Posted on 09/02/2005 5:55:43 PM PDT by MarMema
Noahs Wish is working with animal control officials in the city of Slidell, Louisiana to coordinate animal rescue. Terri Crisp, Founder and Director of Noahs Wish, has met with Slidell Mayor Ben Morris and Animal Control Director Damian Anti to assess the citys needs and a coordinated pet rescue operation is being implemented.
The animal control facility in Slidell was flooded with 10 feet of water and approximately 50 animals were evacuated prior to the storm. The Mayor of Slidell has made available a large warehouse that is being used to set up a temporary shelter for cats and small dogs. In a lot behind the warehouse, tents are being set up and chain link dog runs being built to house larger dogs. Once completed, the temporary shelter will be able to house over 1,000 animals. Over 400 trained Noahs Wish volunteers and 25 veterinarians will work around the clock to provide medical support and care to these pets.
There are many dogs running loose throughout the city, said Crisp. Many people left their animals behind when they evacuated and law enforcement has been cutting dogs loose as they find them. Approximately 200 stray animals have already been picked up by animal control and these animals will be moved to the temporary shelter. A database will track all animals who enter the shelter, with the goal of reuniting owners with their lost pets. Temporary shelter for pets will be offered to residents who lost their homes and are unable to keep their animals with them in shelters or hotels. One Noahs Wish volunteer, a veterinary technician from Indianapolis, is working to assess the needs of local veterinarians in Slidell so they can open their offices to treat injured animals.
The city of Slidell, located directly north of Lake Ponchatrain was devastated by Katrina. We can use all the help we can get right now and I am incredibly grateful to have Noahs Wish here to coordinate relief efforts for pets, said Slidell Mayor Ben Morris.
Thank you for the link. I know that humans take precedence, but the separated pets belong to humans who will need them when they can get back to them. For those pets whose owners won't be returning, someone else will need these four-legged buddies for a difficult time ahead, especially those who lost their pets because of the storm. The Salvation Army's servers are busy tonight, which is a very good sign.
I remember reading that too. I hope they are successful. Snowball and that little guy need each other, imo.
bookmark
Maybe this thread will be of cheer for you.
A wonderful rescue organization! Donated earlier today. Got my commission check, and donated some more!
How in the world would anyone--even those with subpar IQ's--leave an animal tied up, knowing that high waters are coming in? But they obviously are out there.
By the way, even those taking their dogs and cats with them would have been well-advised to have a little computer chip implanted in their animals. It is extremely tiny and is registered with a large animal rights group; it can be read by machines at shelters and matches the animal with its owner. Both my dogs have it. Gives me peace of mind.
Thank you for the thread. I donated via PayPal.
This a side of any disaster which is not well publicized. The losses are huge, staggering and priceless. Wasn't there a zoo or two in New Orleans? Wonder what happened to those animals.
It's worth checking out that web site. Have seen pictures of survivors clinging to pets; for some all they have left are the clothes on their backs and their pets.
The 65 member rescue team has been very busy setting up the shelter in Slidell and completing rescue requests from evacuated victims and law enforcement personnel and performing door to door searches. Noahs Wish teams are currently managing rescued animals in 3 locations with the numbers growing rapidly:
168 in a boarding kennel
100 in the emergency shelter
40 in a grooming shop
During the rescue, the teams have come across numerous pets with injuries cause by windborne debris, collapsed building and being stuck by automobiles. The injured have been taken to the Louisiana State University Veterinary Hospital for treatment. There have also been happy surprises such as the Chihuahua found waiting patiently in the kitchen sink for rescue after the flood waters receded leaving him stranded.
The website has not been updated as much as we all would like due to the extremely difficult logistics in getting to a phone. Even satellite telephones failed for a good portion of the day. The closest reliable telephone connection is in Baton Rouge almost 2 hours away. Along the route, if you happen to find a gas station with fuel, you will wait for hours for your turn at the pump.
We will have many more stories and pictures in the near future as fuel and telephone services improve.
Noahs Wish would like to thank you all for allowing us to do whatever it takes to save our often forgotten companions. Without your support, it would not be possible for us to answer this need.
Details relayed via phone from Terri Crisp
Donated today.
Thanks so much for the update. God Bless those wonderful people that are rescuing animals.
We donated today...also asked my Vet to spread the word around.
Thanks for the update. I sent them some more money via their website and PayPal.
[Freepmail me to get on or off the Kitty Ping List.]
Thank you!
Thanks for the ping. I've been wondering about the pets...this makes it easier for me.
Thanks for this info. I just donated in the name of our little daschie's breeder that lives in southern Mississippi. We just found out that they and their pups are OK!
Thanks for sharing your good news!
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