September 30, 2005

What dogs can endure...

These will break your heart: click on each picture for a larger version...

Before I tell you the story about these neglected dogs, I want you to take a good look at the one on the right side of the two of them. They look so happy, don't they? It seems to illustrate the trusting nature of dogs.. how easily they can be made happy.. if they have a little bit of love.

Here's their story. Jess Santillian has rescued dozens of dogs and cats in the Heights. He told me how he found these two:

I was jogging along White Oak Bayou, and the little blonde pup stuck her head out of the bushes whimpering. Everyone walking by ignored her until I yelled "Oh my God, it's a starving puppy." I struggled down the ravine, just terrible mud and tall weeds and overgrowth. What I saw, was just hellish, I couldn't help but cry when there were about three or four other small pups like the blonde that had apparently starved to death, and a mother dog which was deceased and the male I thought was dead because he wouldn't move. He finally moved his head and I just struggle to get them out of the horrible scene.

Jess has treated them with antibiotics and flea medications. Today he planned to take them to his vet over at the Yale Animal Clinic. What he needs now is some help. Jess is currently fostering a dog and a cat from New Orleans, caring for a colony of feral cats as well as six "unadoptable" cats in his yard and garage, AND his own two dogs who were rescues. He says

What I need is help paying for the services, and I feel they need a chance because of what they must have endured. I can see the potential. If anyone would like to donate dog and cat food, I am really overwhelmed, since I am still working on catching several domesticated cats that were abandoned in the Heights.

You can email Jess at Texasjes@aol.com , or give him a call at 832-814-5770 .

September 30, 2005

HSUS starts online petition to make animals part of evacuation plans

A group of Congressmen -- Tom Lantos (D-CA),Christopher Shays (R-CT), Don Young (R-AK), James Oberstar (D-MN) and Barney Frank (D-MA)-- has introduced the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, also known as the PETS act. It would require local and state emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation plans how they will accommodate household pets or service animals in case of a disaster. They'd have to file those plans with the goverment to qualify for FEMA grants.

The HSUS has an online petition here and is looking for 100,000 signatures. More information on HR 3858 can be found here.

September 30, 2005

Reward to catch the killer of dogs in St. Bernard Parish

Pasado Safe Haven, which has staff and volunteers rescuing animals in Louisiana, is offering a reward for a vicious dog killing in Louisiana. Details here:

September 30, 2005

The National Guard helps rescue animals

A few people have directed me to this story about a Nevada senator who also happens to be a veterinarian. Senator John Ensign worked out the arrangement during a recent visit. You can read more about it here.

September 29, 2005

Harris County Animal Control is helping Rita pets

HCAC has a nice website set up to keep us up to date on what it's been doing to reunite hurricane pet victims with their owners. You can see it here, complete with photos of its latest relief effort for the pets and owners in Liberty County.

September 29, 2005

New Houston dog park is open!

Saw this in the Chronicle.. Houston's newest dog park is now open! Here's some information from the Houston Dog Park Association website:

Danny Jackson Dog Park
Location: Just inside the loop and just South of 59 - under the power lines, on Westpark Drive between
Loop 610 and Loop Central.
Amenities: Large and small dog separate areas each with a pond, new trees, benches, walking path and beside it a regular children's playground will be added.

HDPA has info and pictures here.

September 29, 2005

Poodle and her owner reunited after Katrina

This little dog has had quite a journey. Tia is a four year old black toy poodle. She was separated from her owner when they were evacuated from New Orleans. 80 year old Bertha Huff was going to a shelter that wouldn't allow pets. Tia, meantime, was taken to the the Lamar-Dixon pet shelter.. then flown out to west, where she ended up at the Marin Humane Society in Novato, California. Bertha and her daughter weren't ready to give up on Tia, and eventually found her via PetFinder.com.

Tia flew into Houston yesterday, courtesy of Continental airlines. You can see the video of the happy reunion here.

September 29, 2005

Mr. Mattes and his cats..

A viewer wanted to know about a man in Galveston: Mr. Mattes. Reporter Jeff Mcshan interviewed him before Rita hit. Mr. Mattes refused to leave without his dog and two cats. I followed up with Jeff, and we are happy to report Mr. Mattes, his dog and two cats, weathered Rita just fine!

September 28, 2005

One story from Louisiana

A friendly face hoping
to go back home
More pictures here

I just received some of the latest photos from a group of good hearted Houstonians who got together to deliver supplies to equine victims of Katrina. Jonna Johnson and and Lianne Lami were the latest team to hook up a rig with hay and supplies and head out to Louisiana. They stopped by the Lamar-Dixon Center in Gonzales, Louisiana, to visit with the folks there. Afterward, they headed out to the Greater New Orleans Theraputic Riding Center to deliver supplies there.

September 28, 2005

HSUS working on temporary East Texas shelter

I just received this HSUS news release on the wires:

The Humane Society of the United States disaster animal response teams have been mobilized to assist the Texas Animal Control Association with their temporary animal shelter in Nacogdoches, Texas. There are approximately 300 owned companion animals at the facility, not including horses.

Plans are in the works to move the temporary shelter to Lufkin, Texas today due to a conflict with a pre-scheduled event at the site in Nacogdoches.

The HSUS, through its Southwest Regional Office in Dallas, is working on animal rescue and relief efforts in Texas in cooperation with United Animal Nations (UAN), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Humane Association (AHA) and the International Foundation for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

To report a lost pet or to report an animal left behind in the wake of Hurricane Rita, Texas residents can call the Houston SPCA at 713-802-0555 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central time. Beginning on Thursday, September 29, the public can call the Houston SPCA's free hotline: 1-866-481-7722. They can also log on to Petfinder.com.

According to the Texas Animal Health Commission, 20,000 animals were evacuated before Hurricane Rita struck. Of these animals, 13,000 were sheltered by or with their owners. The rest were sheltered by humane animal care organizations:

-- 2,000: Bryan-College Station

-- 600: Nacogdoches

-- 800: Dallas

-- 1,200: Austin

-- 600: Bexar county

Another 10,000 head of livestock, most of which were horses, were also evacuated. For more information, visit the Commission's web site at http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/.

For more information on The HSUS disaster response team efforts, go to http://www.hsus.org.

September 28, 2005

HSUS moves some Katrina pets to state prison

Another tidbit from the HSUS..

WASHINGTON —As another hurricane blasts the Gulf States with wind and rain, The HSUS Thursday night relocated 150 of the animals rescued during Hurricane Katrina from the HSUS Gonzales, LA facility to the Dixon Correctional Institute (DCI) in Jackson, La., some 57 miles north.

After a 10 p.m. truck drive from Gonzales to Jackson, HSUS personnel, working with Warden James LeBlanc and Dixon’s re-entry coordinator Amanda Smith, helped settle the animals into their new temporary home in a converted dairy barn on DCI property.

"We are so appreciative that Dixon is going to house these evacuated animals until they can be properly re-united with their families or placed in foster homes until they can be adopted," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "Not only does this help the animals by providing what our vets say is an exceptional new home, but it is also the start of a new program at Dixon where trustee prisoners, under HSUS supervision, will care for the animals on a daily basis. Everyone benefits from this creative solution."

"Helping with these animals has a positive effect on our inmates," said Warden LeBlanc. "They enjoy interacting with animals, who, in turn, respond positively to them. It’s rehabilitative. Also, many of these offenders are from the New Orleans area, and by allowing us to help, HSUS has created a situation where they are actively participating in hurricane relief efforts. I would hope this partnership could develop into a long-term arrangement where our correctional facility could be utilized for this kind of relief during future disasters within our region."

After Katrina, The HSUS and a coalition of other animal welfare organizations launched the largest ever animal rescue effort in New Orleans and along other parts of the Gulf Coast, where residents fled the city and were forced to abandon dogs, cats and other animals by the tens of thousands. The Gonzales shelter has cared for more than 4000 of the rescued Katrina animals. The 1000 animals not moved on to other facilities will be sheltered in place until Hurricane Rita passes through the area. At that time, the reuniting of pets and their owners and movement of animals to other facilities will resume.

Dixon Correctional Institute, located in East Feliciana Parish, opened in 1976 and was the first medium security satellite prison in Louisiana. In 1993 DCI was accredited by the American Correctional Association and it has maintained its accreditation since then. DCI is a multi-level security institution, with a maximum capacity of 1,340 inmates. The main compound is located approximately 30 miles north of Baton Rouge and encompasses 1,549 acres of pasture, 428 acres of timber, and approximately 450 acres reserved for crops in and around Jackson, Louisiana.

September 28, 2005

Louisiana BARC dogs go to another kennel

Here's an update on the Louisiana dogs at BARC, following up this post and this post: they are now being temporarily housed at Auburn Kennels until arrangements can be made for a foster home.

September 28, 2005

Rita can't stop the Moody Gardens penguins!

Look closely at this picture or, better yet, click on it to get a larger version. There's a little white egg, about the size of a golf ball, in the center of the rock-rimmed "nest." Doesn't look like the parent penguins could be any prouder! These Gentoo Penguins, who live at Moody Gardens, didn't seem to be bothered as Hurricane Rita's outer bands of wind howled outside the Aquarium Pyramid. The mother laid this egg right in the middle of the storm. The staff are pretty excited about this; Moody Gardens has had its King Penguins successfully hatch chicks, but this is the first Gentoo egg. The incubation period is an average 38 days - putting the hatching date at October 31st. Wouldn't that be a Halloween surprise! Check out the video we had on 11 News here.

By the way - Moody Gardens wanted to let us know it is back open for business.. so the you can visit the nursery yourself!

September 28, 2005

The St. Bernard video works now!

I had a bad link to the video for this post about the dog that ate the 13 inch knife. Click here to watch the story.

September 27, 2005

HSPCA going in to rescue animals, too

The Houston SPCA is heading out to rescue animals in the following Texas counties: Chambers, Liberty, Jefferson, Hardin, Orange, and Newton. For pet-related information, to file a lost report or to report animals left behind in homes, you can call the Houston SPCA Animal Emergency Hotline at (713) 802-0555. Beginning Thursday Morning the toll free hotline will be 1-866-481-SPCA (7722).

The Houston SPCA has set up a staging area outside Beaumont to serve as base for these rescue efforts. The animals will then be brought back to the Houston SPCA for medical treatment an care.

Those interested in assisting the Houston SPCA in rescue efforts are asked to please help with a financial gift to help provide for the ongoing care of these animals.

September 27, 2005

Storm survivors - twice over!

From Kelly Cripe..

On Wednesday (9/21), Pam Harris with SNAP and I helped to evacuate several animals from BARC, including the dogs and one cat that were evacuated from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. We will foster these animals, with the help of others, until they can be reunited with their families.

The dogs were taken to the SNAP Wellness Clinic where they received check-ups, vaccinations and some much needed TLC from Dr. Robin Palmer. Each dog will need grooming and additional medical care for various minor illnesses.

Simon, a Maltese, has designated himself as "team leader" of the group. He might be the cutest dog that I have ever seen.

I am humbled by the fortitude of these little dogs in light of everything that they have been through in recent weeks. These dogs survived Katrina, the trip to Houston, the Astrodome, weeks at a shelter and Rita!

In spite of everything, they are adorable and appreciative house guests and I can imagine that their "parents" miss them terribly.

I will keep everyone posted on how they can help these guys. I hope that others will consider fostering animals from BARC and will consider donating to the Friends of BARC organization.

September 27, 2005

Houston Humane Society helping Rita's pets

HHS's trailer leaves
for Western Louisiana
More pictures here

September 27, 2005

Beaumont exotic animal shelter in deep trouble

The nonprofit Exotic Cat Refuge & Wildlife Orphanage near Kirbyville is in dire straits. The refuge is a retirement home for exotic, wild, or endangered animals that have been abused, abandoned or neglected. They do not breed, sell or trade. Monique Woodard took in nearly 100 domestic cats that were rescued in New Orleans, following Hurricane Katrina. Now she and her two daughters are caring for those animals and 25 exotic cats that live at the compound -- including lions, tigers and leopards. Woodard says she's running out of food for the animals. She can't make repairs or get supplies until fallen trees are cleared away, and she has no way to do that.

According to From Janice Blue from In Solidarity with Animals: they need a large generator (as soon as possible) to run their water wells and seven freezers. They have lost 2,000 pounds of meat. Winds knocked down trees so they need heavy equipment to lift cages, etc...and it is difficult to even get to their refuge...and their truck was crushed so they can't leave, and even need food supplies for themselves.

Phone # (409) 423-4847 in Kirbyville, Beaumont, TX area
Contact# Monique Woodward

September 27, 2005

St. Bernard Pup swallows 13 inch knife

Yup, I couldn't believe it either, but this little dog sure was hungry!

A Florida woman said her six month old puppy Elsie seemed depressed and was trembling. The X-Rays at the showed Elsie had swallowed the 13 inch serrated knife handle first. Vets removed it in a two hour operation and say the hungry dog should make a full recovery. You can check out some of the video we aired on our 10PM show last night here.

September 27, 2005

The Rita B. Huff Animal Shelter has been busy!

Gary Dickson left this in the comments. I thought it would make a fine entry..

This week the Rita B. Huff Animal Shelter in Huntsville, Texas: (936) 295-4666 along with the Walker County Fair Association took in pets and livestock from all over Gulf Coast Texas.

I arrived at the shelter with my three dogs Thursday morning at the Walker County Fair Grounds around 7:30 a.m., since the Hotel I was staying at wouldn't allow them. We were the first dogs in the shelter and at the time there was two folks checking folks in. Over the course of the next two days I was in Huntsville, I would imagine that the Humane Society and the Walker County Fair Association took in several hundred aninmals including horses, cattle, cats, and even iquana's. When I returned Thursday afternoon to check on my dogs, there were at least a dozen voluteers mobilized by the local humane society (listed above). Dozens more came in over the next two days, some staying over night to care for al the animals.

I would like to extend a special Thanks to the Volunteers from all over Huntsville who not only took care of my pets but also hundresd of others.

They fed, watered, walked, treated and comforted the stressed pets during the whole event.

Some of the volunteers were citizens who belonged to the Humane Society, others from Sam Houston State Agriculture, Walker County fair Association and even some evacuees.

There is no way during this trying times that I can acurately express the Thanks and Gratitude I feel towards these folks that gave my pets shelter and protection while we were evacuated from Texas City.

A Special Thanks goes to a couple, Suzanne and George Steed (who lives about 2 miles down State Hwy 30 from the Fair Grounds) who took in my 14 year old Cocker Spaniel and made Her part of their family. Not only did they foster my dog, but also voluteered at the Animal Shelter.

If there was ever a Human Interest Story for Channel 11, it would be to highlight the folks above. (not only did the Fair Grounds take in hundreds of animals, but after the city Shelters were over whelmed with evacuees, the Fair Grounds opened their building up to them also.

September 26, 2005

New dog flu?

I hate bringing you bad news - especially when it's from a veterinarian who works at my alma mater, the University of Florida. Dr. Cynda Crawford is studying a new strain of flu that's affecting - and killing - some dogs. Crawford says it apparently mutated from a strain of horse influenza. This new flu has affected racing grayhounds kennels in seven states, including Texas. Its symptoms mimic kennel cough.

The main thing with an alert like this is NOT TO PANIC! If you're concerned, ask your vet. You can find information from the University of Florida's Vet school here and the link to the story from the New York Times here.

September 26, 2005

Humane Society of the US: questions about Rita

I found a nice list of questions and answers from the Humane Society of the U.S. about Rita pets here.

September 26, 2005

Five evacuee dogs need a temporary shelter off 242..

It's going to be a full house at Tammy Hays' house for the next few weeks: just about all of her family (from Jasper and Nederland, near Beaumont) have been displaced by Hurricane Rita, and they're setting up shop at her house off 242 north fo the Woodlands. Problem is, they're also bringing along five small (described lovingly as "ankle biter") dogs with them. Tammy is looking for someone to donate/suggest some kind of air conditioned shelter for them in her back yard - perhaps a trailer? Any ideas? Can anyone help? These little lap dogs would sure appreciate it. Tammy's home is off TX-242 between Hwy 59 and I-45 north of the Woodlands. Give her a call at 281-367-4686.

September 26, 2005

Fosters needed for those BARC dogs from Louisiana

Remember these two? They're dogs from Louisiana that BARC picked up:

They were eventually taken out into a foster home, but now the foster "parent" has to leave town. Kelly Cripe, who first told me about these two, fears these dogs won't last long if they have to go back to BARC. We know the name of the dogs' owner, but haven't been able to reach that person. If you can give these dogs a temporary home, please call Pam at 713-623-8333.

September 26, 2005

Houston SPCA takes in Beaumont pet victims of Rita

The Houston SPCA evacuated 57 dogs and 28 cats from the Humane Society of Southeast Texas in Beaumont. The Houston SPCA received a call from the Humane Society’s Executive Director who said she needed assistance with an emergency evacuation. Houston SPCA President Patricia Mercer led the team of rescuers who also delivered food, water, and cat litter to a boarding kennel and provided water and emergency care to two stray horses.

The animals evacuated from the Humane Society of Southeast Texas will be health checked by the Houston SPCA veterinary staff and treated for any medical conditions. Some of the animals evacuated from the Humane Society of Southeast Texas may be available for adoption at the Houston SPCA in the next several days.

The Houston SPCA plans on returning to the region if more evacuations and animal rescues are necessary. People needing pet-related information can call the Houston SPCA Animal Emergency Hotline at (713) 802-0555.

