Post storm help for pet owners arrives in Jay

By Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller

JAY, Okla. — Jay Mayor Becki Farley admits that as she began to assess the damage connected with the May 22 tornado, taking care of dogs and cats was not on her immediate needs list.

That was until Roger Nagl, animal cruelty deputy with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, reached out to offer help.

Nagl, who has worked various events involving animals, called Farley through another volunteer offering assistance.

On Sunday, Nagl took a load of dog and cat food, toys for both species, leashes and collars, doghouses, as well as water and food bowls to volunteers in Jay. He also made a similar delivery to the American Red Cross shelter at First Christian Church in Miami.

Many of the items were provided by the Oklahoma Animal Alliance, a group Nagl has worked with for more than a year.

“They have been a great resource for information and supplies when needed,” Nagl said. “Jamee Suarez Howard (with OAA) did not hesitate to help when I reached out to her for help in Northeast Oklahoma.”

The donations from the alliance included 650 pounds of pet food and treats, doghouses, and miscellaneous flea/tick medication.

“I found it necessary to reach out for help due to the numbers of families that were displaced from their homes due to the tornado in Jay and the flooding in northeastern Oklahoma,” Nagl said. “The families have enough to worry about. The communities really do not have any plans in place to help with the pets or other animals in these situations.”

“I felt obligated to help the communities,” he said.

Nagl also took crayons and coloring books for children affected by the tornado.

Farley anticipates working with Nagl after the immediate crisis is resolved in her small town.

“We’re going to work with him to learn how we can utilize him during disasters and at other times,” Farley said. “He’s just an awesome guy.”

This story previously appeared in The Joplin Globe. http://bit.ly/GlobeJayPets