[dl]

As I know there are many members here that have strong feelings for animals, I wanted to share the information for the Humane Society of the United States. In the wake of Katrina, obviously, the need for aid to humans is immense and will be ongoing. Less publicized is that help is desperately needed for the animals ~ and will be ongoing also.

From the HSUS website this morning:

As the National Guard entered New Orleans to quell civil disorder coming in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, members of the HSUS National Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) worked their way into the nearly obliterated regions of southern Mississippi -- after earlier being denied access to these areas for security reasons -- and also into Louisiana. The situation could not be more urgent in both areas, with reports of animals locked in homes, kennels, veterinary clinics, and other locations. It is a race against time for our first responders on the ground in the stricken areas.
The presence of HSUS personnel on the ground was good news for 120 dogs and cats in Gulfport, Mississippi. There, HSUS team members have begun rescuing these animals from the ravaged community. . . The rescue in Gulfport occurred as three dozen HSUS relief workers extended their reach into devastated areas of Louisiana and Mississippi, working to establish pet-friendly shelters, coordinating animal relief activities with local partners in both government and the nonprofit sector, and seeking to improvise solutions to a host of animal-related emergencies that came in Katrina’s wake.

Another quote from the website:

“Katrina has devastated the Gulf Coast, taking human lives, destroying property, and crippling transport, water, and communications systems,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “The story not as well known to the public is the devastation suffered by the animals in the stricken areas. We know that pets – owned and strays – have been victimized. But there are also countless horses, wild animals, and farm animals who have been killed or are now facing threats to their lives.”

The HSUS Disaster Animal Response Teams (DARTs) deployed immediately to the crisis, landing in Mississippi the day after Katrina did her damage. Now, teams are also ready to assist in Louisiana. But they face the awesome task of overcoming the fact that people are still in need of rescue and relief, that communications and transportation systems are in severe disrepair, and that the physical area affected is of enormous scope. “Katrina did not hit with surgical precision,” added Pacelle. “She laid waste to a huge swath of the Southeast, and it won’t be easy to pick up the pieces.”

Our teams are equipped to respond to the needs of all animals – including pets, horses, farm animals, and wildlife - affected by Katrina and the floodwaters.

The website to the Humane Society of the United States is www.hsus.org/ There are several articles about their rescue efforts and a link to make a donation. As we are trying to find ways to help the many humans in the wake of this tragedy, please remember there are so many helpless, frightened and hungry animals that are in need of aid too.

[snow princess]

Thanks DL for bringing this to light !!

[nugget]

I'm one of those who loves my animals as if they were my children so thanks a million for starting this thread.
Wendy

[Volfe]

hi everyone i'm not staying but am thrilled to read this dl...

I left my two cats and cry daily for them.

Maia

[dpen6]

Dl,

Just saw on the news that Boston is sending done vets, supplies and help for the animals.. Its wonderful they are being thought of also. Saw so many pictures of people carrying there little dogs. There was one story of an elderly cpuple that were just rescued today from their home. They said.they had their little bitty dog...it was one of those little yip yip mexican dogs(sorry don't know the name) they said they had decided from the beginning that if all three could not be rescued then none of them would....all three got rescued. It brought tears to my eyes!

Ok...the dog they had was on an ad for a mexican resturant..I think.....help me out here!!

[dl]

Volfe ~ Good to see you stop by. MissngLinkInFl and I were talking last night and wondering how you were and where you were.

Have you ~ or someone you know ~ contacted the Humane Society and alerted them that you have cats back at home and given them your address? The phone number is (202) 452-1100.

Following is a quote about some of the calls they have been receiving.

Take care. Prayers and good thoughts are with you, your children, friends ~ and your cats.

Answering the Call
Until our disaster team checked in with the news from Gulfport, there had been a steady stream of bad news. And the HSUS phone lines have been beset with frantic calls from people desperate for help -- for animals in distress.

Phones began ringing at The HSUS almost as soon as Katrina struck. The grim reality quickly became apparent -- Katrina would be no ordinary storm. The HSUS moved quickly to set up a dedicated call center at its headquarters in the nation’s capital, and dozens of staff members suspended their normal duties to handle external communications, logging thousands of telephone calls and e-mails from around the country -- many from people seeking urgent assistance as they tried to locate, recover, or keep their animal companions in the midst of the disaster.