September 26, 2005

Fabian Kennel: what REALLY happened

We have sorted out what really happened with Fabian Kennel on Galveston Island. I had received desperate pleas from the owners and owners' family to help them evacuate their animals, after unsuccessful attempts to contact the dogs' and cats' owners. Owner Tanya even sent me an email saying IF HELP DID NOT COME SOON they would have to leave the dogs on the island. Turns out, the cavalry came just in time, in the form of the Houston Humane Society. Here's the update I received from Courtney of HHS:

We did rescue approximately 40 dogs and cats from the Fabian Boarding Kennel on Galveston Island on Wednesday evening. I've heard multiple rumors, but here is the story as I have heard it from our investigators:

The owners of Fabian Kennel were there on Wednesday night when our law enforcement officers arrived. They had not abandoned the animals, as some rumors have said. Our officers had spoken with another organization, Greyhound Rescue, who had offered their help to Fabian but were unable to get into the Galveston area because they were not law enforcement. So the Houston Humane Society officers picked up about 40 dogs and cats, and the owners of the Fabian Kennel left after that, with the last 13 cats.

Hope that clears up the rumor, and sorry for the delay in response. We cut down to bare bones staff here at the end of last week.

September 25, 2005

HSPCA is evacuating Beaumont shelter dogs

HOUSTON (September 25, 2005) -- The Houston SPCA evacuated 57 dogs and 28 cats from the Humane Society of Southeast Texas in Beaumont this afternoon. They anticipate returning to the Houston SPCA, 900 Portway Drive, Houston, TX 77024 around 6 pm this evening.

The Houston SPCA received a call from the Humane Society’s Executive Director who said she needed assistance with an emergency evacuation. Houston SPCA President Patricia Mercer led the team of rescuers who also delivered food, water, and cat litter to a boarding kennel and provided water and emergency care to two stray horses.

September 25, 2005

Looking for lost cats in Liberty, TX

Two cats, Dante (male 6 years old, orange and white long haired) and Bella (female 6 years, black and white 'cow spotted' short haired) were lost next to the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Friday, Sept. 23. They were on the road with a family evacuating Clear Lake TX due to Hurricane Rita. They were in the back of a pickup truck for hours, tired, hot, and hungry, and when offered food they escaped their crates and sought refuge under the church. These cats are very special and friendly ... due to the circumstances they will be scared, because they are indoor cats. If anyone in the residental area nearby sees either or both of these cats (they will likely stick together) or has taken them in, please call Louise Moorhead at 713 662 0201. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! this is in or around Liberty, TX

September 24, 2005

Houston SPCA update post Rita

The Houston SPCA announced today that they are okay and offering limited services as a result of Hurricane Rita's landfall along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast.

For pet-related information, call the Houston SPCA Animal Emergency Hotline at (713) 802-0555.

Rescues of injured animals are available to the best of our ability within our normal service area. Limited Emergency Veterinary services are available from 9-5. Residents are asked to contact the animal hotline prior to arriving at the shelter for any services.

We have contacted City of Houston and Harris County Animal Control
Departments. Their kennel operations will not be able to accept animals until MONDAY Morning. Residents are asked to be kind citizens and hold strays they find (if they can safely do so) until those services are in operation.

Prior to the storm the shelter on Portway Drive transported most adoptable animals from the shelter to adoption partners in the San Antonio area and here in Houston with Citizens for Animal Protection. Brazoria SPCA, Galveston Animal Shelter and Adoption Center and Galveston County Animal Shelter were safely evacuated to the Houston SPCA in advance of the storm.

In addition, two MASH shelters (Mobile Animal Shelters) have been
established and will be fully staffed and functional if necessary.

In order to fully focus on disaster relief efforts, pet
adoptions have temporarily been suspended (adoptables have been placed in other shelters and foster homes.)

The American Red Cross/Houston Chapter, Harris County Office of
Emergency Management, the city of Houston, and the Greater Houston Horse Council all recognize the Houston SPCA as the lead agency dedicated to the welfare of animals in the event of a storm or other disaster. The Houston SPCA is prepared to take immediate action to rescue animals and mininize suffering during and following a disaster just like they did for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina.

September 23, 2005

Protecting his fish!

September 23, 2005

How to evacuate at two-legged dog

September 23, 2005

Sad report about Rita animals

First off - Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP) is looking for volunteers at 9AM and 2PM over the next few days to help care for and walk its animals, since many shelter workers had to evacuate. I received this comment from CAP volunteer Ann Doty.

My daughter and I just spent the afternoon volunteering at the CAP animal shelter in west Houston. The shelter is brimming with hurricane Katrina animals. today the shelter has been responding to calls of abandoned animals because of RITA. People just left their animals in crates by the highway or locked in places that will certainly flood tonight. Please consider adopting a pet from CAP after Rita has passed. These are such loving animals - I don't know how they could have been left by their owners. See www.cap4pets.org. They are also looking for volunteers at 9 am and 2 pm the next few days to help walk, fee, water, etc. the animals as the shelter has many of their normal help unable to work because of the storm.

September 23, 2005

Tortoiseshell Cat lost during evacuation

Cassie, a tortoise cat, age 1 1/2, between 7-8 pounds, with white markings on her face and forepaws jumped for the window of my sister's car as she was evacuating from Nedlerland, Texas on her way to Center, Texas. She was in the Buna/Silsbee area. It was around 10 p.m. on Thursday night, September 22, 2005.

Cassie is very affectionate and dainty.

If you can give us any assistance with locating lost pets, we would be so appreciative.

A $100 reward is offered. A photograph will be circulated as soon as my sister can return to her house in Nederland.

Anyone with any information can contact me at:

Mary Martha Steed
713-526-0085
mmsteed@houston.rr.com

September 23, 2005

Red Cross dogs helped

Late Wednesday night, early Thursday morning, we aired a live report of some pet owners who had stopped at a Red Cross shelter off 290 - St. Maximilian Church - and weren't allowed inside with their pets. Our reporter Amy Tortolani interviewed a couple with two Chihuahuas and a woman with a German Shepherd. I am happy to report several good hearted Houstonians arrived on scene shortly after to provide cages, food and supplies, and even offered a temporary foster home!

September 23, 2005

Pasado Safe Haven needs staging area for Texas pet rescues

Pasado Safe Haven, a rescue group that's been so busy helping pet victims of Katrina in Louisiana, is getting ready to come to the Houston area to help Rita pet victims. They are looking for volunteers and a place to stage for rescues:

We need people NOW to help us in Texas. And we need a new triage location, on a farm or similar location WITH COVER near to Houston. PLEASE call your friends, family, post this everywhere to help us. We won't stop looking for animals in New Orleans, but we need to send teams to Texas. E-mail HERE (PasadoRescueTexas@hotmail.com) to volunteer in Texas OR if you've found a place for us to set-up.

Pasado's full list of requests can be found here. I'll do my best to keep up to date on their efforts, as well as our local shelters when they go out for rescue.

September 23, 2005

Dogs left outside... how can neighbor help?

Stella Rubio (at starrubio@sbcglobal.net) posted this comment.. can someone give her any suggestions?

I live in Sugar Land (Fort Bend Country), and chose to ride out the storm at home because I belive our house is safe and I have 5 dogs,but my concern is my neighbor's dogs. I know for a fact that they evacuated, but left their 2 dogs outside with not much of shelter to protect them. I also think that 1 of them is still tied-up.I have tried call local authorities, but no avail. I don't know what else to do. Can some one sugguest something?

September 23, 2005

1:14 AM, Thursday: a last minute way to help Rita pet evacuees!

The Red Cross opened 10 last minute shelters for evacuees fleeing Rita. These new shelters are primarily on I-45 and 59, with a few on 290. Here is the problem: the shelters opened so quickly there were no provisions made to house the pets of evacuees. We had, on channel 11's air, a woman and her husband, sitting outside with their dogs, because the dogs weren't allowed inside. Here is a suggested way you do to help.

1. If you live in the Woodlands, New Caney, Livingston, Willis.. and more.. if you live near 45 or 59, you may be able to help provide supplies to these animals and their owners.
2. Call the Red Cross at 713-313-5480 to ask the addresses of the shelters.
3. The shelter nearest you may very well have animals outside. You may want to head to those shelters, see if some pet owners are outside, and offer supplies or help.

Your help is needed by who knows how many pet owners.. you could be a Good Samaritan. We're on live with pet owners who need help now at St. Maximilian Church off 290... at 1:24 AM.

September 22, 2005

Best Friends Animal Society ready for Rita pet victims

A team from Best Friends Animal Society is in Houston, Texas,
today to assess the needs of animal rescue groups in preparation for
Hurricane Rita.

"The grassroots animal welfare groups in Texas are hard at work," said Paul Berry, Best Friends’ hurricane relief director, "and I’m here to find out how our disaster relief team can support their efforts. We have lots of knowledgeable volunteers who are ready to pitch in."

"This should be a somewhat different situation from what we encountered in New Orleans," Berry said. "Just for starters, government officials are not setting out to separate a person from their pets, which was such a big mistake in the Katrina rescue operations."

Indeed, today in Washington, D.C., congressmen Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) introduced legislation to ensure that in any future disaster, federal officials will not separate people from their household pets and service animals such as seeing-eye dogs.

The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act requires local and state emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation plans how they will accommodate household pets or service animals in case of a disaster. Local and state authorities must submit these plans in order to qualify for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Berry also will coordinate Best Friends' efforts with the other national animal welfare groups that have been working in the Hurricane Katrina disaster zone.

September 22, 2005

UPDATE on Fabian Boarding Kennel / 300 cats in Texas City

From Shirley Mondeaux and Tammie Espinosa..

Fabian Kennel Animals are all out of the kennel. Most are sheltered and the ones that didn't get rescued yesterday are with my sister and her husband, en-route to northern Texas. As promised, here are the phone numbers I wanted to post as well as donation information. The Tucson Wildlife Center has sponsored Fabian kennel with a Bank of America Account where you can make donations to help feed, water, house and maintain the kennel animals until they are placed, and thereafter. The fund is called Hurricane Relief for Fabian Kennel. The account # is 004370450645. In Arizona you will have no special forms, but out of state donations will need to ask for an Arizona Account Out of State Deposit Slip and Circle # 82 Az which is for Arizona, and call Jeanie Moga at 520-760-2122. Jeanie is with Bank of America. You may make a donation for the Animals of Fabian Kennel at any Bank of America Branch. When Tom and Tanya get placed, Bank of America will then set up a Texas Account for them so that they can get the help they need. Again, thanks to all the 100's of people that emailed and called us in response to my families needs.

Udate on the 300 cats in Texas City, minutes from Galveston:

Whiskerville http://www.whiskerville.org/ the wonderful cat shelter in Texas City says: It is now too late to move these 300 cats 7 dogs, we have looked and talked with many folks, including people who could possibly, send cargo aircraft to Houston, but the Airport roads are grid-locked.
1. The roads are grid-locked to Houston Airport, no reefer Truck available in Texas City to get them to the airport either.
We will help them after the storm, they will need us all then. Whiskerville's phone number is 409-948-1112.

September 22, 2005

CAP needs volunteers to weather the storm with the animals

From Kappy Muenzer at Citizens for Animal Protection:

For the past four weeks, CAP staff and volunteers we have done nothing but rescue and take care of Hurricane Katrina animals. Our Education room is now a 3rd cat room full of these precious animals.

Yesterday we sent 30 Houston kitties who were in one of our cat adoption areas to Denver Dumb Friends League. Along with almost 100 dogs evacuated from BARC (animal control), they were flown out by private jet ( arranged by Sean Hawkins of "Saving Animals" and cost underwritten by Petco Foundation, Summerlee Foundation and HSUS) .

Yesterday, Barbara Fitzgerald (Shelter Manager) and I picked up from the HSPCA 21 dogs and 2 kitties who came on the buses (many people smuggled the little ones on board with them) from New Orleans to the Astrodome. SPCA took in over 400 "owner" pets from the buses, and these were the remaining ones who had not been yet claimed. They were clearing out their shelter to make room for animals to be transferred from small animal control agencies and room for the animals who will need to be sheltered after the storm.

Cindy Shaw, CAP Shelter Coordinator, who has been working at "ground zero" in Miss. since Katrina hit there, will be coming in this evening to stay at the CAP shelter with the animals ---------I'd say sainthood is in order!!! She is purchasing 3 generators in Jackson, MIss which she is bringing with her tonight. We will need the vaccines and the freezers kept cool.

I am singing praises to the CAP staff and volunteers --they have all worked so hard these past few weeks. Even though we are all exhausted, we are still in there for the animals who need us so desperately!! I will be forever grateful to everyone who has helped so much!!!

If anyone can get to the shelter, we NEED volunteer help --------some of our staff have been ordered to evacuated, and we need every hand we can get!

Please know that you, your family and pets are in our thoughts and prayers--------------We all need to pray hard!

September 22, 2005

Saving Animals saves BARC's animals..

From Sean Hawkins, president of Saving Animals:

Volunteer Margaret Gondo
helps BARC staff load animals
More pictures here

This rescue effort was made possible by the very generous support of the Petco Foundation, the Summerlee Foundation, and the Humane Society of the United States. Emergency plans are in place to care for the animals who remained in BARC's main shelter and at CAP. BARC has emptied its new kennel building to accept displaced animals after the storm, provided the building is not flooded.

Many thanks for all of the wonderful volunteers and dedicated BARC and CAP staff, Ameristar Aviation, the Denver Dumb Friends League, and Humane Society of Bolder Valley for working together to save the lives of almost 100 animals before the arrival of Category 5 Hurricane Rita. We are already making plans for post-disaster recovery efforts.

September 22, 2005

A viewer offers boarding for pets

We received a call this morning from a viewer. Robert has offered to board pets if they have a cage or kennel. Give him a call in Northwest Houston at 832-372-8074.

September 22, 2005

Can someone foster mastiffs?

Janie at http://www.mastiff.meetup.com/15 is trying to figure out how to safely house her Mastiffs. Her email is jnyela@aol.com. Anyone have any suggestions? Here is her comment:

I'm an organizer and also an owner of mastiffs. We plan on leaving, but most of our dogs are well over 150 lbs and most likely close to 2-3 ft tall. For those of us that really can't bring in those giant puppies in crates, is there a suggestion or a recommended location for these parents looking for safet/shelter for their mastiffs?

September 21, 2005

Spindletop Rescue / Country Pets NEED HELP

From Leah at Spindletop..

The building I was evacuating all the Spindletop dogs and Katrina evacuees to is not strong enough to withstand this storm. Is there any way at all you can make a posting on your page that we are in need of a warehouse to house our dogs. All dogs will be crated and I will have my staff on site so there will NOT be a mess and everything will be kept orderly. My contact numbers: 713-614-2410, 281-658-7830, 713-907-8848

Country Paws in Hempstead needs crates. She needs about 200 crates, half for dogs, the other half for cats. She is desperate. Her contact number is 979-826-9996.

Thank you so much for all your help.

Leah

September 21, 2005

Horse fosters available for Rita victims!

The Angelina County Mounted Patrol in Lufkin Texas has a list of horse
owners that will foster horses from the Gulf area.

Please contact Debbie Brandenburg at 936-635-6193 for information.

September 21, 2005

UPDATE on the Fabian Kennel in Galveston

From Tammie Espinosa:

The response to my families plea for help has been overwhelming. I have email set up: fabiankennels@yahoo.com and I have set up a Hurrican Relief Fund for the Fabian Kennel, that will be working at 8 am Arizona time tomorrow. We will need donations for Food, Supplies and Medicines. I have many phone numbers of people willing to rescue the Fabian Kennel Animals. I am also receiving numerous phone calls from other organizations wanting assistance in rescue. One particular organization is out of Texas City and needs rescue help for 300 cats. I will post additional phone numbers tonight. Call 954-985-9590 if you wish to help with the rescue of 300 cats out of Texas City!

September 21, 2005

Vet rescues 80 animals from San Leon shelter

Great news from The Houston
Chronicle...

By HARVEY RICE Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

GALVESTON -- As the shelter here smoothly evacuated 107 cats and dogs out of the path of hurricane Rita today, a shelter in San Leon was frantically trying to find refuge for about 80 animals.

The Bay Area Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter was preparing animals to ride out the storm after failing to find foster homes for 40 dogs, 20 cats, five rabbits, two guinea pigs, six gerbils and six parrots, Executive Director Travis Demarest said.

Read the rest of the story here.

September 21, 2005

Can any horse fosters help Sharon?

Please reply to: "Sharon" at horseys2001@yahoo.com:

Hi all, I have been away due to being rehired at work in Houston. Until this week i thought we were locked out of Yahoo at work & I had
turned off our phone at home. No access. With the current storm coming I guess the restrictions have been lifted so HERE I AM and i need help. Badly. Here is the deal.

AS of now this storm is on track for a direct hit over Beasley/Rosenberg TX(our home). And it *MAY* come onshore close to a CATEGORY 5 - That's 130 mph to 155 mph winds and God knows how much rain.

September 21, 2005

UPDATE from the Houston SPCA

From its website:

HOUSTON (September 21, 2005) -- The Houston SPCA announced today that they are preparing and planning animal rescue and recovery efforts as a result of Hurricane Rita's anticipated landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Houston SPCA President Patricia Mercer says the Houston SPCA will begin accepting animal evacuees and victims once shelters for humans are established in Harris County. "Right now," she said, "people are being allowed on buses and into shelters in other counties with their pets." People not evacuating to a shelter outside the area but needing a boarding referral or any other pet-related information can call the Houston SPCA Animal Emergency Hotline at (713) 802-0555. The Houston SPCA has a Disaster Preparedness Checklist on their website at www.houstonspca.org.

To prepare the shelter on Portway Drive for incoming animal evacuees, the Houston SPCA has transported all adoptable animals from the shelter to adoption partners in the San Antonio area and here in Houston with Citizens for Animal Protection. In addition, 2 MASH shelters (Mobile Animal Shelters) have been established and will be fully staffed and functional immediately following the storm if necessary.

Mercer also announced, that in order to fully focus on disaster relief efforts, pet adoptions have temporarily been suspended (adoptables have been placed in other shelters and foster homes), only owner surrender animals are being accepted, and limited field services are available.

