Animal Theory

The Animal Rescue Site is working with Petfinder.com to help reunite animals rescued during natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. It’s worth a visit to the Animal Rescue Site for information aboutcaring for unwanted animals and online activism. Visitors can begin participating easily by clicking the purple button “Feed an Animal in Need”. For every new click, the advertisers on the site pay for bowls of food for animals in need.

John Mabry is one of several volunteers who left their jobs in other states to go to New Orleans to rescue animals. Mabry tells of his time working for Mutt Shack, a team of volunteers that saved about 700 dogs, 300 cats, and even a boa constrictor.

On November 20, Nature on PBS will air a program on animal rescue after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The episode shows scenes from a dog stranded on top of a sinking house to the dolphins who were swept out of their Oceanarium home in MS by a forty foot wave. The coverage also includes the work of animal rescue organizations. Check PBS for local listings. They will also post information on their website beginning November 17, 2005

You are well aware of Hurricane Katrina’s horrendous effect on the people and animals of New Orleans. Now that a few months have passed, we hear less and less about the recovery efforts. So, here are links to sites that tell of animals still being rescued and legislation that is in the works so we can do better for our four-legged friends in times of disaster.

After two months some animals, incredibly, are still being found, emaciated and scared, but alive. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

One woman in New Orleans is still doing a lot for animals being found alive. Jane Garrison of Animal Rescue New Orleans is actively helping remaining animals in need. Ms. Garrison has an update on the link above from Oct. 25. She tells of rescue stories, ways people can volunteer, and the many supplies her effort still needs. Here’s a link to an article MSNBC did about Animal Rescue New Orleans. Consider sending a donation from Entirely Pets and receive a discount.
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Hooved Animal Rescue & Placement HARP in Loranger, LA does not get much news coverage, but they continue to do an incredible job aiding animals affected by Hurricane Katrina. They have helped over 700 horses, over 40 cattle, over 900 dogs and cats, and even chickens and one boa constrictor. With help from a grant from the ASPCA’s Disaster Relief Fund, they operate effectively. Donations, of course, are always still welcome as the work will continue for some time.

The Humane Society of LA is still in need of donations and volunteers.

An Open Letter to the US Department of Homeland Security from the newly formed National Emergency Animal Rescue Coalition. The Coalition is made up of the leading animal advocacy organizations such as the USHS and the ASPCA. They are asking for future evacuation procedures to have plans for the rescue and shelter of animals.

Frequently Asked Questions are answered by the ASPCA - which sites can people visit to still try and locate their missing pets, is the LA/SPCA running, etc.

Truly incredible pictures of animals from New Orleans - Just Thinking About It blog

Updates from Noah’s Wish.

For the latest updates about animal rescue efforts in New Orleans see the links below.

Sign On San Diego “Asked why it is important to do this kind of work, Dr. Mark Goldstein, president of the San Diego Humane Society, replied, “Some people lost everything they own. When you can reunite a family with their pet they have hope. We have seen it happen.
All of the rescue team members are highly trained in handling sick or stranded animals; they know how to approach them and how to read their body language. Most have also worked in previous disaster relief operations, including the devastating Cedar fire of 2003.”
The San Diego Humane Society is still looking to raise $40,000 for their efforts. Visit their website SDHS

School of Veterinary Medicine Louisiana State University They do have plenty of space and have excellent information for those in the area.

ArriveNet 9/7/05 “With the situation for the animals on the Gulf Coast at a critical juncture — as thousands of animals have just a couple of days to live — The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is calling for federal, state, and local responding agencies to immediately assist with animal rescue efforts…”

Humane Society Visit the HSUS to see video footage of the HSUS’s rescue workers as they work feverishly to rescue remaining animals in New Orleans. They have raised over $8 million for animals in New Orleans.

Best Friends & HSUS 9/7/05 “Today, on their third day of access to the cheerless city of New Orleans, members of HSUS’s Disaster Animal Rescue Teams (DART) helped to carry dozens of animals to safety, taking them out of houses, picking them up in the streets, and collecting them from displaced evacuees leaving the city.
One ground-based DART team rescued at least nineteen cats in break-and-enter operations undertaken with permission from authorities. Fourteen other teams were operating across Mississippi and Louisiana….”

Noah’s Wish Noah’s Wish is a non profit organization specializing in the rescuing of animals. They have 65 staff members helping in New Orleans. They are also housing people with their pets as many shelters will not. See their site for regular updates about their activities, locations, and ways to donate.

Dallas Morning News9/6/05 “NEW ORLEANS – One homeless man rode out Katrina without shelter for fear he would be separated from his beloved one-eyed cat, Patches…”

UK Telegraph9/6/05″Special pet shelters have been set up with vets on hand to treat the survivors, many of whom have not eaten for days. Julie Anne Pieri, 29, an artist, sobbed as she described how she had been forced to abandon the cat she fled her home with and spent four days looking after in the heat and filth of the shelter…
Donations to help animals are being received by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with pet supplies company Petco offering to match offers. At the New Orleans aquarium, more than a third of the 4,000 fish died because there was no power to pump oxygen into the tanks.
At the New Orleans aquarium, more than a third of the 4,000 fish died because there was no power to pump oxygen into the tanks.
But staff at the city’s Audubon Zoo reported that only three of its 1,400 animals died as a result of the hurricane - two otters and a raccoon….”

CTV “With progress being made in evacuating people from New Orleans, some are turning their attention to other living creatures affected by the flooding: pets. People left thousands of dogs, cats and other family pets behind in the rush to escape either Hurricane Katrina or the flooding that followed…”

PA Inquirer “At the Humane Society of the United States’ call center, frantic calls are coming in from New Orleans pet owners: Their animal is stuck in an apartment. Can the Humane Society get it?…”

USA Today

NY Post Zookeeper Says It’s A Jungle In There

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Report animals missing in New Orleans, offer help or news. Best Friends is very active in the rescue efforts and posts regularly about their efforts.

About.com The ASPCA has set up two databases. The first is to help people locate their pets. The second is for people who would like to volunteer. See this link for the information.

North Shore Animal League NSAL is posting pictures and regular updates about their efforts in New Orleans. They have vets setting up moblie clinics MI awaiting animals who are being evacuated.

PetFinder “Late last night, HSUS rescuers, working with The Humane Society of South Mississippi, picked up 42 cats and 89 dogs in Gulfport, Mississippi and drove them to a staging area in Jackson, Miss. There they are providing triage medical care and temporary shelter for the animals before arranging to transfer them to animal shelters around the country.” The article also has a comprehensive list of rescue groups and articles.

Yahoo News

New York Post North Shore Animal League helps out

The Clarion Ledger

The Charlotte Observer