MACON COUNTY, Tenn. — At the request of local authorities, The Humane Society of the United States has deployed its disaster services strike team, including experienced animal handlers and emergency shelter managers and its shelter and operations trailers from Florida and Maryland, to assist in the aftermath of the deadliest tornadoes in the United States in more than two decades. The storms hit Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Already, The HSUS has picked up dozens of injured and frightened animals and is housing them in its shelter transport vehicle at the Macon County Fairgrounds. And many more displaced animals are known to be wandering around in Tennessee, where The HSUS is supplementing overtaxed local resources.

"We have been working under the direction of Tennessee DART (Disaster Animal Response Team), to perform field rescue, and provide emergency sheltering and medical help," said Scotlund Haisley, senior director of disaster services at The HSUS. "We've been assigned to handle the needs of pets."

In 2006 and 2007, The HSUS saved more than 16,000 animals from abusive or neglectful situations, fighting rings or natural disasters.

Since the storm as subsided, more and more animals are coming out of hiding and need attention. One of those is "Toto," a Jack Russell Terrier who "fell from the sky," according to the Tennessee citizen who brought him to the HSUS' mobile shelter.

"The things this boy has seen, we'll never know but we can imagine," Haisley said. "We're just glad we have him with us now and in one piece."

Leighann McCollum, The HSUS state director for Tennessee, said she's glad to see everyone working so well together. "The Humane Society of the United States applauds the State of Tennessee and its local emergency management agencies, who have put an enormous amount of work into building their DART teams. These storms are a tragedy for all involved. I'm glad we are able to help."

• Are you and your community prepared for a natural disaster? Click here to find out. 
• Would you like to learn how you can be a volunteer in your area to help animals in disasters? Find out how you can help here.

-30-

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.