NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- This morning, NBC News "Today" kicked off a one-week campaign encouraging Americans to donate dog houses to Noah's Wish for distribution in Slidell, Louisiana. The dog houses will be assembled all week at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, which has been transformed into "Humanity Plaza" as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity construct homes around the clock for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. In addition to helping rebuild the lives of people affected by this tragedy, NBC recognizes that thousands of animals were also victims of Katrina. In response to this, NBC News teamed up with the Cape May Box Company, producers of high-end cedar dog houses. Cape May Box Company has donated an initial eight houses to kick off the campaign. Animal lovers can contribute additional dog houses at wholesale cost with a donation to Noah's Wish, noahswish.org/doghouse.htm. For every donated dog house to Noah's Wish, Cape May Box Company will include a free Dog Deck and Dog Door. Three sizes of dog houses may be donated: Small Dog House $75 dollar donation/ Medium Dog House $100 donation/ Large Dog House $125 donation. To date, 88 dog houses have been ordered. Cape May Box Company will oversee construction of the orders on the Plaza.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://media.primezone.com/noahswish/
Noah's Wish arrived in Slidell, Louisiana immediately after Katrina devastated the city and has been working tirelessly with Slidell Animal Control to rescue and shelter pets left behind. Over 750 animals are being cared for at the Noah's Wish temporary shelter. The donated dog houses will be distributed by Noah's Wish and Animal Control to residents who are able to return to their homes and also will be provided to dogs who are adopted into loving new homes.
"Noah's Wish is thrilled to be a part of this event at Rockefeller Plaza," said Terri Crisp, Founder and Director of Noah's Wish. "We are grateful to NBC News and Cape May Box Company for their generous donation. Noah's Wish does not support or endorse keeping pets outside and chained to dog houses. However, it is common in the area where we are working for dogs to live outside, some all the time and others while their families are away." Due to the hurricane, many families now have no choice but to keep their animals outdoors because their houses are destroyed. The donated dog houses will provide these animals protection from the weather. "Of course, we would much rather see the dogs have access to a home and a yard, but the reality is that is never going to happen for many of these dogs," said Crisp.
Noah's Wish is a 501 c3 not for profit organization based in Sacramento, California. Photos of Noah's Wish rescue operation in Slidell, LA are available at: http://media.primezone.com/noahswish/
Photo Caption: Jeff Johns and his son Joseph building a dog house to be donated to Noah's Wish as part of NBC News Today Show's week-long "Humanity Plaza" event. Photo Credit: Diana Leavengood/willknotdi.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: The photo is also available at NewsCom, www.newscom.com
