September 06, 2005

• I would if I could, even if it did piss my two girls off. I have to say, I was feeling kind of bad cos I kept thinking of all the poor pets in the face of all that human misery.
• I'm very glad someone's doing this ... I was talking about this yesterday to Mr. Koko and his mum, saying that pet rescue and care would sadly be the lowest priority.
• Actually, they have not been ignored, Koko -- even FEMA has ;arge teams of veterinaruians, lab techs, surgeries, and so on which have been sent into the area and have been active. Many smaller rescue groups have been working to locate and remove pets and abandoned livestock as well. The main focus however, has been on the rescue of human beings, and it is always so during hurricane catastrophes. Read earlier that the New Orleans Zoo, happily on high ground, has so far lost only two otters, a raccoon, and possibly a whooping crane when trees came fown. They have 14-- animals and a dedicated staff. And had prepared in advance, with water and food stashed for just such a contingency -- it's a an amazing accomplishment. Fine post, moneyjane! Even if you can't manage to take in a creature, they can all use money. Some are asking for volunteers, too.
• 14-- = 1400 creatures
• Here's a great link for sending donations to help the animals in need from the Katrina disaster zone. I sent them $200.00, e-mailed all my animal loving friends and family and the responce of donations has been very positive. Having 3 dogs, 2 cats and a horse, I can't even imagine the pain owners and pets have suffered. Not lessening the value of human lives in the least but domesticated animals are SO dependent on us humans for survival. As my brother Squid's cat Bert says, "he's the guy who opens the cans." Noah's Wish Coordinating Pet Rescue in Slidell, La. NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Noah's Wish is working with animal control officials in the city of Slidell, Louisiana to coordinate animal rescue. Terri Crisp, Founder and Director of Noah's Wish, has met with Slidell Mayor Ben Morris and Animal Control Director Damian Anti to assess the city's needs and a coordinated pet rescue operation is being implemented. The animal control facility in Slidell was flooded with 10 feet of water and approximately 50 animals were evacuated prior to the storm. The Mayor of Slidell has made available a large warehouse that is being used to set up a temporary shelter for cats and small dogs. In a lot behind the warehouse, tents are being set up, and chain link dog-runs being built to house larger dogs. Once completed, the temporary shelter will be able to house over 1,000 animals. Over 400 trained Noah's Wish volunteers and 25 veterinarians will work around the clock to provide medical support and care to these pets. "There are many dogs running loose throughout the city," said Crisp. "Many people left their animals behind when they evacuated and law enforcement has been cutting dogs loose as they find them." Approximately 200 stray animals have already been picked up by animal control and these animals will be moved to the temporary shelter. A database will track all animals that enter the shelter, with the goal of reuniting owners with their lost pets. Temporary shelter for pets will be offered to residents who lost their homes and are unable to keep their animals with them in shelters or hotels. One Noah's Wish volunteer, a veterinary technician from Indianapolis, is working to assess the needs of local veterinarians in Slidell so they can open their offices to treat injured animals. The city of Slidell, located directly north of Lake Ponchatrain was devastated by Katrina. "We can use all the help we can get right now and I am incredibly grateful to have Noah's Wish here to coordinate relief efforts for pets," said Slidell Mayor Ben Morris. Americans who want to help can donate online Noahswish . Donations go directly to help the animals of this disaster and cash is preferred as it allows the organization to purchase the supplies needed. Terri Crisp reminds Americans that hurricane season is not over. "Don't wait for an emergency to strike -- be prepared for disasters and include your animals in your family's disaster plan. Make sure your pet always has proper identification in case they are lost." Crisp has been devoted to animal disaster preparedness, education, and response since 1983. She has responded to over 50 disasters worldwide including floods, wildfires, and hurricanes, and traveled overseas to aid in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami in 2004. She has trained volunteers, animal welfare organizations, and emergency management agencies across the nation and around the world, building relationships that enable her to work with organizations during times of crisis. Crisp is the author of two books, Out of Harm's Way and Emergency Animal Rescue Stories, which provide stories from some of the disasters she has responded to. WWW.NOAHSWISH.ORG
• How ironic for the poor otters... I do worry about racing around my burning house trying to get both moggies into one cat box (should my house ever catch fire)... It's so hard being a parent.
• The million dollars is apparently only for shelters, not transportation. I'm a little suspicious that perhaps some of that email is incorrect. The ASPCA hurricane diary doens't mention any of the effort to foster animals affected by the storm. I emailed my local humane society for more info - hopefully a national program is underway too. Thanks for the post!
• Heard the mayor of New Orleans say a couple of days ago that the city only has enough funds left to carry it through the next two weeks. Would hate to see the zoo fold now after such heroic efforts and remarkable success. They will need feed and funds to pay staff. The New Orleans zoo is a part of the Audobon Nature Institute which includes an aquarium (thought to have lost at least a third of its fishes due to not having means to aerate their water) and na insectarium, plus museums. By Googling "New Orleans zoo" I can access the Institute's website but cannot get them to post on preview here -- guess the URL is messed up. Don't know if they can accept donations at this point, since the postal servive there was also swamped, and the site seems geared to snailmail. More knowledgable monkeys nay have better luck.
• Audubon fund to support the zoo Adopt a Critter (okay adopt an animal - either way) Good point and thank you bees!
• *donates* *feels warm & fuzzy* *clicks on Pandacam*
• Man...I'm going to adopt some reptiles - they list something as a 'stinkpot'- because I'm betting whatever a stinkpot is ain't feeling the love as much as 'wee fluffy thing with big eyes'. Heh.
