Posted on 09/27/2005 7:54:15 PM PDT by freedom44
I agree with you. My sister was reunited with one of her three cats the other day. The cat had been found earlier by a relative, but she wouldn't let him near her, so he left food in the house and all over the neighborhood. The house had about 7 feet of water after the storm but had dried out by then. There was a cat door, so the cats were able to get out and find a high spot. Most of the homes in that area are two story.
My sister believed the cat would come to her, so she went the day she got back to town (snuck into New Orleans). She went into the neighborhood near the house and simply called the cat's name. Well, not only her cat, but lots of neighborhood cats came running.
Now that she has her cat with her, the cat has been following her around the house meowing incessantly, telling her all about her adventure.
My sister was afraid the cat would try to get out as she and her boyfriend were working on the house (her former rental house in Jefferson Parish where she will now live, which had minor flooding). They've been ripping out flooring and bringing it outside. Well, the cat decided the open door made her nervous so she jumped up onto the top closet shelf and got in the corner, poor little thing.
I'm still praying my sister will find her other two cats.
That's a nice guess, but it isn't really true.
There are all kinds of reasons a pet would be left behind, the main one being that for years and years and years we've been threatened with hurricanes that turned and went somewhere else and/or hit with hurricanes that did very little damage. That's also one of the reasons many people didn't bother to evacuate and always kind of shook their heads at me, probably the one person on my block who regularly evacuates when a hurricane is heading our way.
In my sister's case, she didn't take Katrina seriously until Sunday, after she learned President Bush called Nagin and told him to order a mandatory evacuation.
My sister and her boyfried have livestock in addition to their five dogs and three cats. They had to move livestock and get themselves out in just a few hours. The cats hid because they sensed something was up. Time had run out. They had to go. They left the cat door open and left plenty of food and water.
Even with a cat 5 bearing down on you, there is a sense that it will turn at the last minute or weaken at the last minute as so many others have done and that we'll all return home in two or three days, pick up the fallen branches, and go on with our lives.
So the assumption that most of the petowners who were separated from their pets by this storm aren't necessarily good pet owners is incorrect.
Haven't heard a thing about that and feel so sorry for both the boy and Snowball. Can't imagine what I'd do if separated from my Pug by a violent storm.
I agree. If nobody has actually inquired about their animal, that's a pretty good sign they don't care all that much.
So, adopt them out, if other people are willing to take them in.
I realize that that is not the case for all of them, but I do believe it is the case for most.
I will not malign the motives of the rescuers even if they don't go out of their way to search for matches. I mean... how many found 'lab mixes' have they got, anyway? There will be some missed reunions.... people who's dog was found and adopted out, and perhaps the owners will find out later and make a stink. I'd just urge understanding and perspective from everyone - the fact is, without the rescuers, the dogs would be dead. So the worst thing to happen is ~not~ that the dog found a new home and another life.
Exactly. And after everything that these animals have been through, they need companionship NOW, not a life in a cage for God knows how long while rescuers attempt the impossible, trying to find owners who have scattered all over the country.
Help the animals now. They are the ones who are the innocents, and are suffering and lonely.
This photo, of a bunch of animals just rescued, illustrates how desperately these animals need company.
I'll take one in but only as a foster caretaker. If no one claims they can stay but if an owner , esp. a child claims them, then they should go home IMO.
I just called and spoke with someone at the clinic. Judy is supposed to call me back. If we can get a dog here with a reasonable expense I'm fostering one. She was very happy that I had no problems with releasing if an owner later claims it.
I agree. I have tried to work with my local HS, but they still don't anticipate receiving any of the animals (although I cannot understand why. There are many shelters and rescue groups that simply don't have any more room.).
I also filled out a foster home application with Petfinder, but haven't heard anything. I really wanted to foster a litter of kittens. I figured surely they would have found some abandoned kittens who need care until they can be adopted, or a pregnant momma. Can't take in a dog.
I suppose it's time to pick up the phone again.
I agree. Those faces make me cry. You have to wonder what stories they could tell. Oh, if dogs and kitties could talk.
AND! Also agree that most pets left behind probably didn't have such good homes anyway. The people that evacuated early hopefully took their pets with them, the ones that has places to stay, not shelters. I say photograph and document them all, and let them have new homes. If someone later claims them, I hope the new 'owner' will be accomodating.
I'll bump to that.
Carolyn
Take a look at www.ericsdogblog.com, entry from 9/26
HSUS had an 800# for people to call in regarding their pets that needed rescuing. All HSUS did was keep a list. Never distributed it to any of the groups going in to rescue the animals.
There is a reply from HSUS on 9/27.
And today's update indicates some rescuers are being threatened with arrest.
Also from today's blog: "We are the only place you can call and get someone to check the house within 24 hours and usually on the same day. These people are desperate! Many thought HSUS had already rescued their animal. No, not the case. Many are dead or gone out of the house but not rescued."
There is an update to ongoing pet rescue on New Orleans out at USA today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-10-05-rescue-pets-cover_x.htm)
I tried to do a separate post as an excerpt, but evidently we can't post any of USA today articles.
So, I will only reference the link here...
The link doesn't work, or I'd ping it ;~D
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