The Houston SPCA is prepared in other ways too! The American Red Cross/Houston Chapter, Harris County Office of Emergency Management, the city of Houston, and the Greater Houston Horse Council all recognize the Houston SPCA as the lead agency dedicated to the welfare of animals in the event of a storm or other disaster. The Houston SPCA is prepared to take immediate action to rescue animals and minimize suffering during and following a disaster just like they did for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina.

September 21, 2005

KHOU in deep coverage for Hurricane Rita

Hi everyone. Channel 11 is now on the air with intensive coverage of Hurricane Rita. I am actually typing this from one of the computers on our set. This means I will not be able to respond to emails or posts. That being said, I will try to post emergency pleas and situations. Please make note of the Spindletop post and the one about crates needed in Galveston. I have been, and will continue to talk about pet evacuations on the air, and pointing people to the website. Spread the word, call friends and help out if YOU can.

Please stay safe. Take your pets and worry about what to do with them when you get to where you are going. Don't leave them behind to fend for themselves.

September 21, 2005

Designated shelters WILL TAKE PETS

The Houston area designated evacuation shelters in Huntsville, Brenham, Bryan-College station and Lufkin ARE taking pets. They ARE taking pets. Please bring them crated!

September 21, 2005

BAD news about a Galvestion area boarding kennel.. CAN YOU HELP?

UPDATE!

Puppy Mill is offering 100.00 per animal to anyone who can get to Galveston Island with crates and carriers to evacuate our pets and take them to the Houston SPCA -- Tanya Fabian

I received these two distressing messages about Fabian Kennel in Galveston

Message 1:

Hello, The dilemma: 30 Large and Extra Large Crates needed today to rescue animals from my sisters kennel in Galveston Texas. The Human Society of America is not helping her. All these animals could possibly drown if the hurricane hits Galveston. The national guard is in Galveston right now, but no one will help her. She cannot rent a u-haul, and cannot return once the hurricane hits. My sister and her husband are very loving people and have devoted their life to rescuing and helping animals, everything from dogs, cats to prairie dogs. The volunteered their time and money to Katrina victims and even volunteered their time to help animals in New Orleans, just days ago, they ship shipped 100+ animals to Phoenix. My sister was a Tucsonan up until a few years ago when she moved to Galveston. In their kennel right now, they have dogs, cats, boarded (some people in Galveston boarded and some from Katrina still board) and can't get into Galveston to get them, as the roads are closed. All these animals are at risk. My family has called the Humane Society, CNN, Wal-Mart, their local news stations and on and on. The human society offered kennels to them, delivered tomorrow, Thursday at $17,000.00 a truck load. I guess you can't just buy 30.

My family is at a lost and are working very hard to prepare their home and take care of all these animals. They are taking as many of them as they can. If you can't help, can you refer me to someone who can. I think I can get the money donated from Tucson for the crates and gasoline, but don't have the means to get the crates to Galveston, and I wouldn't even know where to buy that many crates. Can you help.

Thanks,
Tammie Espinosa
520-792-8023 Tucson, Arizona or call Betty
written for my sister Tanya Fabian and her husband Tom Fabian,
owners of Fabian Kennel in Galveston Texas, in need of 30 more crates to rescue animals from Hurricane Rita.
Phone numbers- Tanya Fabian Cell: 409-739-0318 Tom Fabian Cell: 409-739-3465

And message 2, from Tanya Fabian:

To Lisa Foronda khou 11

Leaving 40 animals in a Boarding Kennel.

We do appreciate your listening to us. It is with great sadness and
sorrow that Tom and I write to you. We had to make the decision to
leave 40 animals at our boarding kennel to survive on their own. We
wanted you to know that we did everything we could to contact the owners of pets at our kennel so they could pick up their pets. Maybe they decided to stay where they are instead of coming back to Galveston for their pets. We are writing in bold florescent paint on the roof of our kennel these words. Please help! 40 ANIMALS TRAPPED INSIDE! We left food and water for the animals that there. I hope they get there in time to save them, and I hope they can find the crates and carriers we begged them for any of our animals that survive. It is very ironic that the very organization we were volunteering for in Gonzales 1 day ago by caring for hurricane Katrinas animals refugees, is the same one that couldn't help us before Rita hits Galveston. The pets at our kennel may face death because we were helpless to save them ourselves. All we needed were crates to put them on a bus our City Manager had provided for pets. To leave those pets to save our own life and our own pets is a
decision that will haunt us for the rest of our lives. We are evacuating north tommorow and will be packing the computer soon, so we may not get any more email . We will have our cell phones in case you hear anything about the animals left at our Boarding Kennel after the storm. Also there will be 20 wild Peacocks from the neighborhood that will need help. We have been feeding them for years and they will need food. We couldn't leave wild birdfood for them.

September 21, 2005

Help evacuate BARC (city of Houston) pound animals..

UPDATE to getting animals out of BARC from Kelly Cripe:

I just returned from BARC where I met with Deoniece Arnold, the Interim Bureau Chief. I was told that unfortunately, the very generous offer from Continental Airlines is not going to happen. I am not sure of the details, or if they are trying to work out another plan (if anyone knows more about another plan, please let us know). Here is what I do know- BARC will close at 5 pm today. BARC staff has not been able to locate a shelter that can take the animals, so all animals are being moved to the old shelter. I do not have the time to go into details on the plan if the shelter were to flood, but I can tell you that there are NO current plans to euthanize all of the animals. If you are not evacuating, it is possible that BARC will need volunteers in the next few days to help out at the shelter. For those of you concered about the dalmatian and her litter, the black lab mix and the Katrina animals- Pam Harris is at BARC pulling animals for me. SNAP has donated crates for me to use to transport animals tonight. Karen Cloud is taking the dal & litter. I am taking the lab mix puppy, but will need somewhere for him to go after the storm. The two large labs from Katrina are going to a foster (paper work IS in order so that they can be located by their owners). I am taking ALL of the small Katrina dogs for fostering (paper work IS in order so that they can be located by their owners).

IF YOU HAVE ROOM FOR CATS PLEASE GO TO BARC.
IF YOU CAN PULL ANY ANIMALS, PLEASE GO TO BARC.

September 21, 2005

Mr. K's needs crates

From Laura Carlock (lcarlock@gibbs-bruns.com):

Mr. K's pet shelter also needs crates. I am planning to go to Arne's on Studemont and purchasing as many as I can, but my car is not big enough to hold them.

Do any of you have a large truck/SUV and, if so, would you be willing to meet me at Arne's around 5:30? I would get the crates, and then we
would drive out to Mr. K's. We're looking at about a 1.5 to 2 hour
commitment.

September 20, 2005

TAKE YOUR PETS WITH YOU!

Have I said this enough? I got another press release today - this one from the Houston Humane Society, which echoes what I was told yesterday by the Houston SPCA. If you evacuate, TAKE YOUR PETS WITH YOU! Here's a checklist for you..

September 20, 2005

Some of the latest volunteer information for Katrina Pets

From kinshipcircle.org's mailing list:

9/18/05 Katrina Volunteer Update

IN THIS ALERT:
1.) General Information
2.) Help in Hattiesburg Now
3.) Independent Volunteer Effort
4.) Help Needed in Waveland, Mississippi
5.) Lamar-Dixon Expo Center
6.) Volunteers Wanted at LSU Center
7.) St. John Parish Animal Shelter
8.) Animal Staging Area in New Orleans
9.) Winn-Dixie Staging Area in New Orleans
10.) Staging Area in Dothan, Alabama
11.) PERSONAL SUPPLIES LIST

PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING TO info@kinshipcircle.org:
Your full name
Name of organization (if applicable)
Full street address
Cell phone, land phone
Email
Brief description of what you can provide

FRIENDS, IT'S ALL ABOUT RESCUE IN THESE FINAL DAYS.

Due to the volume of inquiries, please:

-Always type *KATRINA VOLUNTEER* in the subject line of emails.

-Read alerts carefully and contact people listed under a specific effort.

-Accept our apology for delayed responses.

-Before traveling, print out Kinship Circle*s most recent alert so phone numbers and driving directions are with you.

-Our primary focus is RESCUE/SUPPLIES RIGHT NOW.
WE CANNOT ANSWER REQUESTS ABOUT WHERE TO DONATE MONEY.
WE CANNOT ANSWER SPECIFIC FOSTER/ADOPT REQUESTS.

-Owner-surrendered animals at shelters are most in need‹not displaced
Katrina animals. We will provide more information for foster/adopt in the future.

Thanks,
Brenda Shoss
314-863-9445; 314-795-2646
===============================================

1.) GENERAL INFORMATION
LOGISTICS & SELF-CARE: Be willing to move around. Bring a tent or vehicle you are prepared to sleep in. Travel self-sufficient. Carry a cell phone to network with others in the area. SEE TIPS PERSONAL
SUPPLIES LIST AT END OF ALERT.

SUPPLIES: Needs change DAILY. If you are bringing supplies with you, one option is is to utilize our centralized drop/distribution point in Mobile, Alabama. Supplies will move in and out of this site, with items sent where they are needed.

CONTACT: Sarah-Jayne Brown
954 712-9900
oceanpromotion@msn.com

Julia Fischer
home: 251-645-8605
cell: 251-455-9377

CALL BEFOREHAND TO TELL:
-DAY/TIME YOU'LL ARRIVE.
-WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING.
-SOMEONE WILL NEED TO MEET YOU AT THE STORAGE SITE.

Alternate Storage
5809 Larue Steiner Road
Theodore, Al 36582
(In Mobile off of I-10)
West off 65 onto I-10 take exit 15A.
Circle under interstate and stay on this road (Hwy 90).
Turn right at second stop light and this is Larue Steiner Road.
Travel about 3 miles down this road and it will be on this street.
52, 54, 55 are the units we have at this moment.
===============================================

2.) HELP IN HATTIESBURG NOW
CONTACT:
Sarah-Jayne Brown
954 -12-9900, oceanpromotion@msn.com

LOCATION:
The Forest Multicultural Center
952 Forest Boulevard
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Volunteers may show up at the center.
Say you are part of the Gaultier Group with Carol Childs.
The powers that be may say that they have moved.
Just ask where they are.
Carol Childs is with the National Humane Society.

VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
1000 DOGS HARBORED IN HATTIESBURG MULTICULTURAL CENTER. ONLY 6-7 DOG-WALKING VOLUNTEERS. Urgently needed: People to walk dogs, water and feed. They are 112 cots for volunteers to sleep in. Towels are needed.

DIRECTIONS:
I-10 to I49 just before Hattiesburg, see Forest Multicultural Center.
===============================================

3.) INDEPENDENT VOLUNTEER EFFORT
(formerly Pearlington, Mississippi Effort)
CONTACT:
Cris Stevens/Terri Kelley: 219-608-4112, 219-326-8887
Sarah Stevens: 219-608-1735, sarah@mixedupmutts.org
Regina/Sal: 561-347-8121

LOCATION:
Lansas Kennels
C/O Kendra - Sam
23015 Kilgore Street
Mandeville, LA 70471
With the mission in Pearlington stabilized, rescue groups, transporters and volunteers may continue to meet at address above to coordinate ongoing relief for animals in MS and LA areas.

VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
A.) RESCUE/RECONNAISSANCE
Meet at the Mandeville site to scout/establish aid for animals in other Miss. towns and in Louisiana.

PLEASE WEAR A DARK BLUE T-SHIRT to appear as a
unified recon/rescue unit as you travel into other areas.
Volunteer organizers will be wearing RED CAPS OR VISORS.

C.) WORK WITH RESCUED DOGS IN MANDEVILLE
Plenty to be done at the Mandeville shelter itself in terms of caring for animals already there.

Kendra Williams of Mandeville, LA has worked tirelessly with Sam Baily of Ponchartrain Humane Society in Pearlington Mississippi. Kendra's kennel, 60 miles East, is serving as a holding facility. A dawn to dusk curfew is enforced in Pearlington.

SUPPLY NEEDS (9/17/05):
-Portable x-ray machine
-Check with Cris/Terri (219-608-4112) about supplies‹needs fluctuate daily.
===============================================

4.) HELP NEEDED IN WAVELAND, MISSISSIPPI
VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
HSUS has an animal rescue unit established in Waveland. Volunteers are needed. Bring any documentation you have, i.e., your animal organization's nonprofit status; DART or any other animal disaster relief training; veterinarian/vet tech or animal control credentials; animal rescue/shelter experience, etc.

ROUGH DIRECTIONS (Bring a map!):
Take Route 90 to Route 603. Follow signs along Route 603 to Waveland; you will see the town. Continue through several stop lights. You'll see a blue tarp with a sign, on your left, that reads: "Animal Shelter." Turn left at sign. Follow road until it ends. Turn left.
Follow signs to Animal Shelter.
===============================================

5.) LAMAR-DIXON EXPO CENTER
9039 St. Landry Road
Gonzales, LA 70737
*This location is vehicle accessible.

DIRECTIONS:
FROM THE WEST
Take I-10 East to Exit 177
At bottom of ramp take a righ. Go through traffic light and take second left into the Lamar Dixon Equestrian Center Ask for the volunteer registration area

FROM THE EAST
Take I-10 West to Exit 177
At bottom of ramp take a left
Go through traffic light and take second left into the Lamar Dixon
Equestrian Center
Ask for the volunteer registration area

VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
From Pasado Rescuers: Volunteers desperately needed at Lamar-Dixon Center in Gonzales, LA where rescued animals from around state are taken. The Center is in a state of utter chaos. There are so many animals and not enough people to help. The animals are not being cared for properly. Pasado Rescuers have slept in their cars for nights now--just so they are there for as many hours as they can be. PLEASE go to help!!!! Pasados Safe Haven, New Orleans rescue updates: http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/NEWS/NEWS.htm
===============================================

6.) VOLUNTEERS WANTED AT LSU CENTER
CONTACT:
Sharon Ricciardo, volunteer coordinator
EMAIL SHARON, lsupetvol@gmail.com:
Complete name
Contact information
Skills
Availability
Put "volunteer" in subject line

LOCATION:
Hurricane Katrina Emergency Animal Shelter
LSU AgCenter's John M. Parker Coliseum
School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University
Skip Bertman Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 7080

VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
Sharon Ricciardo, volunteer coordinator at the LSU, is looking for
volunteers to walk dogs, care, feed, work the reception desk, check-in, etc. The facility is starting shift work from now till mid-October. Volunteers need to be self sufficient (have their own food/housing/transportation), adults, and preferably experienced with animals.
===============================================

7.) ST. JOHN PARISH ANIMAL SHELTER
MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Sharon Gorski
586-727-9815, possecop@msn.com

LOCATION/CONTACT:
124 Water Plant Rd
LaPlace, LA 70068
Linda Allen, Shelter Director: no email/cell phone available
shelter phone: 985-651-7387
alternate contact/rescue volunteer Dina Becnel: 985-210-9422

VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
45 dogs/22 cats in this rural shelter with maximum capacity for 15 dogs/19 cats. More animals on the way. No mail or FedEx service. No veterinarians. Medications cannot be shipped, must be transported in with volunteers.
SUPPLY NEEDS (9/15/05):
-Digital camera
-Building materials (current "shelter" is a slab with a tin building over it, like an old barn. Old trailer serves as office. Lost both storage sheds. (Need replacement.)
-50 each: plastic crates, kennel leads, shampoo, and food (canned for
puppies/dry for adults)
-100 vaccines / Must have animal vaccination (7-way), Bordetella,
antibiotic.
===============================================

8.) ANIMAL STAGING AREA IN NEW ORLEANS
CONTACT:
Lilla Whitehead
225-753-8462; home: 225-753-8462
lilandneal@hotmail.com

LOCATION:
James N. Singleton Charter Middle School
1924 Philip Street; New Orleans
*Near the intersection of Philip St. and Daneel St.
For directions, call Ronnye Randall, Collier County Humane Society:
239-298-6243

VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
Need for supplies and volunteers. Phone communication is hit and miss. Lilla Whitehead, in Baton Rouge, has communicated with this staging area and stays supplies below were requested today. More needs will arise in future.

*Write "Animal Rescue" on your car windows and wear animal rescue related shirts, if possible.

SUPPLY NEEDS (9/13/05):
Canopy tents with sides, Towels, Water, Hand sanitizer, Disposable bowls, Generators with fuel

VETERINARY SUPPLY NEEDS (9/13/05):
*If you have connections with any vets willing to donate medical supplies, below is a list of immediate needs. Please let Lilla Whitehead know if you can get a donation. Have it overnighted to her, if possible.
-Albon (or SMZ)
-3 cc syringes
-1 cc syringes
-Heparin
-waterproof tape
-Endosorb (or Kaopectate)
-Eccofoam (prescription flea and tick treatment)

DELIVER OR SHIP SUPPLIES TO:
*OVERNIGHT SHIP VETERINARY SUPPLIES
Lilla Whitehead
17228 E. Rockbridge Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70817
===============================================

9.) WINN-DIXIE STAGING AREA IN NEW ORLEANS
CONTACT:
Sharon Gorski
586-727-9815, possecop@msn.com

LOCATION:
4600 Chef Menteur Hwy staging area at N. Louisa Street

VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
From rescuer on front lines: You CAN get in along a protected, non-flooded route to the new staging area at Winn-Dixie (directions below). Volunteers needed NOW. Many dry areas, but bring rubber boots. NEED RESCUE GROUPS to get dogs off porches, etc.

SUPPLY NEEDS (9/13/05):
Crates, Boats (inflatables needed to hold full crates on the water), Trucks, SUVs, Sticks with loops to get reluctant dogs

DIRECTIONS TO WINN-DIXIE STAGING AREA:
Take I-12 E (from Hammond) towards N.O. and I-10.

