Website Last Updated:
July 1, 2009

In late May, members of the Bucks Mont Katrina Animal Center Project, along with volunteers from the Warrington-based Animal Lifeline, partnered to coordinate a dog adoption transport from Waveland, Mississippi to Kennebunk, Maine.  Since the hurricane, there has been a surge of displaced pets and an ever-increasing stray population.   While the BMKACP is actively raising funds for the much-needed animal center, this transport program is an opportunity to offer immediate help.  With this first transport, 31 dogs, including 22 puppies, were rescued, as students ranging from kindergarten to college, from Mississippi to Bucks County to Maine were involved.  While many groups have left the Gulf region, our efforts are being reenergized as the next generation enthusiastically steps forward to help.

Click here for the Bucks County Herald story on dog rescue effort.

Animal Center donations should be made payable to:
GCCF-Bucks Mont Katrina Project/AC

Checks should be mailed to:

Click the link below for a video by Bill Eastburn IV, co-chair of the Bucks Mont Katrina Animal Center Project and son of the late BMKP co-founder Bill Eastburn.

A NEW ANIMAL CENTER
In addition to continuing to rebuild homes, and following the completion of the day- care center, the Bucks- Mont Katrina Relief Project broke ground on March 13, 2007, for a desperately- needed animal center in Hancock County.

The Hancock County Animal Center will provide a haven for dogs and cats and other small household pets to receive medical care and, for those without homes, to await adoption.

The Bucks Mont Katrina Animal Center Project is a volunteer and charitable initiative committed to building a desperately-needed animal center in Hancock County, Mississippi—where the eye of Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. The 6,500 square foot Hancock County Animal Center will provide a haven for dogs and cats and other small household pets to receive medical care and, for those without homes, to await adoption.

The Hancock County Animal Center will be built on land generously donated by Hancock County itself. In addition, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States have made generous contributions of $250,000 each. Many professional and educational organizations and individuals have committed additional resources and hundreds of volunteer hours to build the new animal center. The project is scheduled for completion in 2008.

Architectural Concept Image We are honored and grateful to have worked with Professor Paul Hirshom and the Architectural School at Drexel University on early conceptual designs for the shelter.  The Drexel students put together some terrific conceptual designs incorporating modular construction ideas.  Members of our leadership team, including our volunteer architect, Maryann Marotta from MMA in  Lancaster, participated in the juried review of these design concepts.  More recently, Maryann Marotta put forward her conceptual design for the Center in a presentation to the Bucks Mont Katrina Group.  Maryann is working as we speak with shelter design specialists and various subconsultant designers (plumbing, electrical, etc.) and with Compton Engineers in Hancock County to develop a more formal set of design documents and site plans for review in Mississippi.  We look forward to seeing final design drawings later this year.