Many of the calls came from the afflicted city of New Orleans: A man who couldn’t contact a friend with whom he had left his cats. A woman who had boarded animals in a kennel, whose operators she could no longer reach on the telephone. A caller who got no answer at the veterinary clinic where his cocker spaniel was convalescing. A woman seeking help in locating a pet sitter who had been watching five animals. The owner of the golden retriever “Blue,” saying he would grant permission to anybody he had to in order to rescue his stranded dog “by any means necessary.”

Drawing on past experience and planning for disaster scenarios, HSUS staffers did what they could to assist callers and relief workers in all parts of the devastated regions. One North Carolina woman called the HSUS help line fearing for her parents, New Orleans residents who refused to let the Coast Guard evacuate them because their standard poodle Max could not go along. The HSUS team put her in touch with an animal rescuer willing to provide assistance if they could get to a certain location in time. But before they ever reached that location, they happened upon a trucker, who picked them up and took them to safety in Baton Rouge.

As pleas continued to come in from hurricane victims seeking assistance for stranded companion animals of all kinds, HSUS president and CEO Wayne Pacelle urged authorities to clear the way for animal rescue teams to work in New Orleans, where they could effectively address these and other urgent calls for assistance. “The sooner we can set up operations in New Orleans, the greater the chances we can locate and save animals whose lives are in jeopardy. We owe it to them and to those who care about them, and we will give it everything we’ve got.”

Moreover, Pacelle added, rescue and relief activities in distressed communities of Louisiana and Mississippi will remain The HSUS’s first priority in the weeks ahead. “We’re just beginning to get a sense of the work that lies ahead of us,” he said. “But we’re committed to doing all we can. We know that it’s something that our members support, and we’re confident that they’ll demonstrate their faith by contributing in every possible way to the work that we’re doing.”

[dl]

dpen6 ~ LOL ~ "those little yip yip mexican dogs" are Chihuahuas!!! One was the "Taco Bell Chihuahua".

I've seen some heartwarming stories too. One woman sitting in a tree holding her dog. She was rescued by a neighbor in a boat. Saw another man sitting on his roof with his arm around his dog. In one of the articles on the Humane Society's website they show a picture of a man loading his dog into a boat and another of a rescue worker giving a stray puppy covered in mud some water. That is great that the elderly couple was rescued with their dog.

Thanks for sharing that Boston is sending help for the animals. Great news. I think now that more help has arrived for the people, some focus is being brought to needs of the animals.

[donnaparadise]

There was a couple on tv yesterday that bred miniature ponies. 9 out of 12 survived but there was no hay or water for them. He was crying and begging the miniature horse association to come and get them, to come and save them. He was in Sleddall Miss., I believe. Truly heartbreaking!!!!!

Donna

[dl]

donnaparadise ~ I saw that too! Just broke my heart. As the Humane Society has rescue trucks in Miss. ~ they rescued 120 dogs and cats yesterday in Gulfport, Miss. ~ hopefully they came to the rescue of the miniature horses.

For every heartwarming story we hear, I'm afraid there's going to be way more heartbreaking stories.

[nugget]

My husband keeps me out of the room when they are having footage on the animals........

Maia~ Know you're gone for now but I'm glad you got out and have been thinking of you often.
Hang in there hun,
Wendy

[dl]

Here's a toll free number for the Humane Society to give a donation over the phone.

888-259-5431

[BrandyHagz]

Thanks DL, I was just going over my list of "things to do" for tomorrow and realized I needed to find a number so I could get Maia's cats checked on.

Calling now

[BrandyHagz]

Just for an FYI - Hours are 9 AM - 9 PM EST M-S (Seven days a week).

Guess I'll call in the AM

[dl]

BrandyHagz ~ Thanks, I should have included the hours.

I'm glad your calling to alert them about Volfe's cats. Hopefully they will connect with someone in the area that can rescue them. Although it's been a week, if they had enough food and water and the house wasn't leveled there's a good chance they can be rescued. Sure hope so!

The effort of the Humane Society not only helps the animals, it gives relief and peace of mind to the pets concerned human family as well.

[RiverGal]

Before Missy left yesterday to deliver the relief supplies, I was able to get 100 pounds of dogfood and 100 pounds of catfood from the feed store at a good price. She took it with her.

It's a drop in the bucket, but at least some of the many animals who are wandering around will be able to get a full tummy.

Like Wendy, I can't watch the footage on the animals...it just tears my heart out.

Knowing Missy, there is no telling how many furry companions may be coming home with her once the van is emptied.

~Deb