Around Covington, LA, take US Hwy 190 South, which takes you to N. Causeway Blvd. and the bridge over Lake Ponchatrain into N.O.. Be sure to stay on Causeway Blvd. to go over bridge! You will be in Metarie once over the bridge. Stay on S. Causeway Blvd. all the way to Jefferson Hwy, 90 E. (You'll cross over Veterans Blvd.) Stay on Jeff Highway east to N.O.. until it turns into S. Claiborne Ave. Take a right on Monticello Ave, which turns into (dead ends) at Oak St. Go left on Oak. Bear right on Leake Ave. (You will be paralleling the Mississippi river) Stay on Leake for 10 or so blocks and then take a left onto St. Charles Ave. Continue past Tulane on your left, Audubon Park on your right. Cross over Napoleon and Louisiana Aves. Stay on St. Charles until you dead end. Follow signs to reach I-10 E. (i.e. go left at the end of St. Charles) Take I-10 E to Louisa St. N (the 2nd exit). Go left on Louisa. Go through several red lights to Chef Menteur Hwy and go right. Immediately see Winn-Dixie on right in the first block.
===============================================

10.) STAGING AREA IN DOTHAN, ALABAMA
CONTACT:
Maria Church, Director of Staging Area Operations
home: 334-793-3943; cell: 334-685-0522
staging area: 334-615-4620
mamaloveslabs@netzero.com

Rescue coalition formed by SAVE-A-PET, at the Dothan Animal Shelter, the Wiregrass Humane Society, and the Southeast Alabama Kennel Club
NOTE: Coalition supported and funded in part by the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs and the American Kennel Club

VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR: Pet Care, Veterinary Care, Grooming, Transportation, Clerical, Laundry, Warehousing, and Volunteer Support, Foster Homes, and Donations.

SUPPLY NEEDS (9/17/05):
Tents, Cat/Dog Food, Generators, Cat/Dog Treats, Heavy Duty Extension Cords, Cat/Dog Toys, Temporary Lighting, Kitty Litter, Wading Pools, Large Garbage Cans & Liners, Crates (all sizes), Adjustable Dog Collars, Heavy Duty Hoses with Nozzles, Filing Cabinet, Leashes, Office Supplies, Foldup Tables & Chairs, Hand Sanitizer, Laptop, Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, Water Gallon Containers, Spray Bottles, Laundry Soap, Paper Towels, Bleach Towels, Toilet Paper, Gift Cards to Jeffers Pet, PETsMART, Wal-Mart, Office Max, Office Depot, Gasoline & Telephone Cards

Monetary Donations:
SAVE-A-PET
P.O. Box 9323
Dothan, Alabama 36304
===============================================

11.) PERSONAL SUPPLIES LIST

1.) Bring any documentation you have, i.e., your animal organization's
nonprofit status; DART or any other animal disaster relief training;
veterinarian/vet tech or animal control; animal rescue/shelter experience credentials; animal transport, etc.

2.) Have a magnetic signs printed at Kinkos or another copy store for both sides of your vehicle. Suggestions for text on sign: ANIMAL RESCUE / ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF Use bold, dark lettering and display from your vehicle at all times.

WHAT TO BRING:
current Hepatitis vaccinations
current Tetanus shot
pepper spray
hand sanitizer
insect repellent
sunscreen
first aid kits
thick "bite-proof" work gloves
sturdy, waterproof (rubber) work boots/shoes
change of shoes
hip-waders (if possible)
long sleeve shirts (for coverage, but lightweight)
long pants (for coverage, but lightweight)
extra socks

belt (to hang gears/supplies from)
mouth coverings (surgical masks, bandannas)
eye protection (sunglasses)

flashlights
D batteries
containers full of gasoline
cash
waterproof walkie talkies
toilet paper
pillow and blanket
water, Gateraid
other personal-care items

SHELTER: Bring a tent or trailer/RV type vehicle to live in.
air mattress or cot

Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle
314-863-9445
314-795-2646

September 20, 2005

Pictures from the Tylertown, MS Katrina shelter

Best Friends Animal Shelter in Tylertown:

September 20, 2005

Crates for Galveston Evacuees

I can't say it enough - if/when you evacuate Galveston, TAKE YOUR PETS. Thankfully, many people are heeding this warning, flooding the Galveston County Animal Shelter and other boarding locations, looking for crates.

Crates are in short supply. I have been told by the good folks at Galveston County's Animal Shelter that crates MAY be (as of 3PM Tuesday afternoon) found at Academy or Wal-Mart. You may also try the Petco and PetSmart on Bay Area Boulevard as you head up north.

September 19, 2005

Blind man reunited with guide dog

I was out of town when this happened, but I am thrilled to post these links now! Remember the blind man who separated from his guide dog when he was evacuated from New Orleans? This story has a happy ending.. Here's a bit of background.. and here's the happy reunion!

September 19, 2005

Galveston pet evacuee information

Galveston has called a voluntary evacuation in preparation for what is now Tropical Storm Rita. That may turn into a mandatory evacuation if it reaches at category three hurricane. Galveston will provide buses for the evacuation beginning at 10AM Tuesday (9/20) morning that will leave from the Island Community Centerat at 4700 Broadway. Call ahead so officials will have an idea of how many buses are needed. That number is 409-797-3710.

You WILL be allowed to take pets on the buses, but they MUST be in crates/cages. Call 409-763-8577 if you need a cage.

September 19, 2005

CAP has Katrina kitties for adoption

You'll find information and pictures here.

September 19, 2005

A volunteer for Pasado Animal Shelter shares his experience..

From Matt Schreiner, who is Austin based, but helps HuskyHaven.org here in Houston by pulling animals from Town Lake Animal Control, as well as fostering and helping transport dogs from Austin. He volunteered for Pasado Safe Haven (still calling for HELP!) and here's his story:

With all the news of Katrina animal rescue, I thought I'd share a little here about my personal experience with boots on the scene...

I'm still trying to decompress from my three days in Louisiana helping out with the Pasado's Safe Haven animal rescue crew. Mere words don't seem to be enough to describe the experience, but I'll try. When I heard that there was a PAWS of Austin caravan, I KNEW I had to go. If there is only one thing in life "Wookies" like myself (6'3", 260lbs, lineman build) are good for it's "Open That". :) Two days later I was in New Orleans.

First off, animal shootings in the city are not happening. Apparently there was one bozo cop that did shoot a dog, but in general the cops and national guard troops are being VERY good to those rescue orgs entering the city and the animals that need rescuing. We certainly got scrutinized at a checkpoint or two (and there are a LOT), but we always got waved through after a minute or two. The area we worked was at I-10, Canal street, and down to just about St. Alexander street where the flooding was still too deep - maps can be viewed here.

For the first 4 hours, a team of 18 people (4 teams of 4 broken into to two teams of two so you didn't have to cross the street through the 6" of sewage running down the road while searching houses, 2 people at the "triage" base station) found only one dog. A Chihuahua who had been locked in the house without food and water (the norm). There was a bathtub filled with water, which at the time we thought was left for the dog which didn't make sense as the dog wouldn't have been able to get to it, and if so, wouldn't have been able to get out, but I realized later it must have been for the owners. Turned out, the HS-US had been through that zone the previous day right after it was drained, but didn't mark the grid off or spray the houses. We moved south until we started to hear dogs barking and we finally started making progress. The HS-US showed up in the afternoon, which is how we found out they had been there, and worked a combined search the rest of the day with them searching west and south of Banks and us going east and south. We hit water at Alexander, about waist deep, so our Pasado's search teams broke into wet and dry search teams.

The wet teams had almost no luck. In the next 4 hours, they only managed to find a few dogs, but those of us on the dry team found many. My partner and I found 18 that afternoon. The conditions of the animals was extremely varied. We found a pair of pitbulls that we VERY sweet, and were honestly the roundest dogs I've seen in my life. They had been surviving on fat stores for the two weeks and didn't look a BIT the worse for wear, and were still seriously obese, if not in serious need of fresh water. Nothing like kicking open a door with dogs barking on the other side, to find yourself looking at two pitbulls that are not at all sure if your one of the "good guys" or not. :) Luckily, these were the typical pitts that want northing more than tummy rubs and to be told just how good of dogs they are. Tho, putting a loop leash around their necks proved to be mighty difficult, considering from shoulders to nose was a constant taper in the form of a triangle. ;)

We also found some that broke our hearts they were so bad and barely hanging on to life. I have no idea at all how many of these animals survived here. The water was very deep, about 14-18 feet in some places, with the waterline over the roofs of some houses. Most of the houses were the "shotgun" style, a new home style for me, where it's a duplex that's a series of 5-8 rooms, all in a line, front to back. Between each room was typically bedsheets hung as privacy curtains I guess. Living room in front, bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, was the typical order of the rooms, with a small shared back yard.

For conducting the search, you'd beat on the door and sides of the house, yelling out "Animal Rescue! Animal Rescue!" with the general rule being you could not yell it too loud, or too often. While we never ran into a home owner, there was always that possibility, and we'd really rather not end up shot with someone thinking we were a looter or something. If there was a dog inside, they would typically start barking when you started banging. If there was no answer, you'd peer inside and look for feces and other telltale signs like "beware of dog" signs, leashes, puppy Santa pictures, what have you... if we thought there might still be an animal inside, we'd go in. Sometimes this was easy, sometimes it was not. I commandeered a bat for knocking on doors and a fire axe from a shed which made entry far easier, but most times it just took one or two "Wookie nudges" to gain entry.

We'd find dogs that would saunter up to us and look for love, one was at the door barking when we knocked but when I kicked the door it went silent. By the time we got in, he was nowhere to be found. After extensive searching I finally found him hiding in the last room in the house, hiding in the closet behind some clothes. Flashlights were a requirement once you got inside most times. The houses had been under water for two weeks, and the floors were treacherous, with boards giving way under foot quite often. (NOTE: Anyone considering Pergo... reconsider if you live in a flood plain! Think Tile!!!) with windows and walls coated with slime, sewage, and mold.

Probably my favorite rescue was a male Rott. He had been spotted by a
human rescue crew, and had spray painted "1 dog" on the front of the
house. We went in and found they had left food for him, but not water. We found a gallon water jug in the fridge (we were out of water for ourselves at this point and had none to share with him) and tried that first. There was feces everywhere, but no dog to be found. Then I heard him upstairs. We went up, and found out why the HS-US had left the previous day... he was growling and active VERY uneasy about strangers in his house. We tried coaxing him to us for about 15 minutes with water and cookies, before I told my partner to let me try. When you'd approach him, he'd put his head down and growl while backing away, if you stopped and backed up his ears would go up and he'd approach you a bit. I tried for 2-3 minutes before I decided to use his behavior to my advantage. I backed him into the last room in the house, up onto a bed, and into a corner. He was trapped, nowhere to go, butt in the corner. I was able to get him with the snare stick, and WOW did he fight. He had been a big boy before the flood, but was down to about 75 lbs now, probably about 20 lbs light, but still PLENTY strong. We tussled about a minute, then I made my way out of the house with him. After about 5 minutes outside I had him eating cookies out of my hand and getting scratches behind his ears. He is a very gentle soul and was obviously just was freaked out and terrified. He's in Austin now in foster care, and we have his address so hopefully will be able to find his owners and return him. Here is a picture of him being vetted at the Pasado's shelter.

We did find death, though far less than I expected. I have no idea how some survived. One was SOOO sick. He had been on a 4 foot chain, padlocked to the bottom of a post and his collar. The water level there was almost over the roof. He should have drowned, but there he was in the back yard, still chained. Maybe the structure floated and he was able to climb onto something, who knows. I couldn't find bolt-cutters, but was able to cut his collar off without cutting him, to free him. Pasado had to euthanize one of the dogs we rescued today, and of all the ones we hauled in, I suspect it's him. He was in seriously rough shape. I'll be trying to find out who it was and if it was him. I VERY clearly remember which
house he was pulled from... anyway... here is a picture of him back at the Pasado's shelter getting vetted and an IV, I hope it wasn't him.

Most dogs were easy to catch, as they were so weak, hungry, and thirsty. First order of business was getting them water, then we would take a picture of them with the ID cards we carried with us, take a picture of the card with the address, and leave the card someplace the owners could find so they would know their animal had been rescued, what it's rescue ID number was, and the contact info to call. We went to great lengths to make sure we knew we could associate which animals went to which homes, with reuniting them with their owners one day in mind. The strays we captured are going to have a harder time, but not many owners are trying to reclaim animals yet, with many trying to find family members so...

Sometimes we'd not hear anything, not see any obvious signs of an animal in the house, but just have a feeling... you'd go in, and find 2 or 3 rooms in the feces, and a dog in the back cowering. Sometimes you'd see "big dog" feces everywhere, go in, and not find anything at all. It was a total mixed bag. I know some houses had dogs that just were not barking, and many had blinds up that we couldn't see through, so some were left behind, but there just was not time to do a house by house search without a clue or feeling that something might have been home. We did find one dead dog, but considering the number of houses searched and dogs found, I'm shocked it was that little. We found more dead cats than anything, mostly ones that were either declawed or very young. One house, well, SOMETHING was dead in there, but we dared not venture further to find out just what. As soon as I opened the door it hit us like a wave, and that smell was death. Nothing in there was alive, so we moved on to the next house and continued the search. You just gotta keep moving sometimes...

Some were found on porches, with MRE rations strewn about, obvious signs their humans had been evac'd and forced to leave their animals behind. Many times in the houses we would find suitcases half packed, ladders leading into attics, firearms and ammo out and at the ready, and everything a shambles. The news is doing a good job of showing what that city went through, and it's a warzone of hell, fire, and brimstone if I've ever seen it. When you see the pictures on TV, many figure they are showing the cherry picked sites that showcase the worst damage they could find... well, not in this case. It's bad. REALLY bad. Tornadoes level everything in their path, but try to imagine a tornado survivor then being dropped in a bucket for two weeks, and you get the idea of what it's like. Nothing was spared.

As for military and police, I can't say it enough, these guys are helping rescue. We'd be working a house, banging around, breaking doors and windows, carrying around bats, axes, crowbars, whatnot, and a guardsman would run up, rifle in hand, and hand you a strip of paper with a scrawled address on it, with a wild look on their face and say "There are two dogs stranded in this house, we can't get them, can you please come help?!" and you'd jump into the back of the transport and they would drive you there, open the house for you (I think they really enjoyed that part), and once you had the animals, paperwork done, and were ready to go they would give us a lift back to the triage station. Same for the cops. Heck, even utility workers were telling us where there were stranded or loose animals. They are worried about the animals, and we many times would recruit them to help if we needed a tree moved or something that required
more than one Wookie horsepower of heavy lifting to get access to a yard or house. They were too happy to help, even when it meant stepping out of their heavy transport into the slippery sewage of a street that we were all working in. Other teams that did not have a Wookie for a partner regularly called on troops and cops to open houses and doors for them that they were unable to (Second note: anyone that things their French doors are secure, think again! Even the ones with bolts top and bottom with multiple deadbolts between the two doors. I could go through one of those in less than 20 seconds with ease without breaking the glass even. They blow apart / open with far less force than I ever expected.) The checkpoints are a mix of safety barricades telling folks where they can pass and where they are making sure that folks are behaving themselves. The roving patrols of heavy transports are everywhere, and the only real
traffic in the city was military patrols, utility workers, police, and
news crews. We even managed to get a lift from one news photographer gal that drove us and a dog we'd pulled out of a house on Canal street 5 blocks from the triage station toward the end of the day and were not looking forward to the hike back with the pup in tow.

We would start each morning before dawn, and go straight to walking dogs, cleaning cages, watering, feeding, and updating paperwork. There were sleeping volunteers on the ground, in cars, on benches pulled out of the rental vans, everywhere you could find a flat surface. We'd end the days typically around 3am, there was just that much that needed doing. Nobody lounged, and when somebody DID stop moving for a minute, you left them alone to rest. Everyone was working incredibly hard. Dinner was served at 10pm, and for most of us, that was the only time that day we ate. It was a LITTLE tricky, as more than half the rescuers were vegetarians, and of those many were vegans. Fortunately I'd brought along 10lbs of venison sausage with me, which I shared gladly with a few of the other "meat eaters" who were especially grateful on day 2 when dinner was vegan lasagne... no cheese, meat, or pasta... yeah, I'm not sure how that qualified as "lasagna" either, but it was warm and tasty... and the eggplant "noodles" weren't nearly as bad as I feared they might be :)

When day 3 was "finished" at the Pasado's shelter, with all the crews
packed up and headed either into the city or to the Gonzales shelter, we finished helping with walking / feeding / vetting the dogs there and finished loading the cars and dogs we were taking back. We hauled 4 rotts, 2 labs, 2 Scottish terriers, and one poodle back with us to Austin to waiting foster homes. One of the rotts was the one that I had rescued that previous afternoon, as well as both labs and the terriers. That was extremely rewarding, knowing that 5 of the nine were saved by my hand the previous afternoon.

There are still thousands of animals to save, but with hopefully citizens being allowed back into the city soon, folks will start to save them on their own. The Pasado's crew was amazing to work with. The Gonzales shelter is reported as being very confusing, and some folks are reporting that they are being turned away, but none of our rescuers were. The place is overflowing with animals, and volunteers are badly needed. Just think about how much time it would take to feed, water, and keep the crates cleaned for 20 dogs, or 200, or the 1000 that they have, and you get an idea of how much work is being done there. If folks can spare the time, and get air-miles donated or what have you, I strongly recommend going. They need help. Pack the tent, clothes, rubber boots and gloves, and pitch in. It's really just something you'd have to see to believe, and they desperately need the help.

I was able to take a few photographs... nothing in the city. I wanted to, but there just wasn't time. We were running everywhere, and every time we turned around we were running someplace else... In three days, I only took 7 pictures, and 4 of those were back in Austin of my rescue Rott buddy that I just had to get a pic of, but they can all be viewed here.

I've now prattled on long enough at this point. I hope that some of this helps to paint an accurate firsthand experience of what it's like "in the zone", or at least what I saw and experienced.

September 19, 2005

Houston: plan for pets NOW! Will Rita hit us?

