The Foundation will use the money to recruit professionals in veterinary medicine, law enforcement and animal shelters to train in disaster zone assessment, animal handling methods and disaster response procedures.

These Rapid Response Animal Emergency Re-entry Teams will operate under the Texas State Animal Resources Team, the Foundation's companion-animal emergency management arm.

"We want to invest in the future preparedness and response efforts for Texas and are pleased to support the Texas Veterinary Medical Association's efforts to create specially trained teams," an ASPCA representative says.