• chechebell I was just about to post the link to Noah's Wish. Terri Crisp is my hero and I would donate to any organization she heads. Those folks do some seriously good work. Thanks for posting the info for others to see!
• Have noticed more photos of dogs atop SUVS and other cars lately. These kind of links don't last very long, but for those checking out this thread soon, a few that caught my attention... kitten rescued dogs rescued Shih-Tzu paddling busload of barkers evacuees jazz cat
• that "dogs rescued" should be "dogs waiting," though I like to think that they'll be rescued, or make it through until the waters recede some more.
• Where are the loudmouths of PETA and others of the same ilk in the face of this?
• Those useless fucks?! Having a self-congratulatory circle jerk about liberating weasels or something. I goddamn despise PETA.
• Your welcome bibliochick. Terri Crisp is a right on chick.
• Those useless fucks?! Having a self-congratulatory circle jerk about liberating weasels or something. yee-owch! *checks straightness of tie, shortness of fingernails*
• Moneyjane, can you please tell us what you REALLY think? Pete: XYZPDQ!
• I don't know...kind of on the fence, really. *Flips the bird to weasels*
• Some of the dogs in the bus look so despondent. Firmly on moneyjane's side here. Aside from publicity stunts and incredibly offensive remarks, I don't see PETA doing any good for animals at all.
• This is why I despise PETA
• Yep, that was pretty dang ghastly. I quit PETA when they handed out very graphic "Your Mommy Kills Animals" brochures to children accompanying fur-wearers at Christmas winter one year. Harassing kids is NOT the way to go.
• Right with you there, MJ. Pam Anderson can have a comedy roast to raise money for her organization, but I don't see her or anyone else in her crowd of hypocrites stepping up to help out these animals. One of the first things that hit me about the hurricane was my memory of all the cats in Jackson Square - so many locals helped feed and care for these strays, and I found myself wishing them well. Cats and dogs don't get the news that a storm is coming, and in a situation like this it's easier to worry about your family than a stray or a zoo animal. Damned shame. It was an interesting city, I feel sorry for those who did not make it, and I wish the survivors the best - be they the two-legged or four-legged variety of animal.
• Some of today's photos reminded me that dogs like Recon and Grisley are used to rescue people too.
• Here's the million dollar question...If you had no car to evacuate from your city, and knew that official shelters would not accept pets, would you leave them? I really think that this issue has to be addressed in emergency planning; I saw it stated this way in the Globe and Mail "We stay because animals can't leave". Also, from the same article; "If this sounds like foolishness, this effort to save pets where people have died and lost so much, it isn't, I don't think. Caring for the vulnerable - and animals are in their way as vulnerable as the very young and the very old - is one of the distinguishing and most noble of human characteristics". I really think there are many people who would have gotten out of harm's way if they could bring their animals to a safe place as well. Also, do they really need the extra anguish and guilt when they are forced to leave their animals behind? A large warehouse on safe ground with a bunch of donated animal crates and food and water may really help with evacuations in the future. I know that I would not leave without my cats. They're either coming with me, or I'm staying with them. I don't worry about it any more; I just make sure I have on hand what I would need to either evacuate all of us, or to hold the fort. I'm buying extra kitty litter and bags of cat food to stash should the shit hit the fan. Besides...cats is taaaaaaasty after a few weeks of cold pork and beans and trail mix while earthquakes wreck stuff and bird flu-spewing sea monsters run around looting shit.
• *fluffs moneyjane's pillow, refreshes drink*
• Buy a few more bags of cat food, Moneyjane. You want those puddys fat and tasty.
• "And juuuuuuuuuuicy..." *sips drink, drools at delicious cats, naps*
• No way in hell I'd leave kitty behind. I could be persuaded to leave Mr. Koko behind though. :D
• *slicks back hair, rubs shoetops on back of pantlegs*
• Oh great! You can hold kitty! *hands petebest terrified kitty* Don't worry, I have plenty of iodine!
• *winces at the inevitable carnage*
• So I've been thinking about adopting an animal recently, and thought this might be perfect. I emailed the contact person listed and my message bounced back because her mailbox is full. The more I think about it, the less I believe that this is actually true, for any number of reasons...
• i heard back from my local shelter - they're working with a group to get them out. N.O. pet adoptions are definitely true, although YMMV.
• Noah's Wish has been working to get animals out. Pictures here, and here. send help here.
• A Race to Save the Dogs of New Orleans is a good read.
• Where Do Rescued Animals in Louisiana Go? Rescued animals from New Orleans are first taken to a triage center outside the city to be assessed by a veterinarian. Then the animals are transported to the temporary emergency shelter at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La. There, the animals are bathed, fed, and watered. Please note, that due to the large number of animals arriving at the temporary shelter in Gonzales, many have been transported for safe-keeping to animal shelters in other states. The animal shelters taking in pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina will be holding those animals to give owners a chance to claim them. Information on pets moved to other shelters will be posted on Petfinder.com. From US Humane Society Katrina FAQ
• One dog photo from the hurricane's aftermath that caught reader interest was of Oily. In response to the flood of inquiries a reporter went back to look for the dog and was thought to have located Oily, but now there's some doubt about that - "ID of oily dog a bit murky now".
• NPR story With pictures, and links to resources. Folks don't forget 'em. Give/foster if you can.
• My roommates and I signed up to foster a dog a month ago, but haven't heard anything other than 'we are on the list'. I don't know what's going on elsewhere, but the fostering process at the San Francisco shelter (or rather, Marin) seems to be broken.
• No house to big house: inmates take in cats orphaned by Katrina
• That is really cool, pete. Go Felons! Go felines!
• Thanks for the links, pete.