It is still too early to tell whether Rita will come to Houston/Galveston, much less whether we will sustain a direct hit from what is likely, as of 5PM today, to become a hurricane. But, the Galveston mayor is thinking ahead, saying she could very well order a voluntary evacuation Tuesday. Now is the time for petowners to start thinking.. and thinking hard.. about what to do with their pets. If Katrina taught us anything, it's that pets are among the lost victims of hurricanes. You've seen the pictures and the video of stranded animals. Plan ahead NOW.

I headed to the Houston SPCA today because I'm working on a story that will air Thursday night about pet evacuation plans at the Houston Zoo and Moody Gardens. I needed advice about private pets. The most important message I got was.. if you evacuate, TAKE YOUR PET. The Red Cross has agreements with local shelters to take on the pets of evacuees, just as the HSPCA did for Katrina evacuees. The HSPCA is meeting daily for disaster planning in case Rita comes here. I'll keep you updated. In the meantime, here's the disaster checklist for your pet from Citizens for Animal Protection.

September 19, 2005

Another report from Gonzales

This was forwarded to me and found on the Lone Star Akita Club of Houston website - it's a great report with photos from the Gonzales shelter - click here for the .pdf file.

September 19, 2005

Questions and answers from a volunteer on the front lines..

This is from John, who's been volunteering at the Best Friends animal shelter in Tylertown, Mississippi, sends us some of his suggestions and answers to questions he's been getting:

Question: I need to find out who would be interested in having me join up.

Answer: Best Friends is definitely interested - they have a sign-up page on their website . They use this to try to make sure that they aren't over/understaffed and to match volunteers with job areas. PLEASE use it. LA SPCA and HSUS are at the Lamar-Dixon facility in Gonzales. I'm sure both have website info. Sick animals from Gonzales are transported to a vet school facility at LSU. I'm sure that facility is pretty tightly controlled so I wouldn't go there without advance approval.

Question: Where is the need the greatest and where can we be assured of being let in: some options are Lamar-Dickson in Gonzales, LA; St. Francis/Best Friends in Tylertown, MS; LSU or someplace in Baton Rouge? Is the LA SPCA operating out of a facility? There must be several/many facilities in both states that
could benefit from volunteers. Ideas?

Answer: LA SPCA , HSUS and local SPCAs from around the country are in Gonzales. Weekend of 9/9 it was a regular RV park. They also draw on the Baton Rouge metro area, a few miles up the road. Tylertown, being a bit more remote and organized by a less well-known group (Best Friends) had far fewer people. Gonzales uses an existing complex and infrastructure, Tylertown was a small sanctuary
with lots of space available for installing temporary facilities.

Weekend of 9/9 I heard that Gonzales had ~3,000 animals and was capped for sanitation reasons. Tylertown has space for ~800 animals (space for ~300 more due 9/17 and additional fencing for ~300 by the end of the week). My guess is there's a greater need at Tylertown, as they're still expanding. One other thing to consider - Gonzales is keeping almost all of their animals in crates, which is requiring a lot of time to walk the dogs and clean crates. Tylertown is mostly kennels (10 X 10 to 30 X 30).

Question: I've heard there are no hotel rooms, so we would probably either need tents/sleeping bags or to make some other arrangements. Does anyone know of someone living in Baton Rouge or the general area, or in Mississippi that would take in some people?

Answer: Count on 1 1/2-2 hrs drive from Lafayette to Gonzales, not an unreasonable commute for a hot shower and soft bed. Tent, RV or trailer are pretty much a must for Gonzales. Tylertown has people in everything from travel trailers to sleeping bags on the ground. They've installed showers in Tylertown, but use portalets. Gonzales has toilets, but I didn't notice and showers (may have them, I don't know).

Question: What kind of provisions would we need to bring for ourselves? I heard there is a volunteer tent in Gonzales that offers water and occasional PB&J sandwich.

Answer: Gonzales has PBJ, water, soft drinks/gatorade and MREs. Tylertown pretty much the same, except that Best Friends has dispatched a community cook. It looks like someone has made arrangements for vegetarian MREs in Tylertown. Safest bet is bring most of what you'll need for food.

Question: What kind of supplies are they REALLY needing there? Wondering what the shelter sites themselves really need?

Answer: Changes by the hour. Office supplies were short when I was at both places, esp markers and placards for signs.

Question: Are we required / or do we need to have tetanus and Hepatitis A shots? Anyone know of a convenient place here to get them?

Answer: Highly recommended. A volunteer nurse has been at Tylertown giving shots, not sure how often she visits. I will try to locate a clinic or doctor in Tylertown and post. The Gonzales facility is very likely to have someone onsite or nearby in town. For those making it into NO, free shots have been available at West Jeff and East Jeff Hospitals, Ochsner Clinic (southern end of
Causeway Blvd) and at a Scientology tent on Metairie Rd just west of Causeway. Probably easiest to get it before you go.

Question: What sort of clothing and such do we need to have along? Do we need rubber boots, gloves, tools of any sort (shovels, etc.)? I suppose mosquito spray and hand cleaner are a no-brainer. I spoke with someone last night who said they just wore shorts and t-shirts while they were volunteering at Lamar-Dixon for the day.

Answer: At Gonzales several groups were handing out t-shirts to identify their volunteers. Safety and comfort are the order of the day. Protect against scratches, keep cool. Rubber gloves and work gloves (leather palm) are very helpful, hats a must.

Question: Would we be able to bring back animals with us? If we had several SUVs or trucks or if someone wanted to pull a trailer we could bring back animals, if they would release them to us. Does anyone know what's involved in getting animals out? Do you have to be a member of a particular rescue organization
and have it cleared?

Answer: Gonzales must move animals, but I don't know if they are releasing to individual fosters or only through local shelters (e.g., SPCAs). Best Friends is no-kill and I believe they are either still working out transfer arrangements or only releasing to known no-kills. They are taking names of people willing to adopt/foster on their website, so you might register before you go in case they've started releasing.

September 19, 2005

From the president of the HSUS

This is a rather late entry, but it was forwarded to me when I was out of town. It's from the email updates sent out by the Humane Society:

On Wednesday, one of our Disaster Animal Response Teams in New Orleans rescued a St. Bernard from a rooftop - a dog they described as the most emaciated animal they had ever seen in all their years of handling animals. The veterinarian who treated the dog was shocked that the animal, who weighed just 40 pounds, was still alive.

Who helped us rescue this animal? It was several National Guardsmen, who heeded our rescuers' pleas to take them through the water on a tank so they could get up on the roof to save the dog.

But the troops' actions were not ordered by the National Guard - nor by the White House, the Defense Department, the Department of Homeland Security, or the State of Louisiana. In fact, despite our repeated requests, none of these entities has formally agreed to marshal their ground forces to help rescue the pets and other animals slowly starving to death in the affected areas.

At a press conference just a few hours ago, I implored the federal government to come up with the nation's first animal rescue plan. Now, I am writing to ask you to give them the same message: Please call or email President Bush and other officials today and urge them to help us before it's too late.

Time is running out for these animals. Every hour that passes means more pets, locked behind closed doors in the disaster zone, will die of starvation. Our teams are working as hard as they can to reach as many pets as they can - and as we reported to you on Wednesday, we've rescued thousands. But there are thousands more.

At this 11th hour, when so many lives are at stake, we are asking you to help. I urge you to contact these government officials today and ask them to help rescue animals before it is too late. Please click here
to call or send an email to President Bush and other federal and state officials who have the power to order National Guardsmen and other responders to save animals.

One of our rescuers said it best: "We should not have to rely on the compassionate instincts of individual Guardsmen to rescue these animals. We need the full commitment of the government."

Members of Congress have also been calling on President Bush and the federal agencies to actively assist with direct animal rescue. With most of the human victims of the catastrophe removed from the city, it's not too late to save animals' lives. It's time for the government to recognize the incredible bond between people and their pets, and step in to help.

Thank you so much for your support of our disaster teams, and for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

September 19, 2005

Veni Harlan's foster story..

Veni's an animal friend and helps keep me up to date on what's going on in the animal world. Here's her foster bird story..

Speedy's Story

I'm not in a position to foster/adopt dogs and the dogs I have aren't
exactly cat lovers. So I offered to take in a bird. My friend,
Claire, a volunteer over exotics at the Gonzales shelter, called me
to a stall last week. "I've got a bird for you." Inside the stall was
the most pitiful bird I had ever seen. He was a bald-headed Goffin
Cockatoo who for the last few days had been flying around the shelter
after a helicopter spooked him from a handler. The vets were
concerned he was diseased and wanted to get him to LSU and into a
home without birds. So after a poke and prod from a vet, "Baldy" came
to my home. The Borzoi were only mildly interested while my Cardigan,
hindered by height, circled the table grumbling indiscernibly "My
bird, my bird." The Goffin just "meowed" at her. All we knew was that
the bird and several other animals were rescued from a home in St.
Bernard parish, below New Orleans, one of the hardest hit areas.

I like birds but don't know much about them. A couple of years ago I
"inherited" a Love Bird from a that I named "Dizzy" (Gillespie).
Claire would come by and rearrange the perches and toys in the cage.
"You don't have this at the right level." she'd chide. What is this?
I wondered... birdie feng shui? "Dizzy" ended up exiting out the dog
door on the back of a Borzoi after flying off my shoulder to attack
the dog. The escape was late at night so the next morning I walked
down my street, ringing the bird's bell toy, looking into the trees,
and calling. "Diz-zy, Diz-zy." I'm surprised my neighbors didn't call
the mental ward.

Two days ago "Baldy's" momma contacted Claire. She and her boyfriend,
a professional shrimper, had remained in their home during the
hurricane with all their animals and their neighbor's animals, not
wanting to abandon them. "Baldy" I learned, was 23 years old and his
real name was "Speedy." He had been bald when the woman adopted him
18 years ago. The entire family was so happy to know her bird was
safe. It made my day.

"Speedy" will stay here, meowing at the dogs, till these folks get
back on their feet. Last night the rain came and with it, thunder and
lightening. For the first time this relatively quiet bird started
squawking. I suspect he will never be comfortable in a storm after
weathering Katrina. None of the animals will be.

September 19, 2005

Back in the office.. and the oily dog story

And doing my best to update as fast as I can. I'd like to thank Nikki for updating in comments on the retraction of the "Oily dog is found" story. The Dallas Morning News has printed this report - retracting its first story.

September 16, 2005

Cindy Shaw with CAP working in Louisiana

Cindy Shaw, the shelter coordinator at Citizens for Animal Protection, has been working in Louisiana.. Here's a picture of her handing out food at the First Baptist Church of Lizana. Pictured to the left is Lisa Martin, a volunteer with In Defense of Animals. You can see more pictures of Cindy at work here.

September 16, 2005

Hay for horses.. on the way!

See more
pictures here!

Friends, Early this morning Tami Earl and Jonna Johnson departed Houston, arriving 4:00 PM at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center safely and uneventful with their trucks loaded w/ horse supplies and flatbeds loaded w/ hay, feed and supplies. All went well.

Tonight, the last trailer was completed, filled with fuel and is now Louisiana bound, also for the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. Hurray!!! Many thank you's to each of you that made this HAY & SUPPLY DRIVE possible.

I believe this is our final trek and update , (but you never know) and we just want to say that we have received teary-eyed stories of appreciation from barn owners, LSU vets and horse rescue organizations for your donations and support. Thank you for coming to the aide of our 'gentle equine giants'.

A very very special THANK YOU to the hay suppliers, gas contributions (diesel) and horse supplies. We will have 501c tax forms sent to you just as soon as we procure from the HfH/LSER organizations. And, to our remarkable friends that loaded these rigs Wednesday and Thursday evenings.~ Robin

September 16, 2005

Best Friends FINALLY enters St. Bernard Parish

This is one of the last places to allow animal rescuers in. Here's the report on St Bernard Parish.

September 15, 2005

Louisiana cats looking for homes

From Kappy Muenzer at CAP

We took in 29 beautiful, sweet cats and kittens last night from Hammond, LA. We would like to get these precious ones adopted this coming weekend. There are two adorable kittens, one calico and one grey tabby with white who were found stranded in a boat and brought to the Hammond shelter.

September 15, 2005

UPDATE from the Houston Humane Society

From Courtney Frank at the HHS..

In the past two weeks, we've taken care of 425 animals on site at the HHS, taking in strays, surrendered animals, and animals rescued from Louisiana, as well as providing free medical care and vaccinations and offering free boarding. In addition, our staff and volunteers have taken food and medical supplies to more than 150 pets in shelters and area hotels. We are currently preparing for over 100 more animals expected to arrive within the week.

September 15, 2005

Out of office until 9/17

I won't be at work, but will be checking email once or twice a day. Posting will be sporadic. If you have news, go ahead and email lforonda@khou.com and I'll get on it as soon as possible. Please know I won't be able to make any calls or do any heavy duty research. I'll just be posting news items as well as requests for help from local pet workers.

September 14, 2005

Help find the owners of these Louisiana dogs found in Houston

Catherine Hoffman sent me these pictures and this email:

I found two dogs on 9/7 at a shopping center near I-10 and Gessner. Please see the attached pictures. The cocker spaniel has a tag with New Orleans area code on it. I have called repeatedly, the number is for an animal shelter (that apparently sold tags to clinics), but the computer is down. I have posted signs all around, including at shops, apartment complexes, etc. I posted on Petfinder and just saw today a special section for Katrina pets so I just posted there. Cocker Rescue is going to post the pictures as well. I would dearly love to reunite these dogs with their owner (the white dog has no tags so I don't know they have the same owner but they are best buddies now). They have been staying at my vet. I am going to bring them home to foster. Already have 2 dogs and I don't know how that will go.

Contact Catherine at Catherine.Hoffman@ElPaso.com or call: Day 713 420 5617, evening 713 939 9536, cell 713 501 2736

September 14, 2005

National editorial on the pet evacuation crisis..

This (direct link here) was written to the editors of Newsday and printed. Its author is Karen Dawn, who runs the animal advocacy media watch Web site DawnWatch.com:

Shameful policy caused many pets' deaths
The ban against pets in Katrina rescues and shelters hampered the evacuation and killed people and animals

BY KAREN DAWN
Karen Dawn runs the animal advocacy media watch Web site DawnWatch.com and is a contributor to "In Defense of Animals: The Second Wave."

September 14, 2005

Two weeks after Hurricane Katrina, many of us have seen distressing coverage of animals discarded on rooftops or at stations where people boarded buses for Red Cross shelters. We have read stories of small dogs grabbed by police officers from the arms of old people and sobbing young children.

Some stories are almost unbelievable in a civilized nation. One man survived for five days in a tree with his 16-year-old dachshund-Chihuahua. His rescuers would not let him carry the dog onto a boat. He killed his beloved companion rather than leave her to starve in the tree.

In the midst of such tales we also read the quote from Michael Brown as he left his post as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It began with, "I am going to go home and walk my dog." His policies stole that last sweet comfort from those who had nothing else left.

The refusal to acknowledge the bond people have with their animals hampered the evacuation, since some people refused to leave. It also increased, exponentially, people's loss.

Further, the official animal ban illuminated the class issue: Whereas Marriott hotels welcomed pets as part of the family, Red Cross shelters forced people to abandon that part of the family or to ride out the storm. Many people died as a result. Others remained for weeks in the disease-infested area.

Media stories have focused on the plight of the animals and of people frantic over the fate of their pets. Only a few have been insensitive to the issue. Perhaps most confused was a column in Slate Magazine that contended that although it was sad the dogs were starving, "their owners should have evacuated them - and themselves - before the storm hit, when pets could be accommodated more easily." As if the destitute folks without gas or even cars, who didn't head for the nearest pet-friendly hotel before the storm, had only themselves to blame.

That column actually suggested that the deaths of people who would not part with their pets were tragic, but not as tragic as the "chaos" pets would have caused at shelters. Interestingly, hospitals and nursing homes actually invite dogs in to raise patients' spirits. The presence of dogs, although inconvenient, also could have been a morale booster, whereas their absence has caused the greatest suffering for many people who are frantic about their fate.

If dog bites are a concern, then surely cheap disposable muzzles should be part of FEMA and Red Cross deployment equipment. And, yes, some people are allergic to animals, particularly cats, which is why people traveling with cats might have to be transported separately. It would also be fair to recommend that cats be placed in adjoining shelters - anywhere, as long as their families knew they were safe.

Let's compare our nation's treatment of animals to that of other countries: In France, official policy allows dogs in restaurants. One cannot imagine it would call for their abandonment during disasters. Do the French care more about their animals than we do? The photos of Katrina's aftermath answer that: people on rooftops or wading or swimming through filthy water, having left every one of their worldly possessions, but desperately clutching their beloved pets. But U.S. official policy is out of touch with that reality.

In Cuba last September, more than 1.5 million people were evacuated to higher ground before a storm. About 20,000 houses were destroyed, and nobody died. The people were told to take their animals, and veterinarians were provided. Far from causing chaos, the evacuation of animals prevented it. The Cuban government did not have to deal with people refusing to leave their animals and did not have to force them to leave them.

Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated." How embarrassing it must be for our government to see that in emergencies the United States lags behind Cuba, whose treatment of animals saved the animals' lives and those of the people who care for them. In the wake of Katrina, the shameful no-pet policies of American relief agencies killed some people, mostly poor. It devastated many more, who will rebuild their homes but will never get over the awful choice a great nation should not have forced them to make.

Copyright © 2005, Newsday, Inc.

September 14, 2005

Cats rescued! Local cat fosters needed now!

From Laura Carlock:

Well, after a crazy day in Louisiana, Leah, Alexandra, and Melissa were able to rescue 50 (yes, you heard correctly, 50) cats. It was an absolute madhouse. Leah and Alexandra went from shelter to shelter, and things were very confusing.

The 50 cats are on their way to Houston as we speak. They will arrive around 3 a.m. Alexandra's roommate will be waiting up for Melissa (who has to be at school at 7:30 a.m.) and will take over their care. I (Laura Carlock) will coordinate their placement in the morning, but we need more cat fosters!! If you are interested in fostering one or some of these babies, please contact me at lcarlock@gibbs-bruns.com. We need your help! These babies have some very sad stories, like the poor little 3 week old kitten who was found drowning in the well of a boat. It is safe now and needs a home.

