatively, if you have friends and family in the southwest, please ask if you can send a sack of dry food for them to take to the official drop-off points in the area,e.g. at Bridgwater, Taunton, etc.  These can be found on the FLAG Flooding on the Levels Action Group page on Facebook (pinned to the top of the page).    Helen Toye is co-ordinating the animal side of things at FLAG.

It's important that none of us try to go into the disaster area itself, as we could make the situation a whole lot worse.

Please join the Pet Aid UK Group if you think you can help in any way - perhaps with offering shelter for displaced animals or transportation, as well as food.  There doesn't seem to be a donation point for animals yet, but I will pass the word along if FLAG mentions that something official has been set up.  Not everyone in the Pet Aid UK Group is known to me personally, but many are, and it is the brainchild of Gill Bingham of the Steldawn Norwegian Elkhounds/Japanese Shiba Inu, which for those that know her is recommendation enough.

I should say that the NFU is co-ordinating efforts for livestock.  I think if you search for Forage Aid you will find details.  This situation is going to go on for many weeks, unfortunately.

Brilliant idea. Hppe people can all pull together on this one

Over 500 members and climbing now.  Our Dogs are covering it, and we are now in direct communication with the animal co-ordinator at FLAG.  Watch this space.

This is going to go on for a while - Plenty of time for others to join us.  I think that there will be times when they need donations, and times when they want us to stop.

Oh, and the first consignment of food was dropped off in Bridgewater this afternoon.  :-)  All conveyed from the northwest to the southwest by a relay of volunteers.

where is that like button !! :)

> This is going to go on for a while - Plenty of time for others to join us.  I think that there will be times when they need donations, and times when they want us to stop.

I delivered some human supplies on Saturday,  will be ready to donate some pet/farm animal food over the coming weeks. It's important for people to realise this isn't a flash in the pan event - most of the displaced pets and animals will still be in foster in  a few months' time.

As someone put it:
"This isn't a sprint, it's a marathon."

Quite right, Ms T. - and the levels at which we can supply help will ebb and flow - there may be periods where fosters and transport aren't needed, and other times where they will be, and times when donations have reached saturation point, leading to a temporary suspension (we are nowhere near that point yet - we need all the donations we can get).