Now for the dogs -- just as Leah and Alexandra sent Melissa off with the cats and started loading the dogs, the shelter shut down operations for the evening. So poor Leah and Alexandra are searching for shelter themselves because there is not an available hotel room for miles. I expect them in at around 2 p.m. tommorrow (Sept. 15). The fosters have been patient and wonderful, standing at the ready to pick theses kids up. Out of 20 dogs, we need just 2 more fosters for two small terrier dogs. Email me if you can help.

Thank you Leah, Alexandra, and Melissa. You are angels!

September 14, 2005

Pasado Safe Haven Animal Rescue DESPERATE for volunteers

This is the first time I've seen a confirmed animal rescue website BEGGING for volunteers. Some of the pictures on their website are heartbreaking. Click here for information on how to help.. and what to do if you want to go.

September 14, 2005

Latest update from the HSUS

This is a disaster response snapshot of what's going on with the HSUS in Louisiana. It addresses the overcrowding issue at the shelter in Gonzales.

September 14, 2005

SNAP's Seven Days of Wellness

From Pam Harris with SNAP

For those of you who are fostering Katrina animals, SNAP's Seven Days of Wellness clinic is providing some free veterinary services fr these animals at Wellness. We will need some form of ID showing that the animal is a Katrina evacuee. We have been very busy helping evacuees with their animals. Please call SNAP Wellness 713-862-8001 for hours and to see how busy we are as we're always first come first served. The old truck is still being used as a command and treatment center by the HSPCA. The new truck was at 8230 Kirby Drive across from the Astrodome on Monday (9/12/05) providing free veterinary services (vaccines, minor treatments, heartworm tests, flea and tick products, etc.) to evacuees dogs and cats in conjunction with Harris County. Our SNAP team is really amazing. They are really working hard for the animals effected by Katrina.

September 14, 2005

Fabian Boarding Kennel is going to Louisiana and needs your help

Tom and Tanya Fabian of Galveston's Fabian Boarding Kennel are going to the Louisiana SPCA shelter at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana on Friday to bring donate supplies and help with animal rescue efforts.

The Gonzales shelter needs large and extra large crates/pens, box fans, stainless steel food and water bowls and bungee cords. Other supplies needed include insect repellant, waders, heavy duty gloves, containers of fuel, dog treats, flashlights and batteries of all size, walkie talkies, chew toys, leashes, collars, generators, fencing, jugs of water and anything else you want to send with us to deliver to the othe rescue workers.

You can drop off donations Friday at Fabian Boarding Kennel at 13720 Stewart Road in Galveston. For information, pickups or cash donations, call Tom Fabian at 409-739-3465.

September 14, 2005

Data entry typists needed

Colleen Hodges at Harris County Animal Control is looking for people who are interested in training to do data entry for the SPCA. The shelter is going to need people to type in all the information about the animals that are coming in. Here's part of her email:

With the help and financial support of HLP (the company that provides our animal management software) we have set up a database. We will be taking pictures and entering data into the system. It will then be able to upload just like our shelter animals. They will be easier to track, keep medical records, etc.

Now for the fun part. We need people to work in 'on-call' shifts to help data-entry animals. I say on-call because we will have about 5 hours notice of when animals will be arriving in Houston. I have a meeting later today to discuss the ins and outs of this system and schedule people. Here's what you can do in the meantime. Anyone who is interested in volunteering to do data entry needs to come by our shelter so we can show you the data system. That way you won't be completely new when you go to the SPCA. We'll walk you through the fields and how they will be used. Some things may be different at the SPCA but we will have an experienced person there at all times to help answer questions and fix any problems. I'm looking at two possible training shifts each day from 10 AM - noon or from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM for Thursday & Friday. If anyone would like to attend these trainings, please let Meredith (mdodge@harriscountyhealth.com) or me know at 281-999-8531.

September 14, 2005

Experienced kennel help needed

The Houston SPCA will soon start needed experienced kennel help to manage the new animals. Experienced means you'll be cleaning, watering, and cleaning kennels. The SPCA needs people who are experienced with animals and can read body language. Many of these animals are stressed and will react accordingly. Shifts may start as early at 7AM. If you can help, please contact Julie Knapp at jknapp@hspca.org.

September 14, 2005

Max is found!

Remember the little boy who lost his dog when he came to Houston? David was separated from his dog, Max, when they arrived at at the Astrodome. After a great deal of searching, Max was finally found at BARC - the City of Houston's Animal Control shelter. Here's some video of Max and his very happy little boy!

September 14, 2005

Help needed at Houston Katrina vet clinic

The good people at Harris County Animal Control has scheduled a Katrina Clinic that will offer free vet first aid for Katrina's pet victims. They'll need volunteers to help with dog control, pooper scoop team, filling out paperwork, and all the activities that go along with a medical clinic.

The clinic will be on Monday, September 19th in the parking lot of the Petco at I-10 and Uvalde, from 10AM until 2PM. Contact Colleen Hodges at 281-999-8531.

September 14, 2005

HSPCA brings in 250 Katrina pet evacuees

The Houston SPCA's "Humane Train" arrived in Houston this morning, with 250 pet passengers from the Louisiana/Mississippi area on board.

This is a picture of one of the little ones, and click here for some video we shot of the dogs after they were unloaded and brought into the SPCA.

September 14, 2005

Not the land loving evacuees you'd expect..

Not all of the animal evacuees from Katrina like dog chow or kitty food. Some prefer ice and squid. Here's a great story from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

September 14, 2005

Dawnwatch's Katrina page

I've been forwarded a great link with even more up to date volunteer information. Consider adding Dawnwatch's Katrina page to your daily visit list.

September 14, 2005

Updates coming

Sorry I'm running late.. Trying to get through the emails and confirm stories..

September 13, 2005

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures - and John's update from Tylertown

These are from the LSU Coliseum and Lamar-Dixon Center. Noah's Wish has pictures from its facility in Slidell. You can also check out these photos from Tylertown, Mississippi.

Those of you who know Elizabeth Asher - a friend to animals - may not know about her boyfriend, John. He's been volunteering in Tylertown, Mississippi at the Best Friends temporary shelter there. Here's his report from this weekend..

John left Sat. morning to take a travel trailer to the volunteers from Bestfriends.(No one has volunteered to drive, yet). It took him almost as long to get out of Houston as to get to MS. The rental truck would not properly hook up to the travel trailer (in the Katy area), so he had to go back and get another truck, then back to Katy. He got to MS. around 10:00 p.m. and slept in the truck last night. He is on his way to LA. to get his friend's Great Dane, rescued by Bestfriends, then back here.

John said Tylertown is like a little refugee camp for dogs. There are about 50 to 60 volunteers!! John was told that they had literally five gallons of gas left when the gas he found for them arrived! They were feeling desperate.

The volunteers have been going to stores getting any kind of building material they could find and work until 10:00 p.m. each night building kennels. They would sleep until midnight when the dogs arrive. No matter how much they built, there was never enough kennel space. (John found fencing from them-but getting it is a long story, involving days of telephone calls- it was frustrating working with the Houston Company-so much so-that John called the
President of the company). When the fencing arrived- the volunteers stood in the parking lot and sobbed!!! (not an exaggeration).

I am in awe of what these volunteers are doing! It is the celebrities that get the press for donating the big bucks, or flying their planes in with donations. These volunteers are working around the clock, with little sleep, rations, in rough conditions. Something I have never done. Thank God for these volunteers.

Unfortunately, John forgot the chip for his camera. John is going to ask one of the volunteers to send him some pictures. I hope in the days to come, when the spotlight is off, that we can still continue to get truck drivers and others to help.

September 13, 2005

Help a little boy find his lost dog

This story ran in today's five o'clock newscast: view it here, and read on for some background:

David, a little boy who evacuated from New Orleans, has lost his dog. David came in on a bus from the Superdome on Wednesday, August 31st. He surrendered his dog to someone who gave him a piece of paper. David gave the paper to his sister. Now, the paper is lost. We cannot find the dog.

Max is a two year old toy poodle. He's black, but he has a very distinct mark: a narrow white stripe down the front of his neck and chest, all the way to his nether regions. We have checked with the Houston SPCA, Harris County Animal Control and Citizens for Animal Protection. No one has seen Max. Please keep your eyes open for a black toy poodle with a white stripe on his chest. Email me at lforonda@khou.com if you come across this pup. David is very worried... worried sick. He hasn't been able to go to school because he's so upset.

September 13, 2005

UPDATE from the Houston SPCA

From Alice Sarmiento and Stacy Fox..

Houston SPCA Director of Shelter and Field Services Jim Boller and Assistant Chief Cruelty Investigator Charles Jantzen are returning from Louisiana sometime early Wednesday morning and are leading the "Humane Train" with about 250 animal evacuees.

The dynamic duo of Boller and Jantzen spent a week riding in boats and wading through a fetid toxic soup in a race against time to save animal lives. Jantzen recalls the personal frustration of rescuing animals from sunrise to sunset and knowing that there were still victims abandoned or trapped in debris. Both men believe there are thousands of dogs, cats, and farm animals waiting for rescue and recovery.

"The Humane Train is finally rolling," said Houston SPCA President Patricia Mercer! Boller and Jantzen are leading the "Humane Train" by bringing in the first group of 250 animal evacuees.

(The "Humane Train" is from the Internatinona Fund for Animal Welfare-sponsored Wild Animal Orphanage in Texas. It consists of two air conditioned transport vehicles that will be standing by to move dogs as soon as they are released for transport. In the meantime the air-conditioned interior of the trucks can be used to increase the area available for assessment and processing of dogs.)

Hundreds and most likely thousands of other animals will eventually be transported to the Houston SPCA. Each group of animals will arrive at the Houston SPCA MASH unit (Mobile Animal Shelter) where they will be examined by veterinarians, vaccinated if necessary and scanned for microchips. They will be placed into existing Houston SPCA foster homes or sent to pre-arranged adoption partner shelters around the state and country. Then, the Houston SPCA staff and volunteers will prepare the Houston SPCA MASH shelter for the next wave of animal evacuees.

"We expect thousands of animals to pass through our shelter," said Mercer. She thanked animal lovers, clubs, and corporations locally and around the country for giving so generously of their time, in-kind gifts like food; collars; dog crates etc., and donating dollars to help the animal victims of Katrina. Mercer also wanted to recognize the Houston SPCA's devoted adoption partners like Citizens for Animal Protection here in Houston and San Antonio Humane Society and IFAW who are assisting with this life-saving mission. Mercer says, "We are dedicated to saving as many animals as possible," she said "and we will continue to work tirelessly 24/7 because it's for the animals!"

The public is urged to call the Houston SPCA Animal Emergency Hotline at 713-802-0555 or visit www.houstonspca.org.

September 13, 2005

Saving Animals and BARC have success at new adoption site

From Sean Hawkins:

On Saturday, September 10, 2005, BARC partnered with Saving Animals to launch what will hopefully become BARC's first permanent off-site pet adoption center at Northwest Mall. Seven of the eight dogs brought from BARC received terrific new homes. Mall traffic was great all day, and I think we could have adopted all 8 dogs if we stayed past 3:00 pm. (We needed to return animals to BARC by 4:00 pm.) The mall set up a white picket fence with green Astroturf near the center on the mall for our adoption area. Saving Animals provided animal transportation, set up, and most importantly, 6 terrific new volunteers. The event was such a success, that the mall manager wants us back every weekend! All who participated had a wonderful day helping BARC animals and many pets found loving new homes. Thank you to the terrific staff at BARC who put in the extra effort to make the event a success and congratulations on such a positive new venture for BARC!!!!

September 13, 2005

Oily dog is saved!

I don't know if you've seen this sad little dog yet. His picture was taken by Dallas Morning News photographer Tom Fox, who contacted animals rescuers. The little dog had escaped the floodwaters in Chalmette only to get doused in oil by a passing truck.

We are happy to report the dog is OK!

Friday, Debbie Lavallee, who works with Lone Star Equine Rescue (that's her with the cleaned up and very happy dog), and Dr. Lee Ann Fugler of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine picked up the dog and other animals saved from the floodwaters. They're now at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

UPDATE: retracted by the Dallas Morning News. The report is here.

September 13, 2005

Gonzales shelter overloaded?

I, too, am getting the emails that animals are being turned away from the Lamar-Dixon shelter in Gonzales. I do know that two shipments of animals have been flown out to California, and another is going out to make more room. The Houston SPCA plans to take some animals out and bring them to Houston. Please check out this report I found on the Best Friends website.

September 13, 2005

UPDATE from Citizens for Animal Protection

From Kim Hogstrom..

Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP) received 27 beautiful cats evacuated from the Louisiana SPCA in New Orleans prior to the arrival of Hurricane Katrina on August 28th. Since then, we have also taken in 8 dogs, 2 rabbits, and 1 parakeet from Louisiana residents who could no longer care for them. All these animals have been, or will soon be adopted into new loving homes.

CAP’s Shelter Coordinator, Cindy Shaw, has been in Mississippi since the hurricane hit, working around the clock at "ground zero" with a wonderful group called Project Hope (In Defense of Animals). Her reports are heart-wrenching, but she has been successful in saving so many animal lives. She even rescued an emu! On September 9th, we received 16 dogs and 5 cats from Project Hope. These precious animals had been in their Sanctuary awaiting adoption when the storm came.

CAP is also providing foster homes for dogs, who will be reunited with their families when they are settled into permanent homes. We are expecting to continue receiving more animals in the months to come as the rescues from Hurricane Katrina continue. It will be a long-term process, and although our shelter is small, we stand ready to do all we can to help the animals in need.

Our hearts have been deeply touched by the generosity of people in our community (and as far away as some states like New York, New Jersey, California, and Florida) with the outpouring of cash donations, volunteer time, food and shelter supplies. Most of all, we are touched by the abundance of people coming to our shelter every day wanting to adopt the orphaned animals who have come to CAP from Louisiana, Mississippi and our own greater Houston area.

September 13, 2005

Want to help load up some hay for hurricane horses?

Contact Robin Young at RobinYoung@aol.com or Lianne at llami@mobiusriskgroup.com or on her cell at 832-928-9155 cell. The hay will be heading out Thursday morning, and they need some strong folks to load up bales, as well as other volunteers to "feed and water" the hay loaders!

They'll start loading at 6PM Wednesday night at Callegari Equestrian Club on 1275 N. Eldridge in Cypress. It's between Grant Rd and Cypress N. Houston, located right on Cypress Creek. This is between 290 and 249 fairly close to 1960.

Contact Robin or Lianne first before heading out..

September 12, 2005

MONDAY'S POSTS...

We have a LOT of posts today requesting supplies and including information for fosters. Be sure to scroll down and read all of today's entries - there are quite a few.

Also, please check back frequently throughout the day (and evening, since I work nights) for new posts. I am trying to squeeze as many in as I can between my "regular" job. I'm getting about 150 emails a day, so this is a piecemeal process.

That being said, a big THANK YOU to all of you who are reading and willing to help!

September 12, 2005

CRATES needed for rescue trip!

Volunteers with In Solidary With Animals have already left on one rescue trip.. and they're already making plans for their next trip. First thing on the list is CRATES! You can find the rest of ISAW's wish list here.

September 12, 2005

PHOTOS, PHOTOS, PHOTOS

I finally have a central site for photos that people have sent me. Head to http://www.baileyindy.com/gallery to see what I've collected so far. If you have any digital photos to share of Katrina pet related stories, send 'em to lforonda@khou.com with KATRINA PET PHOTOS in the subject line.

September 12, 2005

Hay is for horses.. and they need more!

The rescued horses in Louisiana need hay.. and you can help.. They're going through 300 bales a day where they're being shelterd in Gonzales..

You can drop off hay at the Callegari Equestrian Club on 1275 N. Eldridge in Cypress. It's between Grant Rd and Cypress N. Houston, located right on Cypress Creek. This is between 290 and 249 fairly close to 1960. If you are not a member of Callegari, please call ahead for Lianne at 832-928-9155 or Kathi at 713-822-2552 or Candace at 281-468-0484.

Wednesday, they're going to need help loading up that hay, starting at 6pm at Callegari. The plan is to leave Callegari at 7:00 AM Thursday for the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana. Tami Earl, generously offers to be a driver with her own flatbed will haul one rig, we seek additional semi-trailers, trucks w/ trailers or flatbeds.

September 12, 2005

News from the Tylertown Sanctuary with Bestfriends.org

There are good pictures and good stories. Click here, here, and here for more. I have gotten word the humans might be running short of supplies. When I get more information I'll post..

September 12, 2005

The military are in the business of rescuing animals, too!

This is a great story that ran this weekend. Here's the video.

September 12, 2005

ANIMALS COMING IN FROM LOUISIANA

FOR POTENTIAL FOSTERS.. from Laura Carlock, who's been doing a bang-up job of coordinating a lot of this:

A group of rescuers are attempting this week to go in to Louisiana and bring Katrina animals back. Unfortunately, it is VERY difficult to coordinate these runs, and information is changing hourly. Laura Carlock has the list of fosters, but has refrained from making calls until she can get better information. It is possible that approximately 50 animals may come in this evening (Monday, Sept. 12) and another 30 or so tomorrow evening (Tuesday, Sept. 13).

We will need everyone's patience and flexibility. If you have signed up as a foster and are flexible, please email Laura immediately at lcarlock@gibbs-bruns.com. The most information we will have on the incoming animals is their size and sex. We will not know housebroken or good with kids. Hopefully, by the time of pickup we will have some insight regarding good with dogs. These babies will need your understanding and patience.

If the transports happen, pickup will most likely be late in the evening (around 11:00 PM) and at the back of the Marriot hotel at 610 and TC Jester. The pickup times will be late because the trailers are not air conditioned, and we don't want to travel in the direct sunlight. Also, we will not be able to drop animals off and, again, will need your patience.

Again, please email Laura if you have the requisite flexibility. Thank you!!

September 12, 2005

Blind beagle is back with his Golden friend

Ok, you all know I'm Golden-biased.. but this is just a great story of two dog bosom buddies who were reunited after Katrina.. Click herefor the full story of Spud and Sheba.

September 12, 2005

Experience vet techs/ vets needed in Louisiana

An appeal for help --

We are running on empty here in South Louisiana and Gulf Coast animal rescue work and need volunteer help!

Veterinarians and vet techs are needed urgently at the Lamar-Dixon
Center in Gonzalez, Louisiana. We also need vets and techs to relieve the staff at the LSU Hurricane Animal Shelter. Animals arriving at Lamar Dixon -- those most recently rescued -- need people experienced with rehydration and re-feeding, also need rehydration supplies (fluids, etc) and refeeding supplies (Science Diet a/d, etc.) Contact Dr. Thistlewaite at LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, 225-578-9900.

If you are an experienced animal rescue worker, shelter worker, shelter volunteer, or an experienced amateur animal handler who is willing to scrub cages and so forth, you are needed for animal care at Lamar-Dixon. They are desperate for help. This is get-down-and-dirty work. Call volunteer coordinator Cathy Wells at 225-772-8609; 225-342-1126; or 225-755-1484.

Non-professional volunteers, please realize that this is VERY hard,
dirty work. Not a situation to bring little kids to cuddle the kittens. There will be time for that later. Right now we just need the animals washed, clean cages, feeding and watering.

Please also contact any professional humane officers you know or your
local animal control agency and urge them to send at least one officer to help with out efforts. These people can contact the Louisiana Animal Control Association at 225-772-3394.

September 12, 2005

Texas oil tycoon charters flight to help Katrina's pet victims

The first major airlift of dogs from the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast left Louisiana on Sunday, carrying about 80 pets to new temporary homes in California.

The Continental Airlines flight from Baton Rouge, La., was chartered for about $50,000 by Texas oil tycoon Boone Pickens and his wife, Madeleine, in a movement dubbed "Operation Pet Lift." Check out the video of the story here..

September 12, 2005

Finally transferring animals out of the Gonzales, LA shelter

There's been great concern about the shelter in Gonzales, Louisiana being filled to capacity. Fortunately, many of those animals have finally gotten the approval to be shipped out. Here's the story from the US Humane Society.

September 12, 2005

Know anyone near Biloxi willing to send supplies?

Just got this in in reference to a Humane Society in Biloxi, MS. I'm not sure exactly which facility this is, but if you're near the area, perhaps you can help:

We have a drop off location for animal supplies for Biloxi's Humane Society and their local rescue/volunteers , and the address is:

Biloxi Police Department,
170 Porter Avenue, Biloxi
phone 228-392-0641

Captain Patterson agrees to accept supplies from out of town rescuers
for their local Humane Society/rescuer. PLEASE DO NOT CALL UNLESS YOU
MUST for direction if you are from out of town. They need their phones
to be cleared for help for their local citizens.

Bring supplies to the back of the police department. They have a decent space back there. If there is a problem, go to the front and ask for specific area in the back.

Local rescue/Humane Society will pick up supplies from Biloxi Police Dept. This is the most visible place, with a working phone, and they have people answer the phone.

September 12, 2005

Helping Louisiana horse victims

From the LSU's School of Veterinary Medicine:

The best way for people wanting to help the Louisiana horse victims of Hurricane Katrina with rescue, recovery, veterinary care and sheltering, is to make a monetary contribution and to make sure the money gets to the right place (and help the horses) is to provide monetary donations through the following:

Make check payable to: LVMA Equine Committee
Memo Line of Check: Horse Hurricane Relief
Mail to: Dr. Sonny Corley
Co-Char, LVMA Equine Committee
121 E. Gloria Switch
Lafayette, LA 70507

Please pass this along to anyone interested in helping the horses in
Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your support.

Rustin M. Moore, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS
Professor, Equine Surgery
Service Chief, Equine Medicine and Surgery
Director, Equine Health Studies Program
School of Veterinary Medicine
Louisiana State University

September 12, 2005

Louisiana SPCA shelter in Gonzales needs supplies

As of Friday night, the Gonzales shelter is in dire need of large to
extra large crates, box fans (and bungee cords to tie them up), and
stainless steel food/water bowls. Rescuers are bringing in animals by
the truckloads...

You may ship directly to:

LA-SPCA Katrina Relief
9039 St. Landry Road
Gonzales, LA 70737
http://www.lamardixonexpocenter.com

September 12, 2005

Second Chance Pets volunteers going to LA - need YOUR help!

Amber Aydell and Sarah Enticknap,volunteers with Second Chance Pets are returning to Gonzales to the Lamar Dixon Expo Center next Tuesday night thru Sunday night. We are going to be taking supplies and our own man power into the Disaster area to help care for the many many animals at the emergency shelter there. To help us we need..

1. Either a small cargo trailer(bumper pull/tagalong) or a pop up camper. It is a primitive site, no power, no water,no provisions, we have to take everything we need for the time we are there.There are showers and electricity that we may borrow at the expo center itself.

2. Medical supplies, box fans, wire crates and pens, bungee cords, stainless steel bowls and buckets.

3. Digital media to report back with type SD smart cards, double AA
batteries (we have 1 digital camera and a laptop)

4. Camping gear (we have a 2 person tent)

5. Gas cards, or anything else you want to send with us to deliver to the other workers. Second Chance Pets will receipt you for your tax deductible donations!

6. Hip Waders or Full Body Wet suits for areas where you need to go in the water (THE WATER IS TOXIC)

7. Thick Plastic Gloves - Several Pairs

8. Clorox to disinfect/decontaminate items every day - or more often.
Hand cleaner to use in the field that has an Alcohol base.

9. Polaroids (they take a picture of the animal as it comes in and put it with its paperwork)

10. GPS Navigation Units

Contact:
Amber Aydell at asaydell@yahoo.com or Sarah Enticknap at scp@pdq.net
cell phone is 713-516-7241

September 12, 2005

Do you have a boat to go help rescue animals?

Received this in an email..

an ASPCA alert calling for boats, which are desperately needed by rescuers. 12-15 foot flat bottom boats with outboard motors are ideal, but the alert suggests that boats of any kind are needed immediately. If you have any way of getting a boat to the rescue teams, please do. The alert says, "The staging area is in Gonzales LA. Lamar-Dixon Horse Expo Center 9039 Saint Landry Rd. From Baton Rouge > I-10 Eastbound as though driving to New Orleans > Head for the city of Gonzales > Exit 177 (Tanger Mall and Lamar Dixon Center) Report to the ASPCA volunteer center ASAP. And the alert concludes, "PLEASE GIVE THIS WIDEST DISSEMINATION IN ANY WAY YOU CAN AS WE ARE OUT OF TIME."

September 12, 2005

Warning for horse owners!

Got this link from someone who says unscrupulous people may be stealing horses in Mississippi!

September 12, 2005

Much more updates - and news Monday late AM

I have a lot of information that came in Sunday. I'll get it all up in the late morning so we can round up the troops. We are getting a lot more calls for crates, crates and more crates and volunteers. So, before packing up the car to head out be sure to check out what I'll be posting..

September 10, 2005

UPDATE from the HSUS

From the daily dispatch of the HSUS...

Working against the clock in an all-out effort to save the animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina, The Humane Society of the United States is reporting that relief workers are making very tangible progress and will sustain this pace as long as necessary. That said, there are still thousands of animals at risk, and The HSUS is appealing to FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, and the Department of Defense to help augment its rescue efforts.

With upwards of 400 HSUS animal response team members deployed in the New Orleans area and Mississippi and more on the way, nearly 3000 animals have been rescued and more than 180 dogs have been reunited with their families. Yesterday alone, 600 dogs and cats were rescued.

It's an uphill battle. Check out some of the HSUS's latest rescue stories here and here.

September 10, 2005

Meanwhile, back on the homefront..

Alice Sarmiento at the HSPCA says..

There have been more than 130 happy reunions between loving owners and their beloved pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina. We anticipate many more happy scenes as evacuees begin rebuilding their lives. To help them in their efforts, the Houston SPCA continues to provide free food, collars, bowls, leashes and other pet-related supplies to families in need.

September 10, 2005

Urgent Supplies needed for the LA SPCA Gonzales Shelter

As of Friday night, the Gonzales shelter is in dire need of large to extra large crates, box fans (and bungee cords to tie them up), and stainless steel food/water bowls. Rescuers are bringing in animals by the truckloads...

You may ship directly to:

LA-SPCA Katrina Relief
9039 St. Landry Road
Gonzales, LA 70737
http://www.lamardixonexpocenter.com

September 9, 2005

UPDATE Habitat for Horses/LSER

From Robin Young who's working with Habitat for Horses/LSER in Louisiana..

See more
pictures here!

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Joe Ellis, Willie Lambright, Rocky Whitman and myself, we are overwhelmed with pride by the immediate response that each of you have provided in support by circulating my Emails, making calls to help, donations of supplies, locating hauling rigs, finding pasture or barns, etc... If your name is on this Email, then you heard our plea, you helped and we THANK YOU so much. We have also received thank you=s from that of the LSU vets and vet techs.

Because you care and have extended your helping hand and support, please allow this note to keep you apprised on how the rescue operation is progressing (through the eyes and experiences of Joe, Willie and Rocky).

September 9, 2005

LOUISIANA SPCA PLEADS FOR YOUR HELP

New Orleans Animal Rescue in Peril. Help urgently required!

Contact: Dana Nesbitt (President), Humane Society, LA
Cell: 901-268-4619 (New CORRECT number!) Email: humaneLA@cs.com

NEW ORLEANS, SEP 8, 2005 -- Despite the heroic efforts of volunteers
and animal groups from both Louisiana and around the country, time
is running out for the animals trapped in New Orleans, after the
devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Help is desperately required to
rescue animals trapped in the flooded ruins of New Orleans or
roaming the streets in hungry packs.

September 9, 2005

NEED TRUCKS/SUPPLIES FOR MISSISSIPPI NOW...

Elizabeth Asher, a well known animal advocate, is pleading for help for her boyfriend.. who is on the way to the Best Friends Animal Society Shelter in Tylertown, Mississippi. Here is what she emailed us..

RIGHT NOW John needs truck drivers that can go (today) to the St. Francis Animal Sanctuary in Tylertown, MS. If you can send truck drivers our way. Please call my cell 713-385-6757, or a supply of tarps, vet supplies, IV kits for cats and dogs - or anything you can find in bulk!

September 9, 2005

The dire plight of animals in the disaster area

Yes, I've seen it - and you may have seen it too. I don't know who's ordering what, or who has given the authority (I am getting different stories) but the main fact remains that now, some people have decided to take it upon thenselves to shoot dogs in the New Orleans area. I heard that from the mouth of someone who was doing the shooting. Yes, I am just as horrified as you are. Please, however, read this from Veni Harlan in Baton Rouge..

this video shows a couple of citizens shooting dogs out of ignorance. They do not know there are resources. the rescue crews just got in this monday and are scrambling to get the animals out. THOUSANDS have been rescued. on cnn today, general honore is handing out crates to his people. Do not let the minority and tv sensationalism distract you from the majority working day and night rescuing animals. Support these organizations with your $ and encourage everyone you know to adopt a katrina pet.

September 9, 2005

Temporary Vet Clinic for evacuee pets by the Dome..

From Colleen Hodges of the Harris County Animal Control...

The Veterinary First Aid Clinic is on ----not at the dome of course, but directly across the street. SNAP pulled in some previous contacts and got permission for us to use the PETsMART parking lot directly across from the dome. Clinic hours are Monday, September 12, from 10AM - 2PM and services will be free for anyone from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. We will offer dog & cat vaccinations, heartworm tests, flea treatments, and general first aid. We need folks to help with dog control, pooper scoop team, filling out paperwork, and all the activities that go along with a medical clinic. Please let me know who can help. (chodges@harriscountyhealth.com or 281-999-8531). We will set up at 9:00 AM on Monday morning.

This is gonna be fun! Hot, furry, dirty, messy....all the stuff we animal folks really enjoy!

September 8, 2005

31 dogs, a few cats, and a goose.

See more
pictures here!

Luckily for her, she drove up to the Courtyard Marriott at BrookHollow and found some angels ready to help. The Brookstone engineering company next door let her stay in its parking lot. Brookstone (or the nice man who owns the property - I'm getting conflicting reports) donated an air conditioned trailer for her animals, built a makeshift fenced in area as a running area for her dogs, and brought her tents and food. Dozens of volunteers have come by to help her walk her dogs, bringing food, treats, chew bones, water bowls, and support.

Renee has enough food and treats for her pets to last for a few weeks, however some of the time the dogs are outside and the fear of disease from mosquitos and fleas is very real. She would be very interested and grateful if any vet clinics or individuals could possibly provide any Frontline or Heartgard for her animals. She has 15 small dogs, 8 medium and 8 large ones. Any help would be deeply appreciated. She hopes to be able to return to Metarie in several weeks, although she says the folks in Houston sure are nice and caring! 

Renee can be reached by calling 713-688-7711. She's in room 212 at the Marriott. Here's a map.

September 8, 2005

Rescuing a porker..

September 8, 2005

UPDATE from the Houston Humane Society

From Courtney Frank.

Here's just a little update on what we're doing here at the Humane Society for evacuees. We've extended our free medical care indefinitely. In addition, our animal cruelty officers are expected to arrive in New Orleans by tomorrow afternoon, to assist other law enforcement agencies in evacuating some of the strays and other animals left behind in New Orleans. I will, of course, keep you updated on their progress down there.

September 8, 2005

Incredible video of a dog rescue in New Orleans

The rescues continue. Here is video of a lucky dog being rescued from the remains of a house in New Orleans. There's also a nice slideshow of HSUS rescue efforts here. Check out this field report.

September 8, 2005

Report from an animal volunteer on the front lines

I received the following email from Amber Stubbs-Aydell, who works with Second Chance Pets, as well as in an advisory capacity to Alvin and Galveston County animal groups. She and a friend went into Louisiana on their own to look for pets. Here is the report she sent me. The text in red is clarification sent to me later after I asked her a few questions about the report.

Before you read this, be aware that the major animal groups that I have spoken with (Best Friends Animal Society, SPCA) are highly recommending against anyone going in there on their own. They're trying to organize a coordinated effort. That said, read on...

See more
pictures here!

Sarah Enticknap of SCP and I drove to LSU yesterday to pick up dogs for the Houston Area Dog Rescue Groups to foster. (I asked about getting in to Louisiana. Amber said it's tough, but if you write the name of the group you represent in auto windshield paint on your car,they are nicer and don't ask as many questions..Wear your volunteer or group logo shirts, take extras.)
When we got there, they sent us on to the "base camp" shelter at Lamar Dixon coliseum in Gonzales La. It was a wild goose chase.

It is not going on without a hitch though.The dogs have to wait 2 weeks to be released, by Louisiana law (Louisiana has a 2 week waiting period for strays as opposed to the three day wait we have in Houston). But, we will go back before then to volunteer.

We met a couple of vets from Metairie who were living in Pearland temporarily and had hooked up with Dr. Carter, the Sr. Medical Director of Houston's VCA vet clinics. They had travelled there with a mobile surgical clinic and were turned down when they offered their services! It seems that although the LA SPCA and HSUS are basically working alongside each other, they are in a battle for control.

And, like a good ole boys network, if you don't know a bigwig, you cannot play. What a waste of valuable resources! And Dr.Kahn was from that area! It's his home! Until we chatted up the ASPCA volunteer coordinator, the LA SPCA and HSUS administrative people treated us like lepers. Then, all of the sudden we were "OK" to talk to and offer assistance in our quest. I know they are tired and stressed, but this was downright territorial.

Of all of the workers, the ACO's and Search and Rescue teams and guards we met were the most helpful and friendly, though tired and dirty. They are working so hard to help these animals, if only the bureaucrats would work as selflessly. We vowed to return and help them as they expect at least 200 animals a day per Sandy with the ASPCA.

We had no problem finding gas and it is much cheaper there,only $2.58 per gallon. I guess the worst part was coming home empty handed, fighting baton Rouge traffic (which was only slightly worse than normal!). The best part was meeting people from the four corners of our country,and seeing for ourselves firsthand what we can do when we try. I wish the powers in charge were better at coordinating and I will never forget the smiling tired ACO from Washington DC who was playing with and hugging on a small beagle who was thrilled to be in loving hands. We met a great SART from Port Arthur, comprised of a tired rescuer and his lovely bloodhound Beaudreaux. They are an amazing team, and both were such sweet guys. We feel better knowing we saw it for ourselves and didn't have to rely on second or third or fourth hand information.

September 8, 2005

The U.S. Air Force "Aims high" - even for the smallest ones..

September 8, 2005

If you're thinking about heading to Louisiana.. read this..

From Best Friends Animal Society, which is collecting names of volunteers..

September 7, 2005 : 5:10 PM ET

We would like to extend our most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contacted us with their generous offers of help and support. The volume of response to our call for assistance is unprecedented!

Even though we have staff and volunteers working overtime returning the hundreds of calls and emails that are coming in on a daily basis, we're not able to get back to all of you in a timely manner. Please be assured that we will contact each of you as we're able, but for now, here's some information that you may find helpful:

We're asking people not to go into the area on their own. If you have contacted Best Friends about transport or volunteering with our relief program please know that we are returning your calls to gather information about your skills and experience. The requirements of the relief center change daily and we're dispatching people into the area based on the current needs.

And this..

September 7, 2005 : 4:02 PM ET

The Best Friends crew is heading into New Orleans with protective gear.

The mayor of New Orleans has insisted on a total evacuation - no one is to be left behind and will be removed by force if necessary. A hepatitis epidemic has broken out because of the E. Coli bacteria in the standing water. All rescue workers have been advised not to get any water on their skin.

Our team, which includes volunteer veterinarian Debbie Rykoff, is picking up hip waders and getting hepatitis vaccinations before heading into town. They are still working with the military and will continue to sweep the city for stray animals. All of the animals will need to be bathed. They have been drinking the contaminated water and, therefore, will need special care and handling.

Email hrf@bestfriends.org if you want to help..

September 8, 2005

Updates coming!

Sorry I'm late again. I spent the morning sorting clothes at the Star of Hope, and I got in to work late... I'll post everything I have later..

What's to come:

1. a report from a Houston woman who went to rescue animals in Louisiana.. and HAD TO come back empty handed!

2. pictures of happy pet reunions between evacuees at the Houston SPCA

3. pictures of the woman who's camped out by a nearby hotel with her 30+ dogs and one goose.. and how you can help

4. and money needed to help supply temporary shelters in the hurricane zone.

5. new information for would-be foster families

September 7, 2005

UPDATE: A heartbreaking/heartwarming report from the HSUS

Trying to save as many animals as they can.. read the rescuer's latest report here.

September 7, 2005

A dog rescue.. aired on KHOU!

Our reporter Jeff McShan had a live shot on our 10 o'clock newscast tonight (Wednesday). He was riding in a boat with Texas game wardens, who were trying to convince the residents who didn't want to leave.. to leave! They weren't having much luck, until they came upon a barking brown and white spotted dog who'd taken shelter in a tree.

So, I'm sitting on our set, watching the story during the newscast, and I see them looking at this dog, and I'm screaming at the screen (haven't we all yelled at our TV?) "Get the dog!" They were obviously listening - (well, maybe not - they just have big hearts) and they pulled that puppy into the boat. If I had a tail I would have been wagging it. Jeff said that dog seemed to be the only happy evacuee the rescuers were able to retrieve today.

I'll see if we can post a picture of the rescue or the video when our webmasters get in tomorrow.

September 7, 2005

UPDATE for United Animal Nations

It's working with shelters in Mississippi and Louisiana. You can find its latest report here.

September 7, 2005

UPDATE from Bestfriends.org (with pictures!)

Bestfriends.org volunteers report on the hazardous conditions they and the animals face here. You can also see some very good photos of animal rescues from Orleans Parish on this page.

September 7, 2005

UPDATE from the HSPCA and Harris Co. Animal Control

Here are few tidbits from the Houston SPCA and Harris County Animal Control:

• The ASPCA's daily update page reports on joint efforts between the HSPCA and other groups to retrieve animals. HSPCA just received a $50,000 grant from the ASPCA to help care for the 500 dogs and cats the HSPCA is caring for in a temporary shelter in Gonzales, LA.

The HSPCA reports an average of 10-12 evacuees (these are the evacuees who had to temporarily give up their pets to the shelter while the humans looked for a place to stay) are returning to the HSPCA for happy reunions with their pets. Here's a page of pictures and happy stories.

Harris County Animal Control helped with intake of evacuee pets at the Astrodome as people were brought in from Louisiana. Check out the pictures here.

September 7, 2005

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to staff pet hotline

The Houston SPCA needs volunteers to help staff its pet hotline, Monday through Friday from 9 to 5. I've seen it, and it's BUSY. People are registering to foster, to report lost pets, to ask if their pets are at the shelter, and finding out how to get their pet evacuees veterinary care. Here's how to help..

September 7, 2005

UPDATE from the IFAW

Hurricane grants sent to help animal rescue organizations

IFAW wired a $10,000 grant to the Houston SPCA.

The money is going towards animal transportation, housing and care for the hundreds of animals being rescued from the Hurricane Katrina affected areas.

A second grant of $10,000 has also been made to the Mississippi Animal Rescue League (MARL). This grant is being sent with a vet to assist in animal care and spay/neuter activities. It will purchase much needed medical equipment such as syringes, gauze, vet-wrap, medical tape, antiboitic ointment, latex gloves, dog and cat vaccines and more. A third grant of $10,000 to the Louisiana SPCA (LA SPCA) is also in process.

September 7, 2005

Suggestion for cat litter..

This is from Betty King..

I just wanted to pass along a suggestion to any people who are helping to shelter cats. I have found that hand shredded office paper works great for cat litter and is really a lot less messy than any bought litter and certainly much cheaper.

I take white paper that has been tossed out for recycle and shred it up at night by hand (no need to use a machine shredder (as that would be too fine). I lay a green sheet in the bottom of the litter tray and then take a few handfuls of shredded white paper and throw it in for litter. Once in the morning and once at night I just dump it in the garbage and make a
new box. Its quick, its easy, and works great. My cat took to it right away.

It doesn't take any time to make some paper litter up. Newspaper works too, but I don't want ink on kitty's paws.

September 7, 2005

Donations to help horses

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has sent up a fund to help equine victims of Katrina. Click here for more information.

September 7, 2005

Dog-Fest in Tomball taking donations..

This Saturday, you're going to see a lot of wagging tails at Juergen's Park in Tomball during Dog-Fest! The good folks there will be taking donations for shelters in need. You can get all the information you need at the Dog-Fest website..

September 7, 2005

Waveland animals and rescuers barred from Mississippi?

I'm getting several emails about animals in dire need in Waveland, Mississippi (about 20 miles west of Gulfport, and reports from In Defense of Animals/Project Hope (that report is here) that its crews are sitting on a truckload of supplies and unable to get into the stricken area. Believe me, I am just as frustrated as you are. From what I can tell, officials are trying to make this an orderly process and a safe one.

September 6, 2005

Bringing the cavalry in for the horses

From Habitat for Horses/Lone Star Equine Rescue..

September 6, 2005

INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL FOSTER HOMES

****Please do not leave requests to foster in the comments sections after blog posts. If you'd like to foster, email PETEVENTS@BAILEYINDY.COM. Include your name, telephone number (number is a MUST), area of town, and what you are willing to foster.****

I've had so many emails from people who want to foster animals. I have collected a huge list and many of you are waiting for phone calls. After visiting the HSPCA today, here's what I've been able to come up with about the current need for fosters..

September 6, 2005

Today's story from the Houston SPCA

I headed over to the Houston SPCA to see how things were going at "Checkpoint Charlie" for Katrina pet evacuees. They've had more than 900 pets come through. Many have been adopted out or sent to other facilities. Even more are animals that are owned by evacuees who couldn't keep them at whatever shelter or hotel they're staying at. Their hotline number (713-802-0555) is ringing off the hook with people looking for their pets or wanting to help. You can see the story that aired today here.

When the animals left behind and the stray animals are picked up in Louisiana and Mississippi, that's when the shelter is going to get crowded. I am not sure whether they will need fosters, but I'll let you know as soon as I do.

September 6, 2005

Report from the New Orleans Zoo..

I've had some people asking what's happened at the Audubon Zoo and other animal facilities in New Orleans. The fish at the Aquarium haven't fared well. Two otters have died and a whooping crane is missing. You can read more in this CNN online story here.

Looks like the Houston Zoo has been getting calls from well wishers on how to help. DON'T call the Houston Zoo! The American Zoo and Aquarium Association is posting hurricane updates here, and may be one place to contact. Another is the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Head to its website for information on how you can help.

September 6, 2005

Petfinder.com working on lost pets database

From Petfinder.com..

Our programmers are currently hard at work developing a comprehensive database to aid the pets affected by Hurricane Katrina. We plan to have it operational within the next few days.

September 6, 2005

UPDATE from Noah's Wish

Squirrels, iguanas, ferrets, and dogs and cats, of course: they're part of the 269 animals being cared for by the good hearted volunteers from Noah's Wish, who've set up camp in Slidell. Their website is frequently updated with news and photos of the animals they've saved. Here is today's update. Be warned, though: the page is spread all over the place. You may have to scroll right and left to check out all of the pictures, but it's worth it: animals being rescued, finally safe, with another chance at life.

September 6, 2005

Updates coming.. standby!

I'm up to my ears in KHOU work. I headed over to Houston's SPCA today for a story that'll run at five and a bit at ten. I'll update you on that.. and the rest of the day's animal news.. after I'm finished with the 5PM newscast..

September 6, 2005

Why our pets are so important..

September 5, 2005

Snowball and Shooting Animals? What's the deal?

You all already know about Snowball, the Bichon Frise that had to be left behind in New Orleans; her young owner cried himself sick. Has Snowball been found? What about the email circulating that officers are shooting animals on sight? What's FACT and what's FICTION?

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 6 - THE SNOWBALL INFORMATION AT THE ASPCA'S WEBSITE WAS REMOVED THIS MORNING - I AM MORE INCLINED THAN EVER TO BELIEVE THAT THE EARLY REPORT THAT SNOWBALL WAS FOUND.. IS FALSE.

BUT.. the forums on bestfriends.org are raging about this same question, and some people aren't so sure. You can read their debate about Snowball here. We likely won't know for sure until Snowball and his owner are reunited.

September 5, 2005

UPDATE from the IFAW

The International Fund for Animal Welfare's rescue crews say the situation looks bad in New Orleans. Read its daily report here.

September 5, 2005

UPDATE from the ASPCA

The ASPCA has received several emails about animals stranded at the Windy Boggs Medical Center, also known as Murphy's Animal Hospital. The reports have one dedicated doctor who stayed behind to be with them. Read the latest update here.

September 5, 2005

UPDATE from Noah's Wish in Slidell

September 5, 2005

UPDATE from the U.S. Humane Society

From the Humane Society of the U.S... Here is some great video of animals being rescued from the Lousiana Superdome!

September 5, 2005

"Be Kind" dog collar to benefit Katrina's pet victims

September 5, 2005

Petfinder.com may list photos of rescued animals

I'm still trying to confirm this, but I did see it on a crawl at the bottom of the screen on CNN: The Louisiana SPCA is supposed to start posting pictures of rescued animals on the website Petfinder.com.

September 5, 2005

Sunday night/Early Monday Update

Here is the latest news I've been able to find about the rescue/relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina pets:

September 4, 2005

Animal rescuers hope to enter New Orleans Sunday AM

I've received several emails from people who are very concerned that animal rescuers haven't been able to get in to New Orleans. I read tonight that the Humane Society and the Louisiana SPCA are going in tomorrow morning. You can read the report here.

September 3, 2005

Pet Rescue ongoing in Gulfport, MI

From the Humane Society of the US..

September 3, 2005

Saturday at CAP and the HSPCA

My sister and I hit the store today for pet supplies for two of our local shelters. I forgot my camera, so my cameraphone's lower resolution photos will have to do:

Citizens for Animal Protection

Houston SPCA

The Houston SPCA (map here) is the main animal shelter with an agreement with the Red Cross to take on pet evacuees. As such, it's bursting at the seams. The front of the SPCA looks like a "donations triage," with volunteers lined up to sort donations as soon as they come in.

Inside, an area that would usually house the puppies has been blocked off to take all of the dogs from the Astrodome evacuees. One volunteer there pointed me to a dog and said "This dog was given to a complete stranger. His owners didn't think they'd be able to get out of New Orleans, so they gave the man the dog with a promise he'd take it to safety. When he arrived in Houston, he turned the dog over to the SPCA."

This is one of the many evacuee dogs just hanging out at the shelter. It is incredibly busy there, but the SPCA certainly looks like it has more than enough volunteers to make sure the dogs are cared for.

Volunteer Laura has found a friend! The SPCA needs cash donations most of all, but volunteers will soon go to Louisiana to care for the animals left behind. They'll need walkie-talkies, first aid kits, and ice chests, among other things. You can find donation lists on the SPCA's home page as well as an online link. There are also several volunteers working a phone bank answering calls about evacuee pets, hoping to bring lost pets and owners back together. That number is 713-802-0555 and it's open from 9-5.

I'll head out to the Humane Society tomorrow..

September 3, 2005

Stand Down on Galveston Shelter Pet Evacuees

Looks like we got a bit overeager.. I've just received a note from the Galveston Animal Shelter that things are OK there.. Here's Caroline:

September 3, 2005

Can you help foster these hurricane evacuees?

September 3, 2005

Humane Society of the U.S. on the ground..

From the HSUS action alert..

September 2, 2005

Updated Rescue List
Last post Friday night..

All right, folks. I am leaving it up to you now. I've posted as much as I can that will hopefully take you into the weekend. I have a few more tidbits that I will post on Monday. The latest:

1. I've uploaded a final copy of the rescue list. I am not able to take any more fosters - we have plenty now! Click HERE for the list of pet boarding locations. It has been updated with the latest "official" shelter information from the HSPCA, Humane Society, SNAP, etc., as well as individual volunteers and private boarding companies that are offering discounted rates. To print it, be sure you set your printer to "landscape" mode instead of "portrait". I have also eliminated the extra white space at the bottom, so you'll only get about seven pages.


2. HERE is the list of individual Red Cross shelters around the Houston area as of Friday night. If you have a hankering to drive around this weekend (with gasoline prices.. oh, that's another story) you might want to take a printed copy of the list to evacuees who might be at the shelters, unable to take their pets inside.


3. If you are near any hotels caring for evacuees, why not drop off a copy of the list to their lobby, as well?


4. Please scroll down the list of posts. There are several wish lists for supplies at shelters if you'd like to donate that.

Belly scratches to all of your pets..

September 2, 2005

Anyone have a stackable washer/dryer?

From Allie of Cocker Spaniel Rescue..

September 2, 2005

Houston Humane Society's wishlist

HHS also needs supplies. Here is their wishlist.

September 2, 2005

Greenspoint Hotel is taking pets

The Greenspoint Hotel Sofitel is taking pets, no additional charge. the hotel is at 425 North Sam Houston Parkway East, 281-445-9000.

September 2, 2005

Standby for additional updates

I have more updates to the list, including offers of help from SNAP. I'm processing as quickly as possible!

For now, I have to go home and walk the doggies.. They're hungry, too!

September 2, 2005

Volunteers needed to distribute list!

I have finally compiled our rescue/foster list, with more than 100 people and companies who have volunteered to take on pet evacuees. I have sent it to the CEO of Houston's Red Cross. However, I am sure he is up to his eyeballs in worrying about the two-legged evacuees (UPDATE: I just got an email from the CEO saying he had received it and would distribute it to shelters).

Here's the deal. I don't know what the situation is as the Astrodome/Reliant Center/George R. Brown - whether Harris County Animal Control or HSCPA is taking in pet evacuees. I DO know many people who've been given the option didn't want to release their pets. However, at the smaller Red Cross shelters, there are people there with their pets outside who might need your help. If any volunteers would like to physically head out to the shelters to hand this list to people outside with their pets, please feel free to print it out.

I have also linked to an Excel file if you would like it in that form. You may also be getting calls or questions from hotels; this list might be of use to them, as well!

September 2, 2005

CAP needs food and donations

From Sherry Nassar:

CAP is 11925 Katy Freeway near the Beltway..

September 1, 2005

Pals for Pooches

From Evelyn at Pals for Pooches:

September 1, 2005

Best Friends Pet Centers helping hurricane pets

From Best Friends Centers..

September 1, 2005

Animal volunteer registration CLOSED

Thank you to all who submitted names to me volunteering to house animals. I am forwarding a list of more than 100 people to the Red Cross to have them distributed at shelter sites.

If you'd like to try to help one on one, and if you live near one of the shelter sites, you might consider driving by just to see if you see anyone outside with their pets. Your call.

I'll have more information, as well as updates about efforts to rescue the animals there, tomorrow. For now, I am giving my fingers a rest.

You've all been GREAT. I will try to email each of you personally.. though it will take a bit of time... Thank you.

September 1, 2005

Food on its way to Baytown Red Cross shelter

September 1, 2005

ANIMAL TEMPORARY HOUSING UPDATE

I have gotten an overwhelming response to my call for foster homes - close to 50 at last count.. I will collect names until 8PM tonight. Please email me directly with info if you want to house evacuee pets: lforonda@khou.com. Include your name, number, address, number and type of animals, cost, and anything else pertinent.

THANK YOU!

September 1, 2005

Louisiana Dogs at BARC

Kelly Cripe has notified me of two Louisiana dogs that somehow ended up at BARC. One had tags from LA. The other was tagging along with him. Before they run out of time, Kelly wanted me to post these to see if someone would give them a new home:

This DOG - ID#A817486
I am a male, black labrador retr mix
The shelter thinks I am about 3 years old
I have been at the shelter since Aug 31, 2005.


This DOG - ID#A817487
I am a male, brown labrador retr mix
The shelter thinks I am about 3 years old

September 1, 2005

Phone numbers to reunite LA residents with lost pets

Recieved from the Houston SPCA:

September 1, 2005

Shure Pets donating proceeds to ASPCA

Received from a local Shure Pets representative:

September 1, 2005

EARS mobilizing to go to Louisiana

The local chapter of the Emergency Animal Rescue Service has been called up to go to Lousiana, and potentially Mississippi. If you have received EARS volunteer training and have your Tetanus and Hepatitis shots, they need you! Here is what I've received from area coordinator Betsy Fleming:

EARS needs two satellite phones. Can anyone help them? Contact Betsy at bafleming@sbcglobal.net!

September 1, 2005

Petco Roundup for supplies!

This comment was posted by a friend from Petco..

Hurricane Katrina Emergency "Round Up" Fundraiser
During an emergency "Round Up" fundraiser now through September 11, 2005, each time you make a purchase at a PETCO store, we'll ask you to Round Up your purchase to the next highest dollar - and we will donate that difference to the PETCO Foundation. All proceeds go to the PETCO Foundation to support animal welfare disaster relief needs within the Gulf Coast region. Or make an online donation to the PETCO Foundation now: https://www.petco.com/Content/Donations.aspx?PC=donations&Nav=158

The Round Up fundraiser may be extended depending on the need and the amount raised. The PETCO Foundation has already provided more than $100,000 worth of assistance to animal welfare agencies in the wake of last year's hurricanes. The PETCO Foundation assists with Disaster Response teams from the Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Association to address the critical animal needs created by the recent weather events. Together we